Category Archives: Faith

(An analysis of the contrast between secular and religious ideology in 6 parts) Secularism cannot cope with being wrong Part 1: Why is so much modern ideology intrinsically totalitarian? My general theory on secularism is that it promotes an ideology much worse than that which religion promotes. I also have a specific view that secularismContinue reading “Secularism cannot cope with being wrong. Part 1”

A religious and a secular basis for society Part 7: Ultimately, our faith leads us to the truth that our sense of self relies on our relationship with God In contrast, because I ignore external categories, and base my life upon my relationship with God, it means that I focus on the values and principlesContinue reading “A religious and a secular basis for society. (Part 7)”

A religious and a secular basis for society Part 6: Focus on identity categories takes us backwards; ignoring them takes us forwards What is it about identity that is so important for modern secular ideologies? We have already considered the crucial point that – when you’ve abandoned the assurance that comes from your relationship withContinue reading “A religious and a secular basis for society. (Part 6)”

A religious and a secular basis for society Part 5: Unwittingly, secular ideology is a failed attempt to compensate for the loss of religion I consider that this is an almost completely unobserved factor in the malaise of modern society – certainly I have not heard anyone else comment on it. Because modern ideologies areContinue reading “A religious and a secular basis for society. (Part 5)”

A religious and a secular basis for society Part 4: The freedom of faith compared with the shackles of identity Compare the joyous, love-filled confidence that I have just described through faith in God with the modern ideologies’ reliance on gaining your identity from certain external categories to which you belong. These ideologies assert thatContinue reading “A religious and a secular basis for society. (Part 4)”

A religious and a secular basis for society Part 3: Perfectly clear vision, perfect assurance Let’s return to why being a “wretched sinner” has been turned into a positive rather than a negative. It’s because it intrinsically goes together with, “who is loved by God”. Here is my foundation in life. I can ask forContinue reading “A religious and a secular basis for society. (Part 3)”

A religious and a secular basis for society Part 2: The modern concept of identity is used to escape responsibility and challenge However, as those who promote the pernicious identity politics ideologies have raised the question about my identity, I will try and answer it, to show where my confidence comes from. Many people todayContinue reading “A religious and a secular basis for society. (Part 2)”

(An analysis in 7 parts of the ideological foundations of today’s secular society, as opposed to the former religious basis. It doesn’t fall easily into my usual three categories, but I have put it in the faith stream as being about fundamental values.) A religious and a secular basis for society Part 1: The emptinessContinue reading “A religious and a secular basis for society. (Part 1)”

We need to address 2 obstacles. Part 3: What do I expect God to do for me in the material world? I do pray to God to keep my family safe; that Putin’s regime might come crumbling down; that humanity will find the unity, wisdom and strength to overcome climate change; that my ill relativeContinue reading “The foundations of faith (14)”

We need to address 2 obstacles. Part 2: What can I expect God to do for me? I think it’s helpful to remember there are not “special” religious emotions: “religious love”, “religious joy”; there are “ordinary” emotions – love, joy, peace etc that are prompted by God’s presence rather than the secular world. So, don’tContinue reading “The foundations of faith (13)”