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| [6:15 pm] |
| Subject: Forces That Have Secularized Modern Society: Christianity |
I've added a section to "Anti-religious Forces: What are the Historical Forces That Have Secularized Modern Society?" by Vexen Crabtree (2003):
New section: Anti-religious Forces: Christian Intolerance for Magic and Gods
The sociologist Bryan Wilson puts forward some additional observations in the role that Christianity has played in the abolition of the general mindset that lends itself to religion. As Christianity is not pluralistic and does not accept that others can belief in other gods (unlike polytheist cultures, where gods did not claim exclusive right to exist), Christianity has in effect reduced and battled against the general religious mindset, including belief in all kinds of magic except the few bits contained with Christianity (prayer, resurrection, afterlife).
“Those societies most dominated by religious motivations are those in which diverse mysteries, powers, objects and deities are recognized. Paradoxially, considering Christianity's attempt to eliminate magic, alien beliefs and rival theories of deity, religiosity as such is stronger where such multiplicity of ideas prevails. [...] Christianity militated strongly against magical ideas, but in doing so probably eventually - and in the very long run - made acceptance of Christian ideas more difficult. [...] It is no accident that from among the Puritans came a significant impetus in the development of science - the manifestation of a rational spirit. (See Robert K. Merton, Social Theory and Social Structure, Glencoe, Ill., The Free Press, 2nd edn., 1957, pp574-628)”
"Religion in Secular Society" by Bryan Wilson, p44 |
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