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195:4.1 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church The church], being an [[adjunct]] to [[society]] and the ally of [[politics]], was [[doomed]] to [[share]] in the [[intellectual]] and [[spiritual]] decline of the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) European " dark ages. "] During this time, [[religion]] became more and more [[monasticized]], [[asceticized]], and [[legalized]]. In a spiritual sense, [[Christianity]] was [[Sleep|hibernating]]. Throughout this period there existed, alongside this slumbering and [[secularized]] [[religion]], a continuous stream of [[mysticism]], a fantastic [[spiritual]] [[experience]] bordering on unreality and philosophically akin to [[pantheism]].

195:4.1 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church The church], being an [[adjunct]] to [[society]] and the ally of [[politics]], was [[doomed]] to [[share]] in the [[intellectual]] and [[spiritual]] decline of the so-called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) European " dark ages. "] During this time, [[religion]] became more and more [[monasticized]], [[asceticized]], and [[legalized]]. In a spiritual sense, [[Christianity]] was [[Sleep|hibernating]]. Throughout this period there existed, alongside this slumbering and [[secularized]] [[religion]], a continuous stream of [[mysticism]], a fantastic [[spiritual]] [[experience]] bordering on unreality and philosophically akin to [[pantheism]].

195:4.2 During these [[dark]] and despairing centuries, [[religion]] became virtually second-handed again. The [[individual]] was almost lost before the overshadowing [[authority]], [[tradition]], and [[dictation]] of the church. A new spiritual menace arose in the [[creation]] of a galaxy of " saints " who were [[assumed]] to have special [[influence]] at the [[divine]] [[courts]], and who, therefore, if effectively [[appealed]] to, would be able to intercede in man's behalf before [[the Gods]].

195:4.2 During these [[dark]] and despairing centuries, [[religion]] became virtually second-handed again. The [[individual]] was almost lost before the overshadowing [[authority]], [[tradition]], and [[dictation]] of the church. A new spiritual menace arose in the [[creation]] of a galaxy of " saints " who were [[assumed]] to have special [[influence]] at the [[divine]] [[courts]], and who, therefore, if effectively [[appealed]] to, would be able to intercede in man's behalf before [[the Gods]].

195:4.3 But [[Christianity]] was sufficiently [[socialized]] and [[paganized]] that, while it was impotent to stay the oncoming [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) dark ages], it was the better [[prepared]] to [[survive]] this long period of [[moral]] [[darkness]] and spiritual stagnation. And it did [[persist]] on through the long night of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_civilization Western civilization] and was still functioning as a [[moral]] [[influence]] in the world when the [[renaissance]] dawned. The [[rehabilitation]] of [[Christianity]], following the passing of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) dark ages], resulted in bringing into [[existence]] numerous [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_reformation sects of the Christian teachings], [[beliefs]] suited to special [[intellectual]], [[emotional]], and [[spiritual]] [[types]] of [[human]] [[personality]]. And many of these special [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_reformation Christian groups, or religious families], still [[persist]] at the time of the making of this presentation.

195:4.3 But [[Christianity]] was sufficiently [[socialized]] and [[paganized]] that, while it was impotent to stay the oncoming [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) dark ages], it was the better [[prepared]] to [[survive]] this long period of [[moral]] [[darkness]] and spiritual stagnation. And it did [[persist]] on through the long night of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_civilization Western civilization] and was still functioning as a [[moral]] [[influence]] in the world when the [[renaissance]] dawned. The [[rehabilitation]] of [[Christianity]], following the passing of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) dark ages], resulted in bringing into [[existence]] numerous [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_reformation sects of the Christian teachings], [[beliefs]] suited to special [[intellectual]], [[emotional]], and [[spiritual]] [[types]] of [[human]] [[personality]]. And many of these special [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_reformation Christian groups, or religious families], still [[persist]] at the time of the making of this presentation.

195:4.4 [[Christianity]] exhibits a [[history]] of having originated out of the unintended [[transformation]] of the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] into a religion about Jesus. It further presents the [[history]] of having [[experienced]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenization Hellenization], [[paganization]], [[secularization]], [[institutionalization]], [[intellectual]] deterioration, [[spiritual]] [[decadence]], [[moral]] [[Sleep|hibernation]], threatened [[extinction]], later rejuvenation, [[fragmentation]], and more recent [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainline_Christianity#Trends relative rehabilitation]. Such a [[pedigree]] is indicative of [[inherent]] [[vitality]] and the possession of vast recuperative [[resources]]. And this same [[Christianity]] is now present in the civilized world of [[Occidental]] peoples and stands face to face with a [[struggle]] for [[existence]] which is even more ominous than those eventful [[crises]] which have characterized its past [[battles]] for [[dominance]].

195:4.4 [[Christianity]] exhibits a [[history]] of having originated out of the unintended [[transformation]] of the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] into a religion about Jesus. It further presents the [[history]] of having [[experienced]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenization Hellenization], [[paganization]], [[secularization]], [[institutionalization]], [[intellectual]] deterioration, [[spiritual]] [[decadence]], [[moral]] [[Sleep|hibernation]], threatened [[extinction]], later rejuvenation, [[fragmentation]], and more recent [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainline_Christianity#Trends relative rehabilitation]. Such a [[pedigree]] is indicative of [[inherent]] [[vitality]] and the possession of vast recuperative [[resources]]. And this same [[Christianity]] is now present in the civilized world of [[Occidental]] peoples and stands face to face with a [[struggle]] for [[existence]] which is even more ominous than those eventful [[crises]] which have characterized its past [[battles]] for [[dominance]].

195:4.5 [[Religion]] is now confronted by the [[challenge]] of a new age of [[scientific]] [[minds]] and [[materialistic]] [[tendencies]]. In this gigantic struggle between the [[secular]] and the [[spiritual]], the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] will [[eventually]] [[triumph]].

195:4.5 [[Religion]] is now confronted by the [[challenge]] of a new age of [[scientific]] [[minds]] and [[materialistic]] [[tendencies]]. In this gigantic struggle between the [[secular]] and the [[spiritual]], the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] will [[eventually]] [[triumph]].

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_195 Go to Paper 195]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_195 Go to Paper 195]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category:Paper 195 - After Pentecost]]

[[Category:Paper 195 - After Pentecost]]