Josh Lang on "Secular Spirituality"
July, 2002
Since Josh has not replied to my (and others’) requests to actually define what “secular spirituality” means and why Catholics should be particularly well-qualified to explain it, I will respond to his original statement.
[Josh] Society is moving toward being that of a secular society with the clothing of religion - a bold statement I consider to be true when examining the mass-migration to pathways best identifed as forms of "secular spirituality", something Catholics are particularly well qualified to explain to the rest of
us.
[Clay] Josh, has yet to define what “secular spirituality” is, but I suspect that for him it means “any religious fellowship outside the Friends/Workers”. I would happen to agree that some Catholics are particularly well-qualified to explain lots of things to him, but probably for not for the same reasons. :-)
[Josh] I seems that religion has become much more of a game, which in turn forms the principal motivation for people leaving the Fellowship, in my express opinion.
[Clay] It certainly is possible that people “church-shop”; however, who is Josh to decide their motives? It could indeed be possible that they leave because they feel convicted through the Holy Spirit that they were not in the right place? If you stick around long enough, you’ll find a vast number of reasons why people left; for example, I left because I came to the realization that the Friends/Workers group is a sincere but misguided anti-Trinitarian, anti-clerical 100-year-old sectarian sola scriptura poster child. But then, that’s just my opinion….
[Josh] "Religious people" seek for religion, not faith, nor divine love, nor any of the Grand Virtues.
[Clay] Just another banal generalization lacking substance.
[Josh] Instead they want to have their liquor and drink it too, as well as dabble the fingers in some biblical syrup on Sundays, hear a sugar-sweet message and depart without a thing to worry about for the week.
[Clay] I never cease to be astounded at Josh’s apparent extrasensory ability to know the spiritual reasons why “they” do anything, particularly those who live in a country other than his own. Regardless, exactly what Catholic messages does he think are “sugar-sweet”, anyway – the consistent anti-abortion stance, the position against the death penalty, the requirement of an examination of conscience on a regular basis, don’t commit adultery, don’t lie, don’t steal, etc.? Do you want to talk about moral theology, Christology, Eschatology, or what?
[Josh] So why the surprise at the American incident concerning the term "God" in the pledge of alliegance? With this slackening mentality, why wonder at the transformation of society into degenerative, non-Christian organs?
[Clay] I wasn’t particularly surprised. As Sharon already pointed out, secularism IS separate from spirituality. By the way, did anyone know that it was the Catholic organization The Knights of Columbus which led the effort to officially include the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954?
[Josh] I think it's a joke to say that society has become secular because "it just has". In an objective assessment one would quickly understand society has become secular for several reasons, outlined below:
1. Catholics
2. "Christian" People like Marc (who needs Satanists?)
3. Organised Religion
4. Increased Education in Society
5. Multiculturalism
6. 20,000+ other factors
[Clay] Here’s a clue for Josh – simply listing 5 things do not make them “reasons” for anything. It would be the same as if I were to say that I think Josh doesn’t know what he’s talking about for several reasons:
1. The Bible
2. diabetes
3. speed bumps
4. CNN
5. transcendentalism
6. “20,000” other factors
[Josh] I could go on, but the factors come from all directions. One cannot say, "Multiculularism has been responsible for the now secular soul of soceity",
neither can one say, "Monoculturalism has been responsible for break down of faith." History holds the answers to the present situation, even if the
historical precedent is not one that appeals to the common "thinking man".
[Clay] I fear that for Josh, history holds the answers to questions he hasn’t even thought to ask……
[Josh] There is indeed a "great falling away" and anyone who denies this is a first-class pimpernel and ignoramus. Christianity is dying on the earth which, to my mind, is the direct fulfulment of the prophecies in the Good Book.
[Clay] Christianity has always had its share of ignorance and apathy – today is no different.
[Josh] Oh yes, I know well that the bible is not a fax straight from heaven, but I believe it be. I heed it as the direct word of God spoken through the Patriarchs, the Prophets, the Apostles and today, spoken through the Ministers in the Fellowship.
[Clay] So, he believes the Bible to be a fax straight from heaven, even though he knows well that it is not? Interesting position he must find himself in, then. Exactly where do he think his Bible came from, anyway? In a later statement to Jane, Josh stated that ”I am a Christian also and yet I do not presume to
speak on behalf of all Christendom. You are a
mouthpiece for your own soul only, primarily because
many in your church, whatever denomination that may
be, will hold differing views from yourself.”. Unfortunately, Josh’s actions contradict themselves – on one hand he says that he does not presume to speak for all Christendom, yet he then goes on to make various sweeping generalizations about them anyway. It seems that Josh feels it is his privilege to be a mouthpiece for everything and everyone, including his own oxymoronic pronouncements.
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