De-Evolution of Culture

[slowpoke55]

I propose the following consequences are the result of de-volution of cultures due to sin...

Summary of Sin's Progression in a Culture:

1. Mankind rejected God’s truth.

2. Not only that but we have suppressed God’s truth and followed after unrighteousness.

3. Because of Mankind’s rejection of truth we fell into idolatry.

4. This leads to fornication and adultery in heterosexual relationships.

5. This is the classic example of the consequences of men not being spiritual leaders in their homes, in the Church, and in society at large.

6. Marriage is no longer valued. So...

7. This then leads to unnatural relations between women.

8. This then leads to unnatural relations between men.

9. God allowed mankind to have a degraded mind and be consumed by all sort of sin.

Is this the case in the U.S. today and abroad?

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

What culture are you talking about?

There are many aspects of culture that have evolved and continue to evolve in a positive direction. The pursuit of scientific knowledge has provided many great benefits that we experience every day. Here in the US racism and homophobia (although very much alive) are seen as negative traits. Women are enjoying greater job opportunities. Our communities are becoming more diverse.

At a human level we are becoming more accepting of others, regardless of appearance, sexual preference or religion. This is actually a good thing for humanity. Or would you argue that a community with enforced divisions and separate classes builds a more harmonious society?

Your question really seems to be “why is Christianity and its set of morals failing?”

[GoldenEagle]

People say crazy things like, "Homosexuality is perfectly fine" or, "Nudism is free-body movement that brings you closer to God".

It's amazing how people willingly fall into this veil of deceit.

They also claim that "Nudism is pretty much non-sexual state of mind".

But that can't be true.

Because if that was the case, I wouldn't have horrible lustful urges that drive me to seek out pictures of nudism for sexual gratification. And I wouldn't feel shame in front of God for it, and I wouldn't feel like I'm driving myself away from God's embrace, dying.

This Culture of Death makes me think about that.

Interesting thoughts. For the most part I agree. Care to expand on “Culture of Death”?

[GoldenEagle]

I propose the following consequences are the result of de-volution of cultures due to sin...

Summary of Sin's Progression in a Culture:

1. Mankind rejected God’s truth.

2. Not only that but we have suppressed God’s truth and followed after unrighteousness.

3. Because of Mankind’s rejection of truth we fell into idolatry.

4. This leads to fornication and adultery in heterosexual relationships.

5. This is the classic example of the consequences of men not being spiritual leaders in their homes, in the Church, and in society at large.

6. Marriage is no longer valued. So...

7. This then leads to unnatural relations between women.

8. This then leads to unnatural relations between men.

9. God allowed mankind to have a degraded mind and be consumed by all sort of sin.

Is this the case in the U.S. today and abroad?

Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?

What culture are you talking about?

There are many aspects of culture that have evolved and continue to evolve in a positive direction. The pursuit of scientific knowledge has provided many great benefits that we experience every day. Here in the US racism and homophobia (although very much alive) are seen as negative traits. Women are enjoying greater job opportunities. Our communities are becoming more diverse.

At a human level we are becoming more accepting of others, regardless of appearance, sexual preference or religion. This is actually a good thing for humanity. Or would you argue that a community with enforced divisions and separate classes builds a more harmonious society?

Your question really seems to be “why is Christianity and its set of morals failing?”

See post #17:

I’m speaking of culture in general. But this OP was in reference to Romans 1 in the Bible pointing to the degeneration and fall of the Roman Empire (who’s symbol was an eagle ironically). History repeats itself with patterns would you agree?

Technology has evolved I agree through inventions and science. While this is good it also brings new challenges. As an example what percentage of the internet websites are dedicated to pornography?

Seems to me like you are equating tolerance with positive evolution of culture? Are we to take a more universal approach or outlook on culture in order to be “enlightened”?

Christianity and it’s set of morals isn’t failing. Humanity is simply de-evolving as more and more people turn away from God. Your thoughts?

[AlexanderJ]

So, what is the real problem? The technology or the biological urges?

Neither technology nor biological urges are the real problem. Paraphrasing the words of a well-kown Christian author: They are all holy when God's hand is on the rein. They all go bad when they set up on their own and make themselves into false gods."

Edited November 20, 2012 by AlexanderJ

[AlexanderJ]

I wouldn't use the word "de-evolution"; I would use the word "degradation". Any culture (Japanese, Roman, Western...ect) degrades when it departs from God's principles. The basis for Christian Morality can be summarized as follows:

(Jesus) ...said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Luke 10:27

Culture degrades when individuals begin to only think and care about their own selves, and not of their God and their neighbor. "Right" becomes not what pleases God and helps my neighbor but rather what pleases me and "to hell with the standards of God and others, why should I care?". Like the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer said:

"If a person doesn’t think there is a God to be accountable to, then—then what’s the point of trying to modify your behaviour to keep it within acceptable ranges? That’s how I thought anyway. I always believed the theory of evolution as truth, that we all just came from the slime. When we, when we died, you know, that was it, there is nothing…"

[Godsmercyinus]

Interesting thoughts. For the most part I agree. Care to expand on “Culture of Death”?

....

I don't remember it too well, but this was something my Pastor talked about a Sunday not too recently. "Culture of Death"? Exactly what it says on the Tin.

A Society that simply embraces lies and false idols and self-indulgent ideas suited only for their own selfish ends, and trying to live without God. Without Christ. Shoot, if I had to quote the Bible on this, then the closest comparison would be:

2 Tim: 3:1-7

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastfu, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth."

And just for emphasis:

Phillipians 3:18-19

"For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things."

And:

Romans: 6:21

"What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!"

A Culture of Death, he said, that was how he referred to it. It's bad enough that people are swept into it easily and without fail, succumbing to temptation until it's as normal as practicing daily Hygiene, but it's worse because it causes Christians lost in the thick of it become immune to it. Spiritual Numbness, or just being apathetic to a world at large that has people dying in their sins, dying as they kill one another, or turn against their family and loved ones, or corrupt one another with sexual immorality. And road widens towards Hell.

I am scared. I'm scared of becoming Spiritually numb, and how it could push Christ out of my sight without me even realizing it.

[AlexanderJ]

So, if the police went on strike tomorrow, would you steal things tomorrow? Do you base your actions on fear of being accountable to anyone? If that were true, then morality would not be objective, or would not even exist, would it? For, what value does it have to behave morally if we are not ready to do it without fear of being accountable?

Ciao

- viole

P.S. I would not seriously take moral inspiration from a serial killer.

I base my actions on God's principles and the desire to obey them. What I sought to accomplish by quoting Dahmer was to propose that once you take God and his principles out of the equation, morality does become subjective and/or difficult to define. "Right" is defined by God and is doing what pleases God and helps my neighbor.

Edited November 20, 2012 by AlexanderJ

[jasoncran]

What is FGM?

Female Genital Mutilation. I chose that example because it is part of the mores of ancient tribes. Not only of them, even in Germany we had a medicalized form of that some 100 years ago. Now, imigrants are bringing that custom in. Some people complain about the term because they say that it is already taking sides. This is why scientists, to my knowledge, refer to it as "genital cutting".

no. its the reverse. theres no need in ancient cultures to say that murder was wrong. just what was murder was defined uniformaly but in all case the cultures had them and then they coded them.

.. in Albania, for instance, there is blood vendetta, as far as I know. In the Bible, this is recorded, too:

Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. Gen 4:23

Have a good day,

Thomas

that didnt make it right. context tell you that is wrong.

that chapter lists what went and why its wrong. if that is the case then you ignored the idea of the avenger of blood. where its allowed to revenge murder by a family member in the torah.

cities of refuge. interesting it will be when i read what the commentary i have says on it.

[Guest]

Interesting thoughts. For the most part I agree. Care to expand on “Culture of Death”?

I don't remember it too well, but this was something my Pastor talked about a Sunday not too recently. "Culture of Death"? Exactly what it says on the Tin.

A Society that simply embraces lies and false idols and self-indulgent ideas suited only for their own selfish ends, and trying to live without God. Without Christ. Shoot, if I had to quote the Bible on this, then the closest comparison would be:

2 Tim: 3:1-7

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastfu, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth."

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. Proverbs 8:36

[slowpoke55]

See post #17:

I’m speaking of culture in general. But this OP was in reference to Romans 1 in the Bible pointing to the degeneration and fall of the Roman Empire (who’s symbol was an eagle ironically). History repeats itself with patterns would you agree?

That's too general of a statement can you be more specific? Cycles can be tied to the limitations of economic and political systems. For example: an economic system that allows the hording of wealth and resources will eventually exhaust its resources and attempt to conquer foreign resources. That can happen peacefully or violently.

Technology has evolved I agree through inventions and science. While this is good it also brings new challenges. As an example what percentage of the internet websites are dedicated to pornography?

A much better example is an atomic bomb.

Seems to me like you are equating tolerance with positive evolution of culture? Are we to take a more universal approach or outlook on culture in order to be “enlightened”?

My point is equality is a positive evolution of culture. Would you agree with this?

Christianity and it’s set of morals isn’t failing.

Humanity is simply de-evolving as more and more people turn away from God. Your thoughts?

A Gallup poll suggests that being less religious is actually better for the economy of a country.

http://www.gallup.co...st-nations.aspx

What are the critical trends that a society is de-evolving?