I remember watching this paganism youtube channel a few moths ago. In one of the videos (I think it was on animism) this guy made a very interesting observation. Ancient pagan and animist practices were, he claims, world affirming whereas the Abrahamic religions are world defying. What he means by this is that the former anchor spiritual practice in the here and now, on the relationship between self and the world we inhabit. In contrast, world denying religions seek spiritual fulfillment beyond this reality, they deny the centrality of our world to spiritual growth and place us outside of it. I can look up the video and share it if people are interested.
Ooof, I just noticed I was posting in c/christianity. I'm gonna take the pagan discussion elsewhere.
That said, I'd be curious to find out more about your views on this: "We should deny this world, denial creates conflict, conflict creates change and improvement. Denial is an affirmation of reality." I don't think I'm familiar with any mainstream Christian theology which espouses such a view. This comes quite close to Gnosticism, but I don't wanna put words in your mouth.
Where do you build it, though? Does it have a material reality? Because I'm fairly certain that (for most Christian denominations) the Kingdom of God is generally thought to come about after Judgement day.
I remember watching this paganism youtube channel a few moths ago. In one of the videos (I think it was on animism) this guy made a very interesting observation. Ancient pagan and animist practices were, he claims, world affirming whereas the Abrahamic religions are world defying. What he means by this is that the former anchor spiritual practice in the here and now, on the relationship between self and the world we inhabit. In contrast, world denying religions seek spiritual fulfillment beyond this reality, they deny the centrality of our world to spiritual growth and place us outside of it. I can look up the video and share it if people are interested.
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Ooof, I just noticed I was posting in c/christianity. I'm gonna take the pagan discussion elsewhere.
That said, I'd be curious to find out more about your views on this: "We should deny this world, denial creates conflict, conflict creates change and improvement. Denial is an affirmation of reality." I don't think I'm familiar with any mainstream Christian theology which espouses such a view. This comes quite close to Gnosticism, but I don't wanna put words in your mouth.
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Where do you build it, though? Does it have a material reality? Because I'm fairly certain that (for most Christian denominations) the Kingdom of God is generally thought to come about after Judgement day.
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That's the big question, isn't it? Personally I've moved on from Christianity so don't expect an answer from me. Sorry.
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