In this episode we discuss the topic, “Church and State” with our special guest, Glenn.
Here are some notes from our discussion:
-what is the history? Separation? (catholic church?) -
- Early Christianity – Christianity as a minority –
- 311 Constantine — what did this rise of a Roman Ruler and thereby a rise to power of the Christian faith, do to Christianity?
- John Howard Yoder — Mennonite Theologian Par exellance — Argues that Constantine or “The constantinian shift” or “the great reversal” was a critical error for Christian history and provides a point of convergence for modern Christian social ethics.
YODER:
“A third dimension of the great reversal is the transformation of moral deliberation into utilitarianism. Minorities and the weak have numerous languages for moral discourse:
- conscience, intention, inspiration, and other similar “subjective” measures of right action;
-revelation, “nature”, “wisdom”, and other “recieved” standards;
-covenant, tradition, “style,” reputation, training, and other “community-maintenance” criteria.
Each of these ways of moral reasoning has its logical and psychological strenghts and limits. We cannot evaluate them here. Yet it is important that each can, in given circumstances, lead persons to act sacrificially, for the sake of others, or for the sake of a “cause” more important than the individual. Each can life decision and action above immediate cost/benefit calculation. But once the evident course of history is held to be empirically discernable, and the prosperity of our regime is the measure of all good, all morality boils down to efficacy. Right action is what works; what does not promise results can hardly be right.” The Priestly Kingdom, 140.
malaysia – divorce kids keep original religion
Our poll taken: 50% for separation of church and state, 25% against, 25% dont know
This episode is one hour and four minutes long:
[podcast]http://unbelievablefaith.com/wp-content/audio/UFaithEp014.mp3[/podcast]