Author Archives: ehaskins

Team 1, Question 1

Posted on by under global christianity

Twentieth Century Europe was a breeding ground for many new ways of thinking and living. Russia and France being one of the steady holders of this change. The World Wars play into how Christianity has developed because in a time of death and destruction there was Christ to look to for strength and encouragement. Though there was much disagreement between Western and Eastern Europe and how church and state should play in to how people must govern their lives, “French Catholics sewed images of Sacred Heart of Jesus to their flag, indicating that faith and the nation were one.” (Jacobsen 122) Though the Western Christians were more concerned with the spread of communism and the “Western European antichrist.” (Jacobsen 122) There was great decline in believers in Europe in general do to so much war and death and the secularization of the church; there was a lack of attendance as well “Sunday services was already below 20 percent in 1990.” (Jacobsen 126)  The French Revolution caused an uproar, not only in the sense of great dismay, but also the disorder of the church. The term Laïcité is written within the French Constitution it is a state driven term that implies that both the state and the church are unified.

Since there was a decline of practicing Christians in Europe in the mid twentieth century due to the World Wars, attendance was key to the Catholic council. Families were torn apart by death and destruction though they found peacefulness in God and the teachings of scripture. Europe is in a process, and has been for over a couple of century, there is a large influx of demographics. As more immigrants from the Western world move into Europe more melding of different demographics appear. It revitalizes Europe as a whole and gives new light to different ideas of thought. When it comes to the family life, the secularization of the church influences how individuals view the Protestant idea of marriage (that it should be between a man and a woman). It challenges individuals to take a reform, if you will, to a newer perspective on something so longly outdated. Advocates such as John Paul II and Benedict XVI who spoke out against things such as human rights are a prime example of the traditional way of thinking. (Jacobsen 134) In 1948 as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights came into play there was a more passionate and open conversation about what is right for the people.

European theologians have had a strong emphasis on the idea of “truth” and how one must not only look to God for the one ” true truth” but towards science as well. For example Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species, this book brought about much more thought of how we have come to be on this earth. The apostle Paul believed it “he clearly considered good arguments and sound philosophy to be compatible with Christian faith.” (Jacobsen 136) This being a reflection of the past and how even the Paul thought it might be good for the community to think “outside the box” like Martin Luther did as well during the Catholic Reformation.

The future for European Christianity is looking bright. Since Europe was founded on ideas from both the Enlightenments, individualism and individual thought has highly influenced the modernity of European Christians. I believe that the future for Christianity in Europe is on the up and up, hopefully still holding fast to the idea traditional values as the catholic church would recommend.

Team 1, Question 1

Posted on by under second great awakening

The Second Great Awakening was a movement that shot more individualistic consciousness into the minds of church goers. It occurred at the end of the seventeenth century and it started in New England. It was characterized by community and entrenched in the basics of Jesus’ teaching of “loving thy neighbor”. There was influence coming from the diversity of individuals immigrating into the United States, on the fact that the boarders surrounding North America were still in flux. The war with Mexico in 1829 caused much death and destruction amongst the people of Mexico and North America.  There are many aspects that play into the entirety of the movement but there are some characteristics that stick out. One namely is the animalistic way that the Shakers would conduct worship, “…some wept and others laughed uncontrollably, still others trembled, and some ran about, and some even barked” (González 327). This newer sect transcends, yet still has remnants of the Quakers. In the sense that the physical manifestation of the Spirit literally moves ones body. The Cane Ridge Revival of 1801 was an event that occurred and was supported by a Presbyterian pastor in Kentucky. The space where the people associated with the revival congregated was one of freedom and clarity. The Shakers worship traditions are associated with dancing and moving about.

The term Manifest Destiny is based in the war between North America and Mexico. At the time the boarders were in flux and Mexico had outlawed slavery (1829). Thus creating an inflow of immigrants which dove tails the ethical, cultural, and religious diversity that was so prevalent during the Second Great Awakening.

Finley sees that “men” are on this earth to obey the rules of God and its natural order but also criticizes man for being dazed in their consciousness for following the constructs of religious scripture. He uses a Biblical parable as commentary on the teaching of Scripture in the common space of society “Suppose a man were to go and preach this doctrine among farmer, about their doing grain” (Finney). He approaches the absurdity of following a doctrine by playfully adopting the scriptural image of The Parable of the Sewer (Mathew 13). In terms of revivalism sf its need in society. Finley sees that it is damning, he believes it is the devils work. It is the devils work to preach a doctrine in order to encompass the minds of individuals.

Team 1, Question 1

Posted on by under catholic reformation

The Pope at the current time, Leo X, believed that the responsibility to consider, in the worlds eye, what is right and what is wrong lied in the hands of the Church. He takes to the saints Peter, Paul etc. to cleanse the church of its heretical concepts. The establishment of the decree was, as a purpose, a form of eradicating heresy, throughout the minds of the Catholic church. A one-to-one interaction with God was more prevalent in Pope Leo X’s principles, therefore creating the hierarchy of a personal relationship with God. This circumvents the original ideals of the Catholic church, neglecting the Pope as a mediator. The act of communion is essential to the Christian practice, but the Protestant idea of such practice was in contrast with Pope Leo’s notion of the unification of the church. Based in the traditional church view, eucharist should be taken as a physical act for the individuals in the church in order to feel connected with Christ. Although the Protasents saw that the authority figure, the Pope, was in the way of a authentic relationship with Christ. The papal authority was a road block for individuals. This caused a lack of intimacy with the Lord Jesus.

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