What is Christendom?
In CE 313 the Jesus movement experienced a series of history-changing shifts. It began when Constantine made Christianity the official state religion. The effects of this have continued to ripple up to the present day. Here are some things that the shift from the early Jesus movement to a state sponsored (and state sponsoring) Christian religion meant:
+The adoption of Christianity as the official religion of a city, state, or empire.
+The movement of the church from the margins of society to its centre.
+The creation and progressive development of a Christian subculture or civilization.
+The assumption that all citizens (except for the Jews) were Christian by birth.
+The development of corpus Christianum, where there was no freedom of religion and where political power was regarded as divinely authenticated.
+Infant baptism as the symbol of obligatory incorporation into this Christian society.
+Sunday as an official day of rest and obligatory church attendance, with penalties for non-compliance.
+The definition of “orthodoxy” as the common belief shared by all, which was determined by powerful church leaders supported by the state.
+The imposition of a supposedly Christian morality on the entire society (although normally Old Testament moral standards were applied).
+A hierarchical ecclesiastical system, based on a diocesan and parish arrangement, which was analogous to the state hierarchy and was buttressed by state support.
+The construction of massive and ornate church buildings and the formation of huge congregations.
+A generic distinction between clergy and laity, and the relegation of the laity to a largely passive role.
+The increased wealth of the church and the imposition of obligatory tithes to fund the system.
+The defense of Christianity by legal sanctions to restrain heresy, immorality and schism.
+The division of the globe into “Christendom” or “heathendom” and the waging of war in the name of Christ and the church.
+The use of political and military force to impose the Christian faith.
+The use of the Old Testament, rather than the New, to support and justify many changes.
Murray, Post-Chritendom (Carlise: Paternoster, 2004), 76-78. qtd in Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways(Brazos: Grand Rapids), 59-60.
Modern Gods: A Contemporary, Urban Story
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MODERN GODS is a series of posts exploring the phenomenon of worship and religion in our time.
Modern Gods: Self
“Anyone who does not see the vanity of the world is very vain himself.
And so who does not see it, apart from the young who are preoccupied with bustle, distractions, and plans for the future?
But take away their distractions and you will see them wither from boredom.
Then they feel their hollowness without understanding it, because it is indeed depressing to be in a state of unbearable sadness as soon as you are reduced to contemplating yourself, and without distraction from doing so.”
Pascal, Penseés 70
“If we are not a generation in love with itself, we are, undeniably, one that is obsessed with itself.”
Ronald Rolheiser, The Shattered Lantern
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MODERN GODS is a series of posts exploring the phenomenon of worship and religion in our time.
Modern Gods: Success
from The New Yorker
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MODERN GODS is a series of posts exploring the phenomenon of worship and religion in our time.
A Bizarre Eeriness: North Korea
Following the death of North Korea’s Kim Jong-il, I remembered this collection of photographs from within North Korea in August 2011.
Such an obvious propaganda machine as North Korea’s is a bizarre thing, even eerie. Have a reading of their official ‘news’ twitter feed.
