1. Religion as the Root of Knowledge
Religion, particularly the Bible, can be seen as the foundational root upon which much of our understanding of morality, law, and ethics was built. From a theological perspective, Christian teachings, based on divine revelation, provided humanity with its earliest frameworks for understanding justice, human dignity, and truth. These principles significantly shaped the development of Western civilization. Philosophically, thinkers like Thomas Aquinas argued that reason and faith work together, with religion providing the ethical foundation that nourished the growth of knowledge.
2. The Growth of Knowledge as a Tree
As knowledge has accumulated over time, it’s easy to lose sight of the religious roots from which it grew. This is akin to a tree filled with branches and leaves, where the roots that nourished it are often forgotten. Theologically, the Bible contains timeless principles that are just as relevant today as they were in the past. But as society expands in secular knowledge, it distances itself from these spiritual and moral foundations. Thinkers like G.K. Chesterton pointed out that societies risk losing their moral compass as they grow more specialized, and foundational ethical teachings become obscured.
3. The Challenge of Applying Ancient Wisdom Today
It might be difficult to apply ancient religious teachings to modern contexts, but the core lessons remain relevant. The Bible wasn’t just written for its own time — it contains eternal truths. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, for example, used these teachings in the 1950s and 60s to address contemporary philosophical and moral issues. This idea aligns with philosophers like Aristotle and Plato, who believed in eternal truths about justice and morality that apply across time. The challenge lies in translating these truths to modern life. Modern teachers might not know how to describe ancient wisdom in modern ways, and as such, our generation has not attended Church (but Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and others in that era knew how to do it).
4. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s Insights
Archbishop Sheen warned that when societies abandon long-standing religious beliefs, they risk falling into moral decay and adopting harmful ideologies. From a Christian perspective, the Bible warns about the dangers of turning away from God and embracing false teachings, which can lead to societal collapse (Romans 1:21-32). This warning also resonates with Nietzsche’s prediction that without God, society would fall into nihilism, leaving a vacuum where dangerous ideologies could flourish. (This is what we see today with PM Trudeau and Liberal Party of 2015 to 2024). Sheen’s warnings about abandoning faith remain relevant today as societies become increasingly secular.
Note: We have attached an article below to explain what ideologies, quasi-religions and religions are expected to rise after Christianity is suppressed socially, institutionally and politically.
5. The Risk of Abandoning Religion for Secular Utopia
Many believe that abandoning religion will pave the way for a secular utopia. However, they often overlook the extensive body of work by theologians, Christian scholars, philosophers, and historians that has explored the potential consequences of such a shift. These works provide critical insights into the risks and challenges associated with forsaking deeply rooted spiritual and moral frameworks.
Without a strong moral foundation, society risks embracing a flood of competing ideologies, which themselves can develop into quasi-religions or full on religions (especially when there is crisis to accelerate the process), many of which could be harmful and/or extremely harmful.
Christianity warns of this danger, and Christians have not reacted strongly enough to this likely outcome, especially in prophetic scriptures like 2 Thessalonians 2:3, which describes a “falling away” from faith.
Philosophically, Alasdair MacIntyre argued that secular ethics lacks the coherence that religious systems provide, leading to societal instability. Without a grounding in transcendent moral law, societies can become fragmented by conflicting ideologies (like happens under PM Trudeau, Biden/Harris, and politicians from Western Europe).
6. The Risk of Endless Ideologies and Moral Confusion and the Risk for Global Conflict
When society abandons a belief system that has served it well for centuries, it risks falling into a state where multiple, often harmful, ideologies flourish unchecked and proliferate unchecked in both quantity and scale. This leads to moral confusion and societal instability. Christianity consistently warns against the dangers of false teachings (Matthew 24:24), cautioning that societies can spiral into chaos when they stray from divine truth. Philosophers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche warned that moral relativism, without a coherent moral framework, leads to the proliferation of ideologies that could be dangerous to societal harmony.
7. Conclusion: The Importance of Staying Rooted in Tradition
Society must recognize the value of its religious and philosophical foundations. Losing these roots can lead to a dangerous proliferation of ideologies that lack moral truth. From a Christian perspective, true freedom and moral integrity come from being rooted in God’s truth (John 8:32). Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s warnings about abandoning long-standing faith traditions should not be taken lightly, as doing so could lead to moral decay.
Philosophically, Kant and Aquinas provide a framework for understanding that moral truth, when tied to divine law, offers a stable foundation for ethical decision-making.
Key Articles – Related Content:
Title: “Life is Worth Living | Episode 1 | Quo Vadis America | Fulton Sheen” https://youtu.be/WQA9nxUtIew?feature=shared
Quo Vadis America Article – Discussing the crossroads between revolutionary change and foundational principles in 2024 election time.
Title: “Quo Vadis America 2024: A Crossroads Between Revolutionary Change and Foundational Principles” https://x.com/SkillsGapTrain/status/1830722720390377953
Article on the Rise of New Religions and Ideologies – Analyzing how abandoning faith can lead to a proliferation of harmful beliefs.
Title: “Battle for Humanity: How Rising Ideological Extremism Could Ignite a Century of Conflict” https://x.com/SkillsGapTrain/status/1830676962895110416
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