The Catholic Church and secularism

[Christphr]

Secularism eliminates religious rules and teachings from the public and government.

1. Why is the developed West so secular?
2. What should the response of the Catholic Church be to an increasingly secular society?

 

[misstherese]

1. Well, as far as America, I would say it has become secular because it was meant to be secular from the start. America was founded because those who fled here were looking for freedom to practice their religion, whatever religion that might be. There’s a reason a lot of the famous voices of the early formation of the US were Freemasons. And we know what Freemasons believe. Some pretty dangerous stuff.
2. Crack down and be more clear in its stance on certain issues. You’d be surprised how much people admire it when someone can speak their mind and mean it. (as we can see with Trump, that worked for him). Many young people cannot find such clarity in western culture and therefore decide to flee to the Catholic Church, only to find that it has softened up. Often they don’t appreciate it because they want the opposite of what so often was pushed onto them (anything goes, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, love yourself, feel beautiful, have fun, etc.).

 

[ATraveller]

1. There are many theories and they more or less overlap according to some. One is wealth, where the richer someone becomes, the less likely they are to be religious. Another is the rise of liberalism around the 1700s, where the concepts of restraint and tradition are considered oppressive. I’ll throw in a third one, where Christianity was imposed from the top but no real spiritual conversion occurred among most of the general population and the elite so Christianity in the public and government eroded away over time.
2. The worst response is to compromise Christian teachings and doctrines, which is practically a death sentence. The real solution is to be uncompromisingly faithful to God. Have sound doctrine. Live out the faith better. Be a real community and one that’s radically different from the self-centred secular society around it and evangelise. Work on apologetics. Be steeped in the rich intellectual works throughout Christianity’s history. The Benedict Option essentially.

 

[ajg]

There’s a reason a lot of the famous voices of the early formation of the US were Freemasons. And we know what Freemasons believe. Some pretty dangerous stuff.

What do Freemasons believe? How do you know? Before I came back to the church I was a mason. It’s a social club.

 

[misstherese]

What do Freemasons believe? How do you know? Before I came back to the church I was a mason. It’s a social club.

Freemasonry is condemned by the Church probably because it encourages relativism.

 

[Thom18]

That’s what a lot of Freemason groups have become, yes- but they’re condemned nonetheless. They’re still a group opposed to the teaching of the Catholic Church.

 

[Kei]

In modern day America, yes, it’s mostly a social club.

Have you ever heard of Albert Pike? He was a freemason who has written on some things…occult stuff.

But to answer the question.

It goes back to the Protestant reformation. The people question legitimate authority and ultimately rely upon their own selves to interpret and find a way to Christ.
The various regions had rules following Luther’s rebellion that the religion of the land was determined by the prince.
The various religions didn’t stand each other and for religious tolerance for their own religion various states were made in America.
The denial of authority naturally makes its way to denial of the authority of the Bible, and philosophy so far in general.
You get the Enlightenment.
Then you get America.
Then you get French Revolution.
increasing secularization is not any wonder.

We must stay firm in truth.

 

[ajg]

I am aware they are condemned. That’s why when I came back to the church I immediately resigned membership. Religion or anything close to it is forbidden to be spoken about in their lodges. The only time religion is discussed is that potential members have to profess that they believe in a supreme being

 

[Genesis315]

1. Basically due to the religious diversity introduced by Protestantism, it generally became accepted that to reduce conflict, government should operate without respect to any religion.
2. Evangelize, evangelize, evangelize.