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HR: Human Resources
  • SephSeph December 2012
    Posts: 5,487
    Although I understand the term, I have always hated it.
    It more than suggests that people are a resource to be used - and when no longer needed - discarded.

    I also hate companies who make the claim that they are like “a big family.”
    Families don't lay-off family members. Cut the pretension. Call it what it is.

    From this world-view people are little more than a resource pool to feed the needs of economics and industry. Sadly, it may be true, whether I like it or not.

    In today's world there is a limited pool of 'resources' available. And let's be honest here; to the modern day church, people are seen as a resource. They draw from the same pool and ultimately accomplish one thing only. Intentionally or not, they only further divide the church into smaller and smaller splinters. The direction the modern day church is headed in is “The Church of Me”; total individuality.
    Ironically, it is a position the church condemns many “Spiritual-but-not-Religious” people of being guilty of.

    What we have here is the Religion of the Institutional Church.

    There are two Sacred Holy of Holies in the Institutional Christian Churches today.
    Sabbath Observation (Going to their church), and Tithing (revenue stream)
    Membership and proselyting.
    If simplified further, the modern day Institutional Christian Church is simply a business functioning under a business model.
    Human Resources.

    These two Sacred Cows – Sabbath Observation and Tithing - are absolutely untouchable.
    However, membership and church attendance has been and continues to drop. They know they are dying.

    From my observations, this gives birth to two types of reactions.
    There are those out there – I'd hate to say spiritual predators because it sounds so harsh – who would take this opportunity to create their own little churches and communities (only quickening its demise), and there is the Religion of the Institutional Church who know something needs to be done but aren't sure what.

    Ultimately, they will state a revival is needed - a much needed revolution is at hand!
    What they attempt to do however, is repackage and re-market the same old religion (with its two Sacred Cows). (New wine into old wine skins?)

    (Unfortunately, I am going to be naming names and taking numbers). Of the numerous book reviews I have done over the years, John Crowder's “Seven Spirits Burning” and “Mystical Union”, Jay Bakker's “Fall to Grace”, and Andrew Farley's “The Naked Gospel” are all indicative of this; the business of Repackaging.

    It is interesting that so many people turn to religion hoping to find succour, emancipation, and freedom.
    It's also interesting what the word 'religion' means.
    “The literal meaning of the word religion is, ironically, “to return to bondage.” This word comes from two words, the prefix re meaning “to return”, and the root legare meaning “to bind”. Since everyone wants freedom, and many turn to religion to find it, the regrettable consequence is that often they get greater enslavement”. Steve McSwain's The Enoch Factor, Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2010, pg. 45


    I think the one question that the Religion of the Institutional Church feels so desperately needs to be answered is the wrong question.
    How do we save the church?

    We don't.

    Although I cannot say the following authors or their books hold this position, they are definitely looking in the right direction.

    Aaron D. Taylor's “Alone with a Jihadist” and Steve McSwain's “The Enoch Factor” are good examples. Even Matt Mikalatos' “Imaginary Jesus” because it speaks of truths through fiction.

    I happen to agree with the Dalai Lama when he said, “Until there is peace among the religions of the world, there will be no peace in the world”.

    There cannot be peace among the world's religions when some are so focused on proselyting, membership, building numbers, and – ultimately - dreams of empire.

    What does the future of Churchianity look like?
    I hope there isn't one.
    What does the future of Christianity look like?

    I don't even think these are the correct questions.

    I think Steve McSwain might have put it best,
    “I feel more strongly today than ever that the future of humanity is at stake. Unless there are profound changes in human consciousness – that is, changes in how we look at each other and how we treat each other, there is little hope for humanity's survival.” Steve McSwain's "The Enoch Factor", Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2010, pg. 44
    Syncretism is akin to wringing the truth out of ten thousand lies

    The Woven
    The Symbiot; a novella

    "It seems in some circles, thinking is heretical"
    ringnut
  • GaladrielGaladriel January 1
    Posts: 12,443
    Seph, I can't remember - have you ever spent time in the U.S.?

    I find the differences between Canada and the U.S. really interesting when it comes to proselyting. At least here in Toronto that kind of behaviour is looked down on.

    Yes, we have street preachers on certain corners in the summer but 99.99% of people walk past them without a second glance. And I'd guess that at least a third of our street preachers are mentally ill. (I'm not being unkind here - their grasp of emotionally healthy socializing is tenuous at best.)

    I think Canada and Europe are a glimpse of where the U.S. is headed. My in-laws are very conservative Christians. Out of their 4 children 1 is moderately religious, 2 are culturally Christian (e.g. Easter and Christmas church-goers, otherwise not that interested in the subject), and 1 is non-religious. This pattern seems to be repeating in a lot of families.

    Most of the people here under the age of 40 I've met may be culturally Christian (or Hindu/Muslim/Jewish etc.) but their daily lives are honestly no different than the non-religious folks.

    This is the future of religion...at least in western society. I don't think of it as a bad thing at all. Actually, not having black and white opinions on this topic (and especially not feeling the need to shove them down other people's throats) makes life better for everyone.


  • GaladrielGaladriel January 1
    Posts: 12,443
    I just stumbled across an article on this topic on twitter.