The Dark Mountain Project: Secularism Gets Sober

I know you're sincere in that, but it would be far better if you'd do something that would actually help instead.The countryside were I live is littered with ancient churches, I have three in my tiny village. They would have cost poor people an enormous amount in time, effort and money over a millennium to build and maintain and in the process built rich, powerful and divisive institutions that held back the progress of society.If that effort had been put into building schools hospitals and our secular institutions for the good of the people instead of the worship of imaginary gods, our society would be in a far better state.

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The history of hospitals has stretched over 2500 years, starting with precursors in the Ascelpian temples in ancient Greece and then the military hospitals in ancient Rome, though no civilian hospital existed in the Roman empire until the Christian period.[1] Towards the end of the 4th century, the "second medical revolution"[2] took place with the founding of the first Christian hospital in the eastern Byzantine Empire by Basil of Caesarea, and within a few decades, such hospitals had become ubiquitous in Byzantine society.[3] The hospital would undergo development and progress throughout Byzantine, medieval European and Islamic societies, until the early modern era where care and healing would transition into a secular affair.[4]

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From this wilk site: History of hospitals - Wikipedia...and it still happens all the time. Our small Anglican church provides about 50% of the funding for a home for young women in Uganda who would otherwise be in the street, we support a library in Ethiopia and a hospital in Kampala. We just had an event as a fund raiser for a seniors day program, the local hospital foundation and a local food bank. We had another fund raiser for the local humane society.Just what have any of your local secular outfits done lately?

While it is true that much time, money and effort could be said to be wasted in the buildings, there are many people in life who have done much to bring about a better world who have been educated through the church. One such notable man of influence was Romano Guardini. He reflects:

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"God certainly does not dominate my life," confesses Romano Guardini, a devout German theologian. "Any tree in my path seems to have more power than he, if only because it forces me to walk around it!" Guardini goes on to wonder: How is it that God permeates the universe, that everything that is comes from his hand, that every thought and emotion we have has significance only in him, yet we are neither shaken nor inflamed by the reality of his presence, but able to live as though he did not exist? How is this truly Satanic deceit possible? 16-7

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...AZPaul3 would no doubt claim that the reason is obvious: God does not exist. This simplistic explanation has nothing to stand on apart from the modern rationale that evidence of absence equates to absence of evidence. I believe that for some of us at least, (men such as Romano Guardini) the study and meditation of God as enriched their minds and led them into further sacred and secular studies both. One other point which I wish to address is your supposed indifference to even thinking about God. Philip Yancey expressed it this way: This central focus on God every day causes me to study a plethora of different things, many of them totally secular. (which you would argue is normal, of course) The Dark Mountain Project is basically secular and, as Theo pointed out, a bit New Age. It is insightful to a degree, however.

They probably pass out condoms to teenagers! On a serious note, I have seen evidence of the usefulness of secular organizations. I just am stymied how they feel that the church isnt as useful. I think they see us the way the Televangelists portray us as. (themselves) There is a lot of Christianity...likely the most useful of us....who remain out of the spotlight and unseen.

Well, you seem to spout the same nonsensical theology.

Guilty as charged.Unless, of course, you can show otherwise. Just like garden fairies, centaurs and humanist republicans. No evidence, no thing.Unless, of course, you can show otherwise.[looking at the third wall] There's that damn pesky evidence requirement again.

What is this Phat? This idiot thinks he knows how god feels. Do you not see what delirious garbage this is?

Theodoric was right--it is a New Age manifesto. What turns me off, but likely would mildly intrigue you all, is the idea that humanity is not central to the future, and that storytelling is the basic art. Of course not. These things *must* happen. The solution is to love God and love your neighbor. I might add that knowing God is a priority, but you will be unable to understand this basic bit...unless perhaps you might believe that in knowing our neighbor, we thus know God. New Age mumbo jumbo is very close to the Christianity that I believe in, yet miles apart.You say Christianity is about what you do. (not what you believe) In that regard, the Dark Mountain New Agers likely would agree. They, like Stile, would eliminate knowing God as a necessary first step and would advocate sharing with each other and loving each other. I fear, however, that without the Holy Spirit it is destined to fail. yes, many. My question would be how to tell apart a crowd based on obsessive fearful groupthink(authoritarianism) versus a crowd of individuals with no groupthink, varied beliefs, and a shared desire to simply bond with each other. The question is this: If a Holy Spirit exists and desires to commune with humans, which crowd would He,She, or It likely reside in?

Why should that bother you? You don't even believe that God exists.There is nothing wrong with people who believe in God and who struggle to understand Him. A wrong answer is better than no answer at all.

It bothers me that you think it's normal and ok for people to tell other people that they know what god thinks and feels. It's dumb, crazy and delusional stuff. That is just fucking stupid.

First I'd need to know what even knowing your neighbor could possibly have to do with knowing God? But still no one has suggested anyway for anyone including themselves to know God or tell if they are communing with God. No Phat, I point out that in the Bible Jesus says following him is about what you do not what you believe. Stop misrepresenting what I say. More silly word salad.Sorry but that is all just nonsense.AbE: I'm sorry but you just laid a new really dumb brick there Bubba. That's truly silly. It is the classic mantra of the Snake Oil Salesmen.Edited by jar, : see AbE:Edited by jar, : created ----> laid

Sorry, no answer is better than a wrong answer anytime!