{"id":38029,"date":"2019-11-16T11:05:41","date_gmt":"2019-11-16T17:05:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=38029"},"modified":"2019-11-28T14:19:52","modified_gmt":"2019-11-28T20:19:52","slug":"the-new-paganism-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-new-paganism-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Paganism – Part II","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

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THE “<\/strong>new atheism” has had a profound effect on this generation. The often nugatory and sarcastic quips from militant atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens etc. have played well to a “gotcha” culture cynical of a Church robed in scandal. Atheism, like all the other “isms”, has done much to, if not eradicate belief in God, certainly erode it. Five years ago, 100, 000 atheists renounced their baptisms<\/a> beginning the fulfillment of a prophecy of St. Hippolytus (170-235 A.D.) that this would come in the times of the Beast of Revelation<\/em>:<\/p>\n

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I reject the Creator of heaven and earth; I reject Baptism; I refuse to worship God. To you [Beast] I adhere; in you I believe.<\/strong> \u2014De consummat; <\/em>from the footnote on Revelation 13:17, The Navarre Bible, Revelation, <\/em>p. 108<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If the majority have not renounced their baptisms, many cultural “Catholics” live as though they have\u2014what is called “practical atheism.” Atheism’s cousin is moral relativism\u2014<\/em>the idea that good and evil are whatever one makes them to be based on one’s feelings, the majority consensus or political correctness<\/a>. It is the pinnacle of individualism whereby all that’s left as “the ultimate measure,” says Benedict XVI, is “only one\u2019s ego and desires.”[1]<\/sup><\/a>Cardinal Ratzinger (POPE BENEDICT XVI) pre-conclave Homily, April 18th, 2005<\/span><\/span>