The Christians Have Become The Pagans
Tuesday, December 16th, 2003 02:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flwydAt the height of Christian power in Europe, the Pagans and Heathens lived outside of town. Farmers, they were secluded from the society engulfed in Christianity and controlled, in large measure, by the Church, though many Pagan practices lived on with a thin Christian veil. The Pagans followed the old ways and were looked down upon as being old fashioned, cliquish, and superstitious.
Today, secularism dominates most American cities. While many people remain religious and churches still play a strong role, God is kept out of law (mostly) and most activity in cities occurs without explicit influence from religious affiliation or doctrine, and The Bible doesn't have much direct influence on behavior (though a keen eye shows Christianity's foundational social role). But look to the rural South, small mountain towns, and midwestern farming communities. The church there is often the hub of activity, Christianity (and usually of a less-contemporary form) plays a large part in public life, and city secularists joke about and dismiss such outsiders as hicks.
In America, Christians have taken the role of Pagans and secularism now stands in the place once held by Christianity.
Today, secularism dominates most American cities. While many people remain religious and churches still play a strong role, God is kept out of law (mostly) and most activity in cities occurs without explicit influence from religious affiliation or doctrine, and The Bible doesn't have much direct influence on behavior (though a keen eye shows Christianity's foundational social role). But look to the rural South, small mountain towns, and midwestern farming communities. The church there is often the hub of activity, Christianity (and usually of a less-contemporary form) plays a large part in public life, and city secularists joke about and dismiss such outsiders as hicks.
In America, Christians have taken the role of Pagans and secularism now stands in the place once held by Christianity.
