From what I perceive, 2016 is indeed unfolding to be the year of reckoning which some have predicted - perhaps best understood as the year of choice; and more exactly the year of branching choices.
Starting from the triumphant domination of secular Leftism, it looks as if looks as if more and more of the Establishment are defecting from the programme - or are on the verge of doing-so, and as if the ruling cabal is afraid - very afraid - of a major backlash.
Hence the global conspiracy of evil is trying to strike prematurely with their long-prepared plan of a mega-destructive World War III (starting in the Middle East); before the lower-level Establishment and the population of the West have been brought behind the idea.
The choices of 2016 can be seen as a branching system. Early choices are worth having - but only if the choices follow through (reasonably swiftly) will they do any more than somewhat delay the plan for comprehensive destruction of Good.
The first choice is:
Secular Leftism versus Not-secular Leftism
This is about as far as we have currently reached - a negative reaction against the prevailing trends.
Then there is a choice between:
Cynical nihilism versus Spiritual Awakening
Cynical nihilism is negative - and the Cynical Nihilist decides merely to operate on the basis of his gut-feelings, which he regards as subjective - so it is merely a kind of systematic selfishness. This is better than secular Leftism, because not actively suicidal - but CN is unstable and severely suboptimal. Spiritual awakening is therefore the way forward.
But spiritual awakening has happened before - eg. in the mid 1960s - and it is likely to be poisoned at source by the (Leftist) Sexual Revolution unless it leads to religion. So the next choice is either to retain the sexual revolution - leading to New Age spirituality or to reject the sexual revolution, which leads to religion (of one sort or another):
New Age Spirituality versus Religion
We know from experience the New Age spirituality leads nowhere, so Religion is the way forward. The next step is to 'choose your religion'. For Westerners this means Christianity of something-else:
Not-Christianity versus Christianity
If Christianity is chosen, at this point it refers to real Christianity, not Liberal Christianity - which is merely secular Leftism with some Christian top-dressing.
The re-adoption of Christianity by the West would be a major step in the right direction - but it would essentially be a 'rewind'; hence the question arises: would it be enough to prevent secular Leftism returning, just as it did in the past? I don't think so.
The next step is the most controversial - because there is a choice between one or many churches of Actually Existing Christianity - which is the world of the existing denominations, each of which claims (more-or-less) exclusivity and New Christianity - which does not exist and never has existed even conceptually except among a few specific individuals.
Traditional Christianity versus Evolution of a New Christianity
The evolution of a New Christianity would probably evolve from one or more of the existing churches - but not be exactly the same as any of them currently are; nor would it be any kind of Liberalisation or assimilation to secular norms.
New Christianity would be (would need to be) a correction of those flaws in past Christianity which were exploited by secular Leftism - and would indeed be a restoration of a Christianity closer to the intention of Christ and more in-line with the nature and purposes of God.
That, I believe, is the destined way ahead - that is what Christianity was supposed to do way back around 1800 at the start of the Industrial Revolution and the first outburst of Romanticism - the kind envisaged by the likes of the poets Blake, Wordsworth and Coleridge.
So, with New Christianity I am talking about Romantic Christianity.
So the final destination of 2016 would need to be
Romantic Christianity
Which comes at the end of a many branched path of choices - so the chances of us getting to that destination seem remote; and anything less will - I believe - fail to suffice.
Nonetheless, any steps along that path would be very welcome - and we are currently seeing the first step being taken by ever more people.
We therefore now have a real chance; albeit a slim chance.
4 comments:
So, your view seems to reject the idea that a wrong turn, necessitating a 'rewind', happens.
If traditional Christianity didn't prevent our current mess, there must be something fatally flawed with it, and we need to fix it. It cannot be just that we made a mistake, and need to go back.
That is an interesting assumption - but let's be clear it's just an assumption.
Bruce, what about the idea that old Christianity was too one sided - too world and ego denying - and the world swung to the opposite extreme of world affirmation (materialism) and ego affirmation (individualism), and that each is too unstable and ultimately destroys itself, and the way forward is towards a synrhesis.
Would you mind indicating at least some features of what you see as Romantic C? You are very abstract and it's hard to see what you mean. I don't mean a full plan, but perhaps some idea.
From reading your blog, it seems it would include key modern ideas - progress, evolution, for starters, then the idea of heaven as endless increase rather than static perfection as traditionally conceived, then it would involve an active and willing element far greater than to be found in will-denying old C, then it would be more individuality affirming than old C, then it would be more earthly life focused, with marriage being higher than celibate monkhood.
All this while obviously maintaining key elements of spurituality....
Am I wrong here?
Without giving a detailed plan, can you indicate a general trend or direction in which you feel old C needs to be modified and went wrong?
Is it a case by case thing?
The blog Albion Awakening (see sidebar) is on this theme. Or word search e.g. Coleridge, Barfield, Romantic on this blog.
Terrific insight and exposition, Bruce. From a Catholic viewpoint, I think Vatican II sensed the need to inaugurate a new type of Christianity but all it's succeeded in doing so far is throwing out the Sacred baby with the legalistic bath water, allowing the New Age to purloin ancient Catholic practices such as Gregorian Chant and praying before candles. Demythologising Christianity is no good at all. That way lies secular drabness with absolutely nothing to inspire, uplift and comfort peaople. Christianity needs remythologising at source. Only that way can it bloom and flourish once more, refreshing the parched world of post-modernity with its healing, rejuvenating water of life.
"We therefore now have a real chance; albeit a slim chance."
Speaking of society as a mass, yes. But some individuals can and will take advantage of that chance, thanks in part to blogs like yours. And to those individuals, it may make little difference that they are joined by few or many. They will have made the right choice.
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