Relativism and Legalism
Mar 20, 2017 15:49:40 GMT -6
Post by Todd on Mar 20, 2017 15:49:40 GMT -6
Concerning religious norms there is an instructive contrast between contemporary relativism and ancient Jewish legalism. Jewish legalism forfeited the “heart of the matter,” i.e. the essence of the law for the maintenance of its outward form, whereas contemporary religious relativism seeks to rid itself of “the heart of the matter,” or the very essence of worship. The impulses of these two phenomena vary not so much in their intent is in their methods. Legalism was “invented,” promulgated, or instituted, by the religious elite and enforced by cultural presence and sometimes by government action in order to elevate and magnify the Corporate Self. Relativism, on the other hand, is the unguided tool of the masses, the goal of which is not the elevation of the corporate self, but of the many individual selves.
Indeed, the legalism of the Jews, the Catholics, and the Muslims all are the work of the religious elite and foster a unified corporate self. Modern, or postmodern relativism is the work of several various social forces adopted by the masses in order to elevate their individual selves. The Jewish and Muslim legalisms represent the will of the aristocracy; Catholicism represents the will of a monarchy, and relativism represents the will of the masses in a democracy.
The contrast between ancient Jewish legalism and contemporary relativism is heightened by what they retained. The Pharisees retained a version, or form, of Law, but sacrificed its essence. The relativists, who never had to observe the original form of worship in the first place, now seek to destroy its essence as well by substitution of popular forms that are actually antithetical to the essence of worship. It is similar to public school education; not understanding chastity, or the true nature of sexuality, postmodern education seeks to deal with them, or even to establish them by means of sex education classes and free condoms. This is precisely the sort of thing relativism is doing in the modern church.
Todd
Indeed, the legalism of the Jews, the Catholics, and the Muslims all are the work of the religious elite and foster a unified corporate self. Modern, or postmodern relativism is the work of several various social forces adopted by the masses in order to elevate their individual selves. The Jewish and Muslim legalisms represent the will of the aristocracy; Catholicism represents the will of a monarchy, and relativism represents the will of the masses in a democracy.
The contrast between ancient Jewish legalism and contemporary relativism is heightened by what they retained. The Pharisees retained a version, or form, of Law, but sacrificed its essence. The relativists, who never had to observe the original form of worship in the first place, now seek to destroy its essence as well by substitution of popular forms that are actually antithetical to the essence of worship. It is similar to public school education; not understanding chastity, or the true nature of sexuality, postmodern education seeks to deal with them, or even to establish them by means of sex education classes and free condoms. This is precisely the sort of thing relativism is doing in the modern church.
Todd