Changes

==195:4. THE EUROPEAN DARK AGES==

==195:4. THE EUROPEAN DARK AGES==

195:4.1 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 European " dark ages. " During this time, religion became more and more monasticized, asceticized, and legalized. In a spiritual sense, Christianity was 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 [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]].

195:4.2 During these dark and despairing centuries, religion became virtually secondhanded 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 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 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 dark ages, resulted in bringing into existence numerous sects of the Christian teachings, beliefs suited to special intellectual, emotional, and spiritual types of human personality. And many of these special 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 [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.

195:4.4 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 Hellenization, paganization, secularization, institutionalization, intellectual deterioration, spiritual decadence, moral hibernation, threatened extinction, later rejuvenation, fragmentation, and more recent 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]] [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]].

195:4.5 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]].

==195:5. THE MODERN PROBLEM==

==195:5. THE MODERN PROBLEM==