Cheers folks, it's me again. Sorry for the hiatus, but you know, it's the Christmas season and I've been really busy with things.......spending money that I don't have............NOOOOO, I don't look like the guy that robbed the bank in Death Valley!! (Is there a bank in Death Valley?). In either case, I'm back with my blasphemous mouth......or fingers, so look below and read on.

For millennia, the civilization of the western world has been shaped and cultivated by one of the planets largest and most powerful religions, Christianity. It’s influence has been felt, whether positively or negatively, world wide. However, in the past few centuries, the lines connecting Christianity and the society man lives in, have become less apparent. Ergo, the American society is now living in a post-Christian era. To understand how the American society has become post-Christian, we must first understand what it means to be in a Christian era. Is it a matter of demographics? Not really for the fact that when one takes all of the other people on the planet who practice other religions or the lack there of, Christians suddenly become greatly out-numbered. So, it would then seem to be a matter of political power. However, one comes across some problems with this theory as well because most western nations are advocates of the separation of church and state. Most would say that the Christian era simply began with the birth of Christ. This point in history seems to be a great place to start. To understand how society is quickly receding from the Christian era, one must first understand how it began.

They say that Christianity began in Judea over 2000 years ago and from there, spread across Asia, Africa and through Europe where it was persecuted for centuries. It was during this period and through the Crusades that the purity and love of Christianity, (as it was taught by Jesus of Nazareth), became tainted and steeped in blood. Some might say that the end of the Christian era began with the imperialism of Christianity. While this sounds good, Christianity still continued to force the direction of the West and the topic thus becomes a matter of semantics. As for the New World, Christianity was a part of American history from the very beginning. When it came here, it opened a new door and a new beginning for the religion. Although, it was divided with the English Protestants colonizing the East Coast of North America and Catholic Spain taking most of South America. During America’s infancy, Christianity became an ingrained institution. Every noteworthy founder or contributor to American development was an avowed Christian of some denomination or another. Take for example, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, one who had an obvious impact on the American society. He was ordained into the Christian ministry at the age of 19 by the Ebenezer Baptist Church. I would conclude it is logical to say that Christian values crept its way into our system.

I'd say that the Christian era was in full swing in the United States by the 19th Century when Charles Darwin put forth his theory of evolution. You know, the guy that says we came from monkeys? Anyhow, he wrote some stupid book that challenged the Christian belief on how life had formed on Earth and shook the church to it’s very foundations. The theory of evolution began a battle between science and Christianity which, while still debated today, came to what appeared to be a dramatic climax during the Scopes Monkey Trial, which is another topic. But all in all, because of Darwin and his idiotic contemplations, it seemed to spell the beginning of the end for an ever dimming Christianity. But I tell ya, I think secularism and post modernism has the biggest impact. They say that Secularism is “that which seeks the development of the physical, moral and intellectual nature of man to the highest possible point, as the immediate duty of life...”. The improvement of life by material means has become the way...(atleast in the western world). Secularism seems to hold the keys to our society. The improvement of life by material means, the belief in science and the idea that “it is good to do good” are all principles of Secularism and seem to be a blueprint for the way most of us live our lives. Of course, we are influenced by many other philosophies and religions, but of all of them, Secularism seems to be the most universal in this post-modernist world; even more so than Christianity. And speaking of post modernism, that itself has become a harbinger of the post-Christian era. The artwork embraced by post-modernism celebrates a rather "non-conformist" view which is not highly regarded by a majority of denominations of Christianity. Hell, with elements such as discontinuity, fragmentation and self-consciousness, post-modernism seems almost to threaten the ideas of "subservience", "humility before God" and "order" which are embraced by Christianity...and mostly the orthodox. The de-centered and ambiguous nature of post-modernism comes in direct conflict with the Christian agenda, yet are essential to the tremendous and highly influential artistic movements of the 20th and 21st centuries.

And ahhh, we can't forget the god damn media! They're a huge factor in how these conflicting ideas have shaped society. Everyday the world is hit with a plethora of images and messages of a decidedly non-Christian, sometimes anti-Christian nature. Hollywood and the mainstream media are the biggest “molders of opinion” in the nation today and frequently provides a rather negative portrayal of Christianity; especially right-wing Christian leaders. Media outlets appeal to a huge cross-section of society and contributes even more evidence that we are fast approaching a post-Christian nation if not the world. And then of course, there's politics. They have done little to dissuade anti-Christian sentiment. Damn bastards. Hypocrisy among Christian liberals and conservatives alike have garnered plenty of attention by news agencies in America. Combine these stories, (e.g. Jim Baker’s embezzlement, Bill Clinton’s sex-scandal), with the molestation crisis in the Catholic Church and there are more than enough examples as to how weak the public’s support of the Christian faith has become. 'Tis really sad.

As to whether we are in the post-Christian era or not will continue to be a matter of debate. Objective thinking states that the influence of the Christian religion will be apparent for years to come. However, with a decline in the current generations support of Christianity as an organized religion, it will only be a matter of time before the pull of the Christian religion begins to wane. I've read once, but I can't remember where....(so don't sue me if I accidently plagiarize a line or two), “The god of Christianity has been superceded by the gods of modernity: money, sex, fame, power.....". The sad fact is, the Christian era is nearing it’s end....YAHOO!!...*cough...I didn't mean that. But, it is not to say that the world will fall into a black pit of despair and complete chaos as many Christian Fundamentalists would be quick to incline. On the contrary, we would be entering a world of exciting new spiritual and philosophical possibilities. Shut up already, I'm coming to a close! So what's the conclusion? The end of the Christian era is nigh and it’s just that, the end of an era, not the end of the world. Until next time......