The Problem  

"Credimus...."        

KEEPING  THE  FAITH

The ruins of Glastonbury Abbey
Site of what is sometimes said to be the oldest above-ground Christian Church 
http://www.powerup.com.au/~johnfrog/glaspage.htm
Glastonbury Abbey web site:   http://www.glastonburyabbey.com

Many Christians today find themselves estranged from Christianity itself.  Where there is no conviction, we call in vain for commitment. Christians need to know that Christianity is believable.

Honest doubts and the erosion of the credibility of Christianity have left many Christians with the feeling that they are no longer entitled to believe most of the claims made by their religion.

Many Christians have become convinced that they can "keep the faith" only at the sacrifice of their intellectual integrity.

Doubts are reinforced by popular opinion, which is for the most part contemptuous of the Christian faith. We also find everywhere Christians who are embarrassed by garish aberrations of their religion, so much in the media.

Some Christians seek to distance themselves from ridicule, only to find that they have been robbed of use of their own most cherished concepts and language.

2. OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

Today’s "cultured despisers" suppose Christianity to be an obsolete religion requiring an unhealthy amount of reality denial to begin with, and assume its history is essentially brutish and despotic. Such views are only confirmed by the media-monopoly of the religious right wing which attaches the name of Christ to a political platform which is the very antithesis of justice, learning, equity, nurture of human potential, and ecological stewardship; and which is strident with self-righteous rhetoric of bigotry, misogyny, and homophobia.