Reddit reviews How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture (L'Abri 50th Anniversary Edition)

Read How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer.

Bottom line: as government grows, Christianity and government become enemies, because:

1. Christianity says God is the Lord of all creation, even government. This means the "little guy" with his Bible can say "government, you're in the wrong here". Governments want power and don't tend to like that. For example, Bonhoeffer.
   
   
2. Socialist governments are predicated on the idea that strong government is the solution to man's problems. So in that system, when the government and the people (for example the government and the Christians) disagree, the government must exert force to maintain control or the socialist system will fail.
   
   Capitalist countries, on the other hand, are predicated on the idea that government exists to provide men with a means of forcing its citizens to do things, which is usually (not always) bad. The best path forward is to enforce laws regulating conduct but not outcome.
   
   The more you regulate anything, the more force men need to apply to other men. Since regulating outcome requires vastly more power than conduct, socialism requires much more power to be sustainable. Concentrated power on that scale is never good in the hands of fallen men.
   
   "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take away everything you have," as they say. Including your freedom to worship.

That's a long winded answer. Read Francis Schaeffer's book, this one. And also people that claim to be Christians don't act like it. They get a tiny bit of pressure and get worried that they will be judging or hypocritical if they go against the flow. Take the idiot husband and wife on "Brother, Husband" which is a polygamist family. His best friend came to the conclusion that he loved his best friends wife. So he came clean. And instead of manning up and telling him to get lost, he talked to his wife, and they are now polygamist.

If your goal is to do something about it, then I would suggest two things. Raising awareness of the issues, and praying for revival. We need one in the US like it's life and death, because this is the best life a lot of folks are going to know if we don't reach them.

If by "media", you mean, "reddit", then you might be right. I also listen to talk radio all the time (weird obsession), so Beck and Rush do a good job of convincing me themselves.

I actually agree with the tea baggers primary concerns, especially fiscally and constitutionally. I think free markets should be regulated for MORAL and ETHICAL reasons, and to promote financial STABILITY; but other than that...yup, more responsible, more state rights, ethical capitalism.

They're still dominated by religious nutters, though. Every major movement in the republican party since the Reagan era has been driven by religious fundamentalists and talk show hosts.

As for governing my speach; whatever....whatever, I do what I want! This is America, and if you don't like it you can get out! I think you take my comments to seriously; do your own damn research.

Here's a few books I've found informative:

Karen Armstrong's The Battle For God


The Culture Wars


Frank Schaeffer's Crazy For God


Francis Shaeffer's How Should We then Live?

> Brought up in reference to sexual themes.

I see?

> Enough that a foundation was created to encourage emulation of him and the other academic artists.

Wasn't aware of that. Being popular with one particular wealthy conservative donor doesn't necessarily equate to popular with conservatives in general. I guess I can see how one of the last hold-outs for an older representative style would have some appeal for someone who thinks modern art is shit (and let's face it... a lot of it really is)

> I’m not familiar with him. Got a link?

I mentioned it above: How Should we Then Live by Francis Schaeffer.