What paradigm will replace Christianity?

[arcanum]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples inner needs?

 

[cablescavenger]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples innermost needs?

Atheism.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Some other type of religious nonsense.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

The current paradigm of Christianity replaced the one that came before it and the future paradigm of Christianity will replace the one we have now. We can't guess what that paradigm will be any more than a citizen of the Holy Roman Empire could have guessed what our society and culture would be like.

 

[4consideration]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples innermost needs?

Perhaps we dispense with the idea that isms are needed as a dominating force.

I would like to see whatever we do next include an understanding that any belief system is a closed system, whether it is scientifically based, religiously based, based upon social ideals, etc. Closed systems can be very useful, very beneficial and can present all kinds of wonderful experiences and levels of understanding for those that participate.

However, every closed system has boundaries. It can be an awful experience for humanity if we continue to smash our closed systems into each other. Or, if we taunt members of another closed system to the point of retaliation or the need of protection for self-survival.

What I would like to see us do, is understand and respect the rights of others to remain in their closed systems -- with respect and dignity -- without allowing any closed system to dominate others by trying to impose a different artifically designed closed system. It's rather like, Live and Let Live -- with some few ground rules for protecting the basic rights of all the players.

 

[Shermana]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples inner needs?

The pre-Pauline version of Christianity.

 

[Nakosis]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples inner needs?

With all the information and exchange of ideas available I suspect it will be hard to get people to unify behind any specific belief system. There is too much individualism to allow that to happen.

Not unless we enter some kind of dark age again were energy and information becomes a scarce resource.

I'd suspect secularism will replace our civic idealism while spiritual pursuits will be left to the individual. People will shop for whatever religious ideology makes them feel comfortable.

So we will be a secular society, however that doesn't mean non-religious. It just means our civic laws won't be governed by religious idealism.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples inner needs?

Beginning to crumble? Christianity hasn't been in charge for decades if not a century or more. Now it's a "return to nature" or something I guess. Way less Bible and way more saving the whales, trees, and general lack of power in dogma. God is dead, and we have killed him and what not.

 

[Ketzer]

The pre-Pauline version of Christianity.

Sounds great, but what do you mean with this?

 

[gnomon]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples inner needs?

Reason.

Ba-bada-ba-daaa. Ba-ba-ba-da-daaaaa.

 

[Shermana]

Sounds great, but what do you mean with this?

The message Jesus actually originally taught, before Paul corrupted it into a lawless "grace doctrine".

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

The message Jesus actually originally taught, before Paul corrupted it into a lawless "grace doctrine".

In other words, just another sect of Judaism.

 

[blackout]

Hopefully more of a Self Empowering, symbolic/metaphorical (non literal)
'gnostic' approach.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Hopefully more of a Self Empowering, symbolic/metaphorical (non literal)
'gnostic' approach.

But without the elitist element the original Gnostics held.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Hedonism?

 

[blackout]

But without the elitist element the original Gnostics held.

I'm not speaking of 'sect' but ... more of a Self Intuitive approach.

Less 'doctrine' as opposed to one doctrine simply replacing another.

 

[Willamena]

The "No Paradigm" paradigm.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Hopefully more of a Self Empowering, symbolic/metaphorical (non literal)
'gnostic' approach.

Just what we need - more dopey hippies running around.

 

[blackout]

Just what we need - more dopey hippies running around.

Well there will never be a shortage on judge'mentalism anyway.

Truth be told I really don't care.
As long as others leave me alone to keep to mySelf
and do my own thing.

 

[Prophet]

Fundamentalist, irrational attachment to belief, in general, tends to collapse under the weight of education.