While the tortures and gruesome deaths imposed upon the early Christian martyrs and other people throughout history are not, thank God, so much part of the human existence anymore, there are headlines which we are accosted with which are quite disturbing:

Women murdering other women to cut out their fetuses, women aborting babies as birth control, orgiastic behaviours and practices of adolescents and adults, children created for the selfish purpose of one parent, children created for the selfish purpose of one *elderly* parent, children created for the selfish person of two homosexual parents, women with husbands (I read this one today--she has put out a book on her life) in open marriages in order to also have female lovers, pedophilia, child pornography, etc., etc., etc....

Perhaps these are not the worst of times, but they most certainly aren't the best of times either... and unlike any other time in history, in any village, town or city, no matter how remote, we are accosted visually and audibly by these horrors any time we attempt to acess our email, watch a television show, buy a newspaper or any other product at a newspaper/magazine stand, or hear some music. Kyrie Eleison!

Alice

Ah, Alice, if only it were so. But history tells us otherwise.

Mankind's perversion and depravity is remarkably consistent through the ages. The methods may changes, but the objectives always remain the same. The problem with seeing one's own times as the worst of times is the tendency towards despair. If things are going to hell in a handbasket, then what's the point of trying to change things? And, even if one wants to try to change things, the perpetual air of gloom and doom tends to deter those who one is trying to convert (for all improvement involves metanoia).

Also, as I said, because of mass media and its focus on the sensational, there is a tendency to elevate outliers to the norm. Most people don't live like Michael Jackson (or even the somewhat more sane denizens of Hollywood). Most people are not murdering women to cut out their fetuses, or aborting for birth control, or engaging in orgiastic behavior, or engaging in open marriages, or looking at kiddie porn. In this age, as in all others, most people are leading quiet, sober lives and trying to get by as best they can.

I could point out that in many respects, things have improved significantly since the 1970s. If you want your era of free love, open marriage, orgiastic behavior--that was it. I was there, and I saw it. Conservative commentator and movie critic John Podhoretz recently wrote a column about two movies of the seventies--Woody Allen's "Manhattan", and a second one much more obscure. He noted that in both of them the theme was the sexual affair of a middle age man with a teenage girl. And he noted that, far from condemning such relationships, these movies celebrated them. And that these movies were accepted as mainstream at the time of their release, and that there was little or no complaint about their theme. Today, he noted, such a movie could never get a green light--too creepy, and too close to an endorsement of child molestation.

Another conservative commentator, Michael Medved, looked at a dozen or more social indicators--things like drug use, rates of abortion, teenage pregnancy, divorce, alcoholism and so forth--and found that the situation had improved significantly over the past two decades. As I said, social mores are cyclical and tend to be self correcting. Cromwell's Protectorate was replaced by the roisterous restoration; the Regency was replaced by the Victorian era. Society is an organism that seeks equilibrium.

Now, I recognize that it is psychologically energizing for people of faith to believe the world is in a parlous state--and from the perspective of the Kingdom of God, it is; but then, as I said, it always is, because it is the world. But I seriously doubt whether it helps our cause to constantly run down the world and all the marvels that are in it, or to condemn a society that has many good aspects that offset its evils. On the one hand, people won't believe it because it runs contrary to the evidence of their own lives, and on the other hand, those who believe it are more likely to become totally discouraged, toss up their hands, and lead lives of dissipation, because there is no hope.

Objectivity and balance are always the best approach, and to have objectivity and balance, one needs historical perspective--not just fifty years or a hundred years, but something that spans the totality of human history. Of course, history isn't taught very well anymore and is valued even less. "History began the day I was born" is what most people think. But that's not a very helpful perspective.

The more history I read, the less I agree with these as the "worst of times". That doesn't mean I can point to a period that's the worst, but definitely there have been many worse times.

Even from 1920-1940, the suffering of human freedoms and the degradation of human dignity was far more intense, especially for Russians as they were in the grips of a civil war and then had Lenin and Stalin to deal with.

The American Civil War is hard to grapple with too, but the more I try to reconcile with the passions of the day, the more I appreciate our society now.

I would also not want to be in the boots of a yeoman who is looking out on the local lord's lands and sees pillars of smoke as the Vandals come into the area.

I could go on, but I have to get to work. I have to also agree with everything said by Stuart.

Terry

Dear Stuart and Terry,

If you reread my post, you will see that I said that this may not be 'the worst of times' but that it certainly is not the 'best of times'!! LOL.

My experience as an historian tells me that there is no "best of times", or at least, there hasn't been since that encounter with the serpent back at the beginning.

True dear Stuart. God love you, you remind me of someone who used to post here named Zenovia, and who was someone I knew. Fortunately for you, your considerable wealth of historical knowledge, wisdom and opinions are more respected and tolerated than hers were. It is good to have you here to share with us.

God bless,
Alice

Alice,

I'd have to agree with you that these times are not the best of times. Each age has its challenges.

Terry

Speaking of that, do you know what has happened to Zenovia. I rather liked her. I hope she is well.

She is well and pursuing other interests, pursuits, (and on occasion, other forums!)
She is indeed a 'good egg'.

To add fuel to the fire ... look at Serbia - long caste as an evil empire and genocidic state (is that a word?)

Now Albanians are moving into their state KOSOVO(well the world has given it over to the Albanians) and they are burning and killing Orthodox peoples and churches.

It seems (post 9/11) that Serbia was just trying to protect itself(as it has done for hundreds of years) from Muslim oppression.

If you ask them ... I'd say they would agree that these are NOT the best of times.

I am late to getting back to this but...Hey Stuart, well said, being a former (now retired) history professor I do agree!

Porter

Perhaps these are not the worst of times, but they most certainly aren't the best of times either... and unlike any other time in history, in any village, town or city, no matter how remote, we are accosted visually and audibly by these horrors any time we attempt to acess our email, watch a television show, buy a newspaper or any other product at a newspaper/magazine stand, or hear some music. Kyrie Eleison!

Alice I dont exactly see things like that!
These are great and exciting times if we but live in God's presence. God is awesome and He is doing a wonder in our day.
Live with this thought "God wins" let's rest in that reality and our joy will be unspeakable.

Peace and Blessings! Sursum Corda!
Stephanos I

Dear Father Stephanos,

Greetings on this joyous weekend of the Dormition and Assumption of our blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our God!

Thank you so much for your holy blessings.

Respectfully in Christ
Alice