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Re: the Christianity part, I’d say that starting with the early 1800s until after WW2 the true teleological narrative was the idea of Progress (under different
by paganel 6y ago
Re: the Christianity part, I’d say that starting with the early 1800s until after WW2 the true teleological narrative was the idea of Progress (under different shapes and forms), it was only with the invention (and use) of the atomic bomb that its shine began to fade.
- keiferski 6y agoAbsolutely, but the concept of Progress is directly tied to Christian (more specifically, Abrahamic) eschatology; i.e. the End Times and the notion of linear time. Compared to say, Hinduism, where traditionally time is seen as cyclical. Your atom bomb mention is interesting considering Oppenheimer's Hinduism reference. "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
- HarryHirsch 6y agoThe mainstream denominations of Christianity have always said very clearly that the history of salvation isn't the history of the world. We aren't here to build heaven on Earth, the Kingdom of God works on its own without us.
- keiferski 6y agoI'm talking about broader societal effects of religious beliefs. Abrahamic religions have a linear concept of time, which lends itself to viewing metaphysics and the world in a linear fashion. This is reflected in everything from capital-P Progress, to Millennialist movements, to Hegel and Marx, etc. It permeates everything.
- PaulDavisThe1st 6y agoChristopher Lasch wrote an entire book on how he considered the very concept of "progress" to be a rather recent phenomenon, and the problems it creates. https://www.amazon.com/True-Only-Heaven-Progress-Critics/dp/0393307956/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lasch+heaven+progress&qid=1602866790&s=books&sr=1-1 https://www.amazon.com/True-Only-Heaven-Progress-Critics/dp/...
- keiferski 6y agoYep, great book!