Microsoft Word - ChristianityNotReligionBkMSS.doc

absolutism, often based on a biblicism and literalism
borrowed from Judaism.
(2) ...isms of conceptual trends. Throughout the history
of the Christian religion there have been philosophical and
theological trends of thought that influenced the ideological
theories. Behind Gnosticism there were concepts of
mysticism and spiritualism, which have arisen over and
over again in Christian religion. There has always been the
conceptual dichotomy between the historicism that fosters
conservatism and traditionalism, versus the liberalism that
advocates progressivism and revolutionism. In the midst of
such there has always been an expectancy of futurism,
often taking variant forms of apocalypticism or
millennialism, with trends toward triumphalism or
pessimism. As the Christian religion adapted to its
surroundings in culturalism, it often adopted new
tendencies by eclecticism or syncretism. An historical
review of the absorption of idealism, empiricism,
pragmatism, and existentialism (just to name a few) will
document the tendency to borrow the conceptual trends of
humanism.
(3) ...isms of behavioral practices. The rapid rate of
decline wherein the Christian religion degenerated into the