Comments on: Tragedy in Three Acts: A Revolution, a Theory, and a Theology That Devastated Western Christianity, Part 2 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/revolution-theory-theology-devastated-western-christianity-part-2.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:28:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dan Edelen http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/revolution-theory-theology-devastated-western-christianity-part-2.html#comment-43809 Dan Edelen Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:52:28 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1156#comment-43809 Jeff, I think that ignoring postmillennialism is a major oversight. I think it's the linchpin that we in the Western Church have long ignored---and we've suffered for doing so. Jeff,

I think that ignoring postmillennialism is a major oversight. I think it’s the linchpin that we in the Western Church have long ignored—and we’ve suffered for doing so.

]]> By: Jeff http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/revolution-theory-theology-devastated-western-christianity-part-2.html#comment-43797 Jeff Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:52:10 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1156#comment-43797 I'm fascinated to see you push the button on post-millenialism as a key crux in the development of our social problems *within* the church, not just impinging on us from without. The Restoration Movement of Alexander Campbell et alia is an important influence in my life, but it's his embrace of post-millenialism that opened the door to many influences that plague us to this day (his flagship publication from 1830-something to his death in 1866 was titled "Millenial Harbinger," and a trivia point, that a number of renegades from Campbell's early "Reformed Baptist" movement who wanted more control over their parishoners went with Joseph Smith in Kirtland OH, and the first paper Rigdon and the Pratts put out was the "Millenial Star"). The post-millenial parts of Campbell's writing, not recognized as such, are about the only parts of his work that modern day Disciples of Christ quote, and independent Christian Churches and a capella Churches of Christ are barely aware that this is a feature, not a bug in Campbell's theology. I’m fascinated to see you push the button on post-millenialism as a key crux in the development of our social problems *within* the church, not just impinging on us from without.

The Restoration Movement of Alexander Campbell et alia is an important influence in my life, but it’s his embrace of post-millenialism that opened the door to many influences that plague us to this day (his flagship publication from 1830-something to his death in 1866 was titled “Millenial Harbinger,” and a trivia point, that a number of renegades from Campbell’s early “Reformed Baptist” movement who wanted more control over their parishoners went with Joseph Smith in Kirtland OH, and the first paper Rigdon and the Pratts put out was the “Millenial Star”). The post-millenial parts of Campbell’s writing, not recognized as such, are about the only parts of his work that modern day Disciples of Christ quote, and independent Christian Churches and a capella Churches of Christ are barely aware that this is a feature, not a bug in Campbell’s theology.

]]> By: Suzanne http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/revolution-theory-theology-devastated-western-christianity-part-2.html#comment-43776 Suzanne Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:27:21 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1156#comment-43776 You have done a wonderful job on this topic. I worked for years in the secular arena, and recently began working at a religious institution. I have been amazed at the misconceptions that the people in this institution have about the secular world. I see very, very little difference between the two work environments. With both, it's the bottom line, competition over compassion, efficiency over empathy, but with the religious institution, it also involves a smug sense of how much better we are than those outside our community. If nothing else, I think the past election showed a backlash against the church aligning itself so closely with certain economic and political systems. By doing that, the church is left adrift when those secular systems hit rough water; but many in the church will merrily float to their doom, sure in the knowledge that they were right! You have done a wonderful job on this topic. I worked for years in the secular arena, and recently began working at a religious institution. I have been amazed at the misconceptions that the people in this institution have about the secular world. I see very, very little difference between the two work environments. With both, it’s the bottom line, competition over compassion, efficiency over empathy, but with the religious institution, it also involves a smug sense of how much better we are than those outside our community. If nothing else, I think the past election showed a backlash against the church aligning itself so closely with certain economic and political systems. By doing that, the church is left adrift when those secular systems hit rough water; but many in the church will merrily float to their doom, sure in the knowledge that they were right!

]]> By: Suzanne http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/revolution-theory-theology-devastated-western-christianity-part-2.html#comment-43775 Suzanne Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:15:04 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1156#comment-43775 Yes! Yes! We have met the enemy and he is us! Yes! Yes! We have met the enemy and he is us!

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