Post by rbowmanNow ... I think the HRCC is imploding for a variety of reasons - soon
to be relegated to the history books.
I wonder what will fill the vacuum - bible-waving evangelicals with
the big poof of hair ? Islam ???
I have philosophical problems with the basic tenets but I'm sad to see it
fading. It was widely criticized but I think the Church had the right idea
to keep the bible out of the hands of semi-literate self-appointed
preachers that make it up as they go along.
Well, that was so the HRCC could make it up as IT
went along without competition :-)
Whatever the original concepts of The Church may have
been, by the Conference Of Constantinople it was
clearly intended to be a POLITICAL force and doctrine
and the whole 'tilt' was adjusted to suit.
As for abuse of said democratized dogma - yep, it's very
widespread. Oh well. It'd rather see 100 different takes
than one giant 'ISIS' all in lockstep.
Post by rbowmanI remember about 20 years ago during one of the spasms of ecumenism when
the Church approached the Lutherans. They figured that was the closest
denomination and a good start so they asked the Lutherans (Evangelicals)
exactly what doctrinal points would have to be ironed out. The Lutherans
said "we're going to have to get back to you on that.'
Maybe it's my programmer's mind but if you can't state your foundational
doctrine what do you have?
Think about it ... that was EXACTLY the right answer for
a Lutheran. The Main Idea Luther pushed was that, aside
from The Word, there wasn't really SUPPOSED to be a "church"
or "system" or super-formalized/bureaucratized Plan. The
core idea was the democratization of The Word.
I remember some years back when Gov. Ventura, a Lutheran,
said that Lutheran churches/formal-orgs were not supposed
to exist - and caught all sorts of shit for it. But, he
was RIGHT, that was Luther's vision.
Now, in the practical world, it soon became obvious that
The People preferred physical churches with professional
preachers - and so even Lutheranism drifted that way. But
it really wasn't the initial IDEA Luther had when he was
nailing bills to church doors.
Post by rbowmanI later did some research and found the
Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Synod, and ELCA don't have much use for each
other over some obscure points and they're supposedly 'mainstream'.
Division is easier than unity - personally, politically
and religiously too. The commies KNOW that and don't
even have to work very hard to open exploitable cracks.
Just ONE little tiny diff where there's no real chance
of compromise/mediation and monoliths shatter. I often
compare trying to organize people to herding cats ...
Post by rbowmanOf course Islam isn't a monolithic body either although it looks like the
Shi'a and Sunnis might be burying the scimitar to some degree.
Combine forces against the infidels - then AFTER turn
on yer own again :-)
Post by rbowmanIn the end I think the abyss will fill the vacuum nicely.
News story yesterday was that 20% of "academics" claim to
have seen "UFOs". Probably lots of residual drug parties
to blame - but with THAT many profs as "believers" BET
the next big religion will be UFO-related (and its preachers
will Just Know what the UFO people want us to think and do
and even how to wipe our asses).