[Greek] κοσμικός (kosmikos), [Latin] saeculum, [German] zeitgeist: worldly, earthly, mundane, pertaining to the world; Tit.2:12, Heb.9:1
Cardinal Sarah accuses many “atheistic” Western bishops who prefer the world rather then the cross. These Western bishops, in accommodating to the world, have succumbed to a “practical atheism”.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means world, worldly, secular, and belonging to the world.
Secularism: This is a philosophy seeking to interpret life on principles derived solely from the material world, without recourse to religion. French secularism in the Age of Enlightenment was based on Gallicanism, which emphasized state supremacy, anti-clericalism, and materialism.
New Testament: This term, suggesting hostility to God, means worldly, earthly, and which belongs to the world.
Tit.2:12: Reject godless ways (ungodliness) and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devotedly in this age.
Ungodliness and worldly desires: offensive acts (words), things that have nothing to do with the life to come, worldly lusts (desires), ACTIONS (DEEDS) WHICH DO NOT LAST, sinful desires, unlawful desires, selfishness, pride, idolatry and paganism, and superstition
Ungodliness and worldly desires are contrasted with those who do the will of the Father:
1Jn.2:16: All that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious (prideful) life is not from the Father.
1Jn2:17: The world and its enticement are passing away. But WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD: (ACTIONS (DEEDS) WHICH REMAIN FOREVER.
Heb.9:1: Even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.
The Old Covenant permitted all the priests to enter the Holy Place, but only the high priest was permitted to enter into the Holy of Holies once a year.
Etymology: The Greek noun kosmos means order, good order, and orderly arrangement. The Greek verb kosmeo means to prepare, to order, to arrange, and to adorn. The Greek adjective kosmetikos means skilled in adornment and arrangement.
Quotes by G. K. Chesterton:
“We do not want a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world.”
“The modern world is insane, not so much because it admits the abnormal as it because it cannot recover the normal.”
“Right is right even if nobody does it. Wrong is wrong even if everybody is wrong about it.”
“Progress should mean that we are changing the world to fit the vision. Instead we are always changing the vision.”
Cardinal Sarah denounces “atheistic” Western bishops who prefer the world to the cross.
- So many bishops desire to be “loved by the world” that they have forgotten that Christianity calls them to be signs of contradiction.
- Many bishops have a “failure of nerve” when confronted by cultural revolutions convulsing the West.
- Practical atheism is more insidious because it seeps into every aspect of contemporary, including ecclesiastical discourse.
- Many pretend to be Christian believers and men of faith, but in fact live as pagans and unbelievers.
- Many in the Church and its leadership, accommodating to the world, fall in this trap of practical atheism.
- This brand of atheism is a masterful trap set by Satan himself.
Conclusion:
Zeitgeist, cosmic, microcosm, cosmetic, secular
The French Revolution (The Reign of Terror) is most notably known by atheism and the persecution of the Church in France in the late 1700’s.
Scripture makes an important distinction with temporary worldly actions (belonging the world) with eternal actions (deeds) in doing God’s will [accumulating heavenly treasures for oneself].
Update: G. K. Chesterton, often rightfully called the “apostle of common sense”, bestows many aspect of wisdom.
Pope Francis, in his efforts to create a worldly synodal Church, is moving the Church to accommodate the world.
We are now living in a world tolerance means accommodating the world, sin, and worldly values.
G. K Chesterton rightly points out that right and wrong must not and should not be determined by worldly (secular) values.
Pope Francis’s efforts to “reform” and “renew” the Church has not truly renewed the Church. There continues to be further confusion, division, schism, and heresy in the Church. Pope Francis’ efforts have been a failure for the Church.
As schism, heresy, error, and evil have entered into the Church and society, still too many Cardinals, bishops, and priests have remained cowardly silent in speaking against out these concerns.
Cardinal Sarah further elaborates upon some of these causes: bishops pridefully seeking status in the world and “practical atheism”.
This post provides further evidence and support that Satan continues his influence in subtlely paralyzing and corrupting clergy from speaking out.
Pope Pius X: “No, truly, there is no road which lead so directly and so quickly to Modernism as pride.”