tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696956101824934089.post6783116442318822701..comments2024-03-12T16:53:52.795-04:00Comments on Crypto-Catholic Libertine: Practical versus spiritual concerns in ritualJules Aiméhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08262535377454858987noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696956101824934089.post-32821624559589942212010-08-08T15:39:37.161-04:002010-08-08T15:39:37.161-04:00"However, it seems to me that the examples yo..."However, it seems to me that the examples you cite to show why Christianity is different from ancient Roman spirituality or modern day cults only underscore how similar it has become to all of them."<br /><br />I wish I could disagree with you but, unfortunately, you are absolutely right.Jules Aiméhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08262535377454858987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2696956101824934089.post-67038109241598265222010-08-08T14:09:46.007-04:002010-08-08T14:09:46.007-04:00You're really touching on so many things here....You're really touching on so many things here. No, there isn't one definition of Religion any more than there is one definition of Church, which Avery Dulles pointed out in Models of Church. As you correctly say, in order to understand a particular religion or church one has to ask what it does because both religion and church mean different things to different people--even within Christianity itself. However, it seems to me that the examples you cite to show why Christianity is different from ancient Roman spirituality or modern day cults only underscore how similar it has become to all of them. Most modern-day Christians see "religion as a way to tap into a special kind of power to transform their world," in many cases a world they are fearful of, don't understand, or feel they have little control over. You can see this when the priest says "please remember in your prayers Mrs. Jones who is having surgery this week, or Mr. Smith's son who is seving in Iraq." And, unlike the Romans who knew that "it didn't make any difference who you prayed to if you didn't make sure your posts were plumb," I have seen first-hand how some participants in so-called faith-based treatment programs believe that Faith alone will cure drug addiction, alcohol abuse, or sex offending behavior, without doing the work they need to do on themselves to overcome these maladaptive behaviors. I think that Faith can be a powerful tool in overcoming anything, but, as you say, its not going to help you build a house if you have no clue about construction techniques. It might lead you to people who have that knowledge, but I don't think most self-proclaimed Christians today look at it that way. Maybe I'm wrong.BobinCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07349641483981235572noreply@blogger.com