The Collapse of European Christianity | Peter Hitchens

[@kevinlang9792]

I always rely on Peter to reinforce my bleak and pessimistic instincts. He never let's me down.

[@willardmusick1187]

I always snort a line of Prozac after listening to Hitchens.

[@lukegriffith2828]

It all turns out splendidly in the end with a great eternal triumph over every ill.

[@seanmoran2743]

People prefer spin or delusions instead of dealing with reality A bit like William Musick

[@Senorzilchnzero]

We try to fix the whats in front of us but we neglect to fix the reason why it traveled to be where it is now. Peter is right. This is HUGE. THIS is why our society will collapse. We fail to go back. We are too narcissistic and we have built up such speed that we cant stop and turn around. Sad.

[@KevinSolway]

If Christian churches spoke the truth then Christianity wouldn't be failing. They only have themselves to blame. The conversation of what God is never happens. We live in the darkest of times. There is no light.

[@corneliusquincydavenportic1913]

True. It's like people's perception of the church now is just like a self help therapy session. Some modern churches now only seem to want to push all the positive messages (which of course are good messages 'love your neighbor' and all) without actually discussing theology and how God normally is anyway for fear of scaring off the modern crowds with all that "religious nonsense". Just take the parts that make you feel good without discussing all the responsibilities and problems with ourselves because those make us feel bad. Not to mention some churches have whole systems dedicated just to squeezing tithe and donation money out of people, so it's no wonder the west is so disillusioned with modern Christianity

[@KevinSolway]

@@corneliusquincydavenportic1913 In my view, God is "the All", and as such it is the Creator of all things, including all of good and evil. The light and the dark. Today our minds are so shallow that we can't even begin to think about such things. I wouldn't be surprised if a newborn baby has a deeper mind than a modern adult, and it's all downhill from there.

[@davidhawley1132]

@@KevinSolway That view is Manachean, not Christian, which is why churches don't teach it.

[@KevinSolway]

@@davidhawley1132 ". . . not Christian" It depends what you mean by "Christian". I believe that the Christian view is that there is good and bad, right and wrong, truth and falsity, knowledge and ignorance, light and dark, and that all these exist within the Oneness of God.

[@scottmcloughlin4371]

@@corneliusquincydavenportic1913 Let's ponder something very obvious and obviously accurate and relevant: Throughout history, Christian institutions outlast all states and state institutions. The Church has an immortal divine Teleology, as much or more than a divine Origin. Christian libraries are littered with the tombstones of dead states. Once outsiders note these obvious true statements, many of them want to know more about Christian institutions. Christians show up. Christian are not Christians "in their heads." Let's listen to St. Paul. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of mere talk, but a matter of power." - 1 Corinthian 4:20.

[@SeraphimGoose]

I love listening to John and Peter talk.

[@juliefakkema]

It's interesting to compare Peter and brother Christopher. Their beliefs are completely opposite, but they express them very similarly. They're both courageous, articulate, persuasive, and have thoroughly thought through their ideas. I have to say I admire Peter more of the two. He's taken the less popular stance and has to have even more courage.

[@jonathanredden2483]

Not only was the First World War significant in the decline of the Church, but the ideology of Marx, Nietche, Freud and other atheist philosophers has been profoundly influential.

[@adambritain5774]

Jews.

[@rockinresurrection6542]

Not true at all. Just because Euopeans are more progressive than Americans doesn't mean the world will collapse. Y'all are so brainwashed

[@rockinresurrection6542]

Also, it's Nietzsche

[@aclark903]

@@adambritain5774 St Paul prayed for the conversion of his people. Are we?

[@EmergingEvents]

Always food for intense thought and discussion! Thank you.

[@solitarianihilista1454]

Half-digested, out-of-date old leftovers, more like.

[@ironmind258]

@@solitarianihilista1454 why do you say that?

[@TwinTalon01]

Imagine if you could drop Peter Hitchens into England’s Parliament in the year 1900, or even 1930, the difference he might’ve made.

[@dre6289]

He wouldn’t have the same insights. Reality is cruel thing

[@JohnFromAccounting]

It wouldn't have mattered. The political force of Winston Churchill was so great at that time that it's unthinkable that anyone could have put a dent in it.

[@tonyprice9525]

I'm not essentially a democrat. I love that honesty. Me too.

[@MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI-1]

One of the sharpest minds to describe the decline of western civilization

[@metaspacecrownedbytime4579]

The waves hitting the shore is a perfect analogy. Only, Christian Church support of WWI & WWII caused a tsunami.

[@MichaelPetek]

The coming economic crisis in the UK is based ultimately, not on unsustainable debt, but on too many people living on too small an island.

[@geraldarcuri9307]

"Things have an effect long after they have happened." I have observed this for years. Like tsunamis that follow an earthquake in the ocean, there are short-delay phenomena and long-delay phenomena. Humans are so short-sighted that they are often blind to those phenomena - consequences - of phenomena which only appear after a long period has passed from the original cause.

[@kaylenehousego8929]

I will head over to the full interview n rewatch in due curse but would like to say that there is very good reason why we have lost faith in our institutions John n yes indeed - not just in our government's alone.

[@JohnFromAccounting]

England must recognise their fault in the 20th century wars if Christianity is to have a resurgence. The Church of England has collapsed so badly that it will never recover, and only the Catholic Church has a path forward, since Benedict XV and Pius XII never supported any part of the war and desperately tried to find peace.

[@Vesnicie]

What is the deal with Peter Hitchens? He makes some fair points, but nothing earth-shattering. He's so lugubrious and borderline nihilistic that I don't think he's helping.

[@jameslabs1]

Good points. Thanks

[@jamestudoseartimon]

There are many new converts and also more non practising christians becoming practising christians and reaffirming their faith in Europe. All is not lost yet

[@3adir_]

Lol😂 40 million converts and 106 million left christianity. Christianity is significantly declining

[@youbigtubership]

Formal Christianity's tongue has ossified around a very passionless academic Biblical scholarship, which admits only words of increasing specialization. H.G. Wells addresses this: "The suggestion of the possibility of further restatement is an unsettling suggestion; it undermines conviction and breaks the ranks of the believers, because there are enormous variations in the capacities of men to recognize the same spirit under a changing shape. These variations cause endless difficulties to-day. While some intelligences can recognize the same God under a variety of names and symbols without any severe strain, others cannot even detect the most contrasted Gods one from the other provided they wear the same mask and title It appears a perfectly natural and reasonable thing to many minds to restate religion now in terms of biological and psychological necessity, while to others any variation whatever in the phrasing of the faith seems to be nothing less than atheistical misrepresentations of the most damnable kind. " The Open Conspiracy.

[@rexel666]

Peter Hitchens, the man who points out a million problems, but never presents a single solution...

[@craigcottrell1172]

He describes himself as an obiturist, so look elsewhere for that

[@TickleMeElmo55]

Doesn't really matter if he brings up a solution or none at all. What matters is if what he says has any grain of truth to it.

[@orvellfroloff]

The single solution to all the problems that plague the human race comes down to one answer. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

[@angelosoyannwo6559]

@@orvellfroloff Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

[@oliverjamito9902]

Love seeing my pops having sincere conversations. Sincere conversations is where the Aim can take ROOT. Beloved remember thy lives was DESIRED 1st. Came with sincere conversations beloved with God, to thyself, and to one another beloved. Same measured will be given. Sincere answers

[@dutchboyslim5951]

Wow, I miss Christopher... JUST KIDDING!!!!!!! I prefer Peter, ANY DAY!!!!!

[@mohamedali2858]

Why are wrong decisions made by individuals in churches serving individuals and politics not separated from the truth and values of sincere Christianity? As happened in the removal of religion from state affairs. Why does the church approve everything that contradicts the Godic teachings in favor of politics and people's wrong desires? Why is Christianity deliberately offended in every opportunity?

[@DIBBY40]

There maybe a collapse of traditional christianity, but there has not been a collapse of spirituality. There are now many avenues for spiritual exploration and development. The time of "just believe" has gone. Christian doctrine was developed at a time when the vast majority couldn't even read. We are more sophisticated now and know more. Christianity will have to adapt, or die.

[@mohamedali2858]

The danger of giving up is that it starts with simple things. Then it doesn’t end until the big issues are waived!! The Christian religion and Christians at best, from political and economic-technological domination, yet they talk and predict collapses, what is the significance of this? The Islamic religion and Muslims in their homelands and other countries suffer, even all those in political power in Muslim countries are not Muslims, they are only agents and subordinates of those who put them in power, with all this religious cohesion and societal cohesion is very strong, what is the secret of this?

[@DIBBY40]

@@mohamedali2858 Humans have a need for identity and belonging. We cannot survive as isolated entities. Power nearly always corrupts religion or politics.

[@mohamedali2858]

@@DIBBY40 Many people do not show the truth of their thought except in crises, so God sends down the crisis to bring out the secrets & qualities(31 And We will certainly test youpl until We know those of you who strive and those who are steadfastly patient, and (until We) test your reactions.[ Surah : Muĥammad ]

[@ugljesanikolic9708]

Christianity will not adapt to the members of secular societies and it will not die(certainly not in Eastern Europe)You the western world people will vanish and die (replaced by Muslims )because you abandoned it!!...

[@DIBBY40]

@@ugljesanikolic9708 People are free to practice their religion. And people are free not to.

[@bradwalton3977]

3:39 -- Did he say "lunacy under the law"? "Lucy under the law"?

[@therealmrfishpaste]

Liberty under the Law

[@iainrae6159]

One problem with religious belief is the difficulty in actually believing in priest's ' truth' claims of supernatural events and their claims to understand the wishes of a supernatural God type being who is alledgedly 'beyond space and time' . As his brother Christopher put it, ' extraordinary claims requore extraordinary evidence.

[@joehouston2833]

Europeans/Caucasians are dying off too lol

[@TheConqueror009]

@@joehouston2833 they always have been. That's just a part of life

[@JimJamJuicy]

Recently finished the book ‘when money dies’. Fascinating to see US currently engaging in very similar tactics to weinmar. Fiat currency has never lasted long and this time will b no different. Needless to say I sold all my stocks and now stack Bitcoin and physical gold and silver. Hyperinflation of USD is not if but when

[@jollyjohn5820]

The Catholics in Europe need to pray the Rosary for a miracle. Christians need to pray and seek God's divine help for all lapsed Christians.

[@jamescox1375]

He’s sees the problem but his diagnosis is unconvincing.

[@dutchboyslim5951]

Tell us yours, then , please

[@TheIceyeddy]

Peter never hesitates to make me depressed when I listen to him. Thankfully the handsomeness of John Anderson makes up for it 💕

[@daniellesomerfield8799]

Because of this, many among you are ill and sickly and many are asleep {captive to the religious spirit}. 1Cor. 11:30 Aramaic Because of what? For whoever eats and drinks from it being unworthy, eats and drinks a guilty verdict into his soul for not distinguishing {spirits of} the body {of believers} of THE LORD JEHOVAH. 1 Cor. 11:29 Aramaic For whenever you gather with the assembly, I have heard that there is DIVISION among you, and certain things I believe. 19There are going to be CONTENTIONs among you, that those who are approved among you may be known. 1 Cor. 11:18 Aramaic Division and contention are works of the religious spirit. The worship of idols, witchcraft, hate, CONTENTION, rivalry, rage, insolence, dissensions, DIVISIONs, Gal. 5:20 Aramaic So who is approved? Those who have not partnered with the religious spirit but are led by The Spirit. But if you are led by The Spirit, you are not under The Written Law. Gal. 5:18 Aramaic Whoever therefore eats from the bread of THE LORD JEHOVAH and drinks from his cup and is unworthy of it, is guilty for the blood of THE LORD JEHOVAH and for his body. 1 Cor. 11:27 Aramaic Because of this, let a man search his soul, and then eat of this bread and drink from this cup. 1 Cor. 11:28 Aramaic Jesus fulfilled the parable of Lazarus rising from the dead and they still didn't believe. Jesus said that Lazarus wasn't dead but 'asleep'. “But he said to him, 'No, my father Abraham, but if a man will go to them from the dead, they will be converted.' “ 31“Abraham said to him, 'If they will not hear Moses and The Prophets, they will not believe him, even though a man would rise from the dead.' “ Luke 16:30,31 Aramaic These things Yeshua said and afterwards he said to them, “Lazar our friend is resting; I am going that I may awaken him.” John 11:11 Aramaic

[@topsuperseven7910]

The elephant that slowly walked out of the room that nobody talks about.

[@jerryrichardson2799]

Hilarious, Liberalism came out of the Reformation.

[@seanmoran2743]

Re Britain I believe we are witnessing the core state of a former Empire collapse in on its self 1914 began the process It’s a pity we didn’t become like an Island Austria Norway Hungary or Denmark after 1945 instead of still trying to be a great power!

[@saturupiah5940]

Trump was a good president. If only he had offered Assange clemency and embraced Bitcoin the way Desantis has done.

[@RuneRelic]

Christianity was fundamentally a code of conduct. aka, an archaic constitution, that all its members agreed to be bound by... or be ex communicated.

[@TickleMeElmo55]

Well, generally Christianity is a code of conduct to live by. Plus not all Christian denominations practiced ex communication. If Christianity was an archaic constitution then I ask compared to what. Currently secularism is the code of conduct where if you subscribe to Christianity then you're seen as an odd ball, especially in Western Europe.

[@RuneRelic]

@@TickleMeElmo55 When you go to court, you put your hand on the bible and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. What was and is the point of that ?

[@colinsmith1288]

The industrial revolution started the decline of Christianity in Europe. The urbanisation of villages and towns,the brutalization of factories,hard work,long hours,low pay and early deaths started to put a wedge between god end human beings.Then people became more educated,science took a leading role in people's sense of reason,and God seemed not so powerful and meaningful anymore. People started to live better and longer when medical science saved lives regularly in away religion could not. God has all but died.Evolution became the new religion,but did not need God or supernatural occurrences to explain life's existence or that of the universe.

[@bradhienzachary]

Christianity is definitely falling away.

[@bradhienzachary]

@@introverdant that’s so very true! I used “falling away” deliberately as mentioned in scripture!

[@makeamericanativeamericana7436]

@@introverdant Good riddance! Save our indigenous peoples from you’re awful settler ways.

[@Jennieallen415]

The audio for Peter Hitchens was so poor I couldn't understand him. This is too good to miss--please try again!

[@Nottyboy50]

I had no problem understanding him and my hearing isn't the best. You can always turn on the subtitles to see if that helps.

[@1ofSevensisters]

I agree I had a hard time hearing him too. Peter tends to speak quickly and doesn't have clear enunciation of his words so it amplifies the problem with the audio is off.

[@KevinSolway]

@@1ofSevensisters "doesn't have clear enunciation of his words" I think that's what the British working class call "having a plum in your mouth". There are British accents that even the British can't understand.

[@interdictr3657]

seemed perfectly fine for me

[@rogerwoodhouse7945]

Yes indeed He does tend to mumble into his chest.

[@catejames6453]

Peter Hitchens, imho should dedicate the next full year - FULL YEAR - to the study of Jonathan Pageau in all his lectures and offshoots. Humanity needs a Hitchens pulling for its survival. Please heed!!

[@siyaindagulag.]

Fleeing to the rule book . By that ,I take it to mean the Totalitarian edition ?

[@davidhawley1132]

The 'rule book' is an oblique reference to the idea that a people without a strong moral compass will have to be ruled by an endless stream of rules imposed by coercion.

[@siyaindagulag.]

@@davidhawley1132 if such is the case, it must be time to trot out the monsters. Who, then is in possession of a "moral compass"?

[@portman8909]

Old farts and their mythical stories to keep them afloat...

[@joehouston2833]

Europeans/Caucasians are dying off too lol

[@billhyde1851]

I got food I cooked a little but you know you need yeah yes jfkjfk

[@joehouston2833]

Europeans/Caucasians are dying off too

[@stuwhite2337]

Just returned from Turkey. For ordinary people it is more free than the UK.

[@saturupiah5940]

Is that true? What makes you say that? If it’s more free than the UK it’s definitely better than Australia.

[@stuwhite2337]

@@saturupiah5940 just speaking from observation. Freedom is subjective but there just seemed to be fewer rules, less cameras, hardly any parking restrictions, motorbike helmets optional.

[@stuwhite2337]

@@saturupiah5940 plus absolutely no evidence of any COVID nonsense

[@brynleytalbot778]

@@stuwhite2337 Reminds me of DiscWorld’s Vetinari who is a dictator, totalitarian in style, but allows many freedoms to maintain his power.

[@billhyde1851]

I got food I cooked a little but you know you need yeah yes jfk

[@I_Am_Monad]

Mr. Nowhere Man. He was too busy making up revisionist history to listen to the Beatles.

[@randygault4564]

Mumbles makes the ever-popular _post hoc ergo propter hoc_ fallacy. It has the wonderful advantage that if something bad happens, you just look into the past and pick out a scapegoat. Very handy. Or, applied differently, you can keep hammering on your scapegoat right from the start until something bad happens, as always does, and then you have your target ready to blame. You really can't lose this way. Unless, you know, you have any sort of integrity.

[@marcusaurelius8130]

Hitchens is depressing

[@duncanidaho5834]

Oof.

[@dukeallen6562]

It no wonder no one listened to Peter Hitchens 20 years ago, as it is painful to listen to an expressionless speaker drone on. Boring.

[@seanmoran2743]

Bored are you ? Well there ends the lesson You deserve the results of your boredom

[@edbop]

He's not his brother is he.

[@seanmoran2743]

What A Propagandist Polemic who was just a modern day jacobin I guess not

[@edbop]

@@seanmoran2743 otherwise known as a thinking man.

[@solitarianihilista1454]

The anti-Chistopher.

[@billyoga807]

He's better than his brother in terms of journalism. Christopher is only famous in the US n consider that the US has low standards while Peter is more successful as a journalist in the UK

[@edbop]

@@billyoga807 More successful as a journalist? I can only assume you're unaware of the woeful state of journalism in this country.

[@williamrogers7676]

European countries will be like the middle East and Africa main religion Islam, and they will become poor and over populated, 🤦