Is cultural loss a consequence of evangelization?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Curious11
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
guanophore said:
I suppose you feel that the building should suffer the same fate as the Hagia Sophia?

Perhaps you feel the cult of Mithra should be continued?
Click to expand...
No, I don’t like the fact that Turkey was de-christianized, nor that the Hagia Sophia was made into a Mosque. That’s exactly my point, i wouldn’t want to make a church out of a Buddhist Temple, just leave them there as a cultural reminder or museum.

I don’t want the cult of Mithra to continue, but I would like the practices of the follower that are not in conflict with Christ to continue
 
po18guy said:
A culture which knows of Christ and rejects him is pretty well done with.
Click to expand...
You mean… every evangelized nation that ever existed?

No it is not “done with”. In the Old Testament alone Israel declined and rose multiple times. God doesn’t quit.
 
Last edited:
Curious11 said:
No, I don’t like the fact that Turkey was de-christianized, nor that the Hagia Sophia was made into a Mosque. That’s exactly my point, i wouldn’t want to make a church out of a Buddhist Temple, just leave them there as a cultural reminder or museum.
Click to expand...
Ok. I see where you are coming from and I do empathize with the sense of lose you feel.

But the local communities might not feel the same way. Among one example, when England was evangelized a long time ago, there were druidic temples that were refitted into sanctuaries for worship.

There are protestant churches that have since been purchased by Catholic dioceses, such as the case with the the crystal cathedral in Los Angeles. It was a simple transition that happened without coercion or fighting.

Going back to South Korea: Buddhism has been gradually declining in the country, and Christianity gaining traction. There are more Christians in Korea today than there are Buddhists. As far as non-Christian places of worship or meditation, there can be a lot of them and the local community might not be willing to maintain all of them should the case arise that they fall out of use.

Everybody is entitled to an opinion but this is ultimately something internally for the sovereign countries & native populations to work out, who live there, pay the taxes and the bills, etc.
 
Last edited:
You can’t compare Judaism with Buddhism. There are many characters there who are also saints in Christianity. But Buddha is not.
It is a matter of choice. Like Pagan Rome gave up Venus and became Christian and Venus is a foot note in some history book so must happen to Buddha. But it will never happen to Moses.
 
But look at the Renaissance. We didn’t become pagan again but we did bring back certain cultural elements from Ancient Rome which we missed. And today nobody complains that the Lincoln Memorial looks like a Greek pagan temple, because we embrace the culture of our pre-christian ancestors, without rejecting Christ
 
Last edited:
But to get there giving it up was necessary. And should it be that certain pagan things be returned only through the Grace of God. So for Buddhists it is not Renaissance now. Besides… certain resurrected pagan stuff did mean a fall back. Pope Francis and many Catholic theologians diplore Illuminism and the apostasy it brought. And if any building is seen as a pagan temple I guess …hm…maybe many deplore it. So you saying “nobody complains that” is not exactly describing the situation. Better even forget the knowledge of a pagan tenple and dedicate it as a national symbol I think. I know the Church only allows certain ancient symbols devoided of their pagan significance right? Please correct me if I am wrong.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top