It seems to me that there is an essence, a core, a 'Primary' Christianity; which is utterly clear and simple, and comprehensible by a young child.
Indeed, something that might spontaneously explode into life, in the mind of a child, a simple-minded person - or even a Western intellectual!
Spontaneously - yes; but only when wanted and willed! Part of this Primary Christianity is that it is something we first know, then choose.
Christianity is not, is not meant to be and cannot be something that over-powers a person, nor something that is passively and unconsciously accepted, like a habit.
On the contrary, we need to know it, love it, choose it...
Also - we should not expect to capture Primary Christianity in words, as a formula or creed; because it 'needs to be' (i.e. it IS) something knowable and choose-able by those who lack conceptual language.
Of course we can discuss it in words, concepts etc; but all the words, concepts etc. we might use will then themselves requires further definition and elucidation... So matters will rapidly get complex and unclear - and then we are off track. We are not dealing-with that core essence that is 'instantly' comprehensible.
"Spontaneously explode into life"... Yes!
But how could it be - it may be asked - that such a thing was possible? Would not people need to be told? How could someone just-know - how could an inexperienced, unintelligent and innocent child know?
...That is the assumptions of mainstream atheist-materialism speaking.
But - we know much that we have ot been 'told', have not experienced...
For example: we know because we are divine beings (children of God); and also because we are capable of communicating with the divine (the Holy Ghost). Furthermore, we have a kind-of-memory of our earlier, pre-mortal life as a spirit - which structures our assumptions even though it is (by design) seldom explicitly available.
For example; We knew-about and 'met' Jesus Christ before we were born, and had a kind of spirit-dream-like knowledge of God's plan of creation. We may already have loved Jesus, and wish to follow him.
This is seldom explicit - and does not need to be: the point is that such knowledge is brought into this world from our previous world.
Thus we arrive in the world with a structure of assumptions and expectations, and the capability of gaining further true knowledge.
I find this a very hopeful and exciting thought!
All over the world, Men are being-corrupted by evil, while at the same time evil is becoming clearer and more sharply defined...
(Things have come to a point...)
At any moment, any-person may make an act of internal rebellion and may seek the opposite: seek God and the Good.
And at that moment, each person has the capacity and knowledge to know core, essential and Primary Christianity: awareness may potentially explode into his consciousness.
And he may make the choice to embrace it!
Note: My point is not that this will begin to happen - because what will happen depends on the free choice of individual Men, multiplied - therefore not knowable in advance; but that it could happen.
