Responding to Rushi's comments from this answer here:
To @sofi I will say: Today many people blame Christianity for all the world's problems. This is right and wrong. It's wrong because humans can't live without (something like) God. But it is right also. Because the Nicene council obliterated wisdom-christianity (Gnosticism) and a millennium later Protestanism destroyed Catholicism. If you wish to reverse these trends good to start with yourself: For the first "Gnostic Jung" us a good starting point. For the 2nd recommend Brad Gregory for how Luther by replacing Thomistic analogy by univocity, set the stage for modern dystopian nihilistic hell — RushiSep 21 at 2:28
@Rushi Your identifying univocity with Protestant tendency to do theology crystallized the motifs what I have been noticing when reading both Protestant and Catholic theologies. Didn't know that Brad Gregory also mentioned this, is it in his book The Unintended Reformation? I listened to his Great Course History of Christianity in the Reformation Era which was very helpful. — GratefulDisciple14 hours ago
@GratefulDisciple V important and topical question. Funnily enough, as a non Christian, I am not the best qualified to answer it. Unfortunately the 'official Christians' will tend towards narrow sectarian answers — see this very answer. And as a rebound, the seculars will twitch to close it — as has happened with this question. (1/2) — Rushi1 hour ago
@GratefulDisciple This is a sad state of affairs because much of the world today — both good and bad, traces to Christianity. I dont know any way out, at least on the SE network . Other than the very brief suggestion to get the bad from Gregory and the good from Tom Holland. Then synthesize for yourself where the truth lies. (2/3) — Rushi59 mins ago
@GratefulDisciple Speaking personally, Holland is too gung-ho over Christianity. And Gregory is too negative towards Protestanism. Holland glosses over the messes and the literal hell created by Christianity; Gregory blames Luther too much without acknowledging what a--holes the Popes of his time were. Ultimately the only solution is to be a better Christian — forgiving, and catholic (literally!!) Ie broad minded. Remember Christ taught unconditional forgiveness. Not Forgive and Forget 😀(3/3) — Rushi52 mins ago
@Rushi @sofi asked the same question at Christianity.SE, which I answered here from Thomistic point of view, but it's quite a straightforward answer that most Protestants (including C.S. Lewis, even Luther) shouldn't have a problem with it.
Thanks for the recommendation to synthesize Brad Gregory and Tom Holland. Yes, there was much problems with each denomination but in the 21st century most denominations are ready to bury the hatchet and promote the common ground Christianity to become the beacon to culture of death / despair / power-hungry / unbridled hedonism / un-compassionate society.
Yes, much of the world today, good and bad, have been influenced by Christianity. And yes, narrow sectarianism is still an issue, but decreasingly so when facing the secular culture. I'm more worried about Christianity losing relevance in the secular culture, which partly it's the churches' fault as well.
"humans can't live without (something like) God". If that means something the gods of the Abrahamic religions, this statement is demonstrably false. Even when interpreted more broadly to include polytheism, it is wrong.
@Rusi Then tell me what you mean by "humans can't live without (something like) God". Why even write something that open to interpretation?
And, sorry, I don't have the time or the bandwidth for YouTube.
There was no attempt on my part to strawman anything. When I see "God" with a capital G, I assume the intended reference is to one of the gods of the Abrahamic religions. I you want to avoid ambiguity, it is helpful to write "a god" or use a specific name or adjective that clear identifies the god you have in mind.
@Rusi Saying I currently don't have no time for YouTube does not mean I don't want to listen to your arguments. It is really ironic that you accused me of using strawman arguments...
The Symposium
The Symposium