I have, for many years, been concerned about the decline in the moral standards of our society both here in Australia, in Europe and North America.
Prostitution is legal in many places, gay rights have been forced upon us and marriage between two men or two women is now legal in some countries against what in my view is God's Word and may soon be in Australia, particularly if there is a change of Government on July 2.
Pornography is available daily on our television sets – see World Movies and SBS – without even mentioning the internet - nudism on our beaches is common, language heard on the streets from children would make our grandparents shudder and then there is the 'Safe Places' legislation threatening our schools. In fact, 'Safe Places' is already in place in Victoria.
We are well aware of the banning of prayers in schools; our kids are no longer given religious education unless their parents specifically allow them and the mention of God or Jesus is strictly forbidden.
We have become a secularised society. Our society has gone to great lengths during recent decades to marginalise biblical Christianity in the public sphere.Where am I going with a subject which is already well-known to most Christians today?
Paris Attacks
Many were stunned by the stories the media published following the callous murder spree of Daish-backed terrorists in Paris on November 13 last year. However, few people are likely to have read Daish's own statement of responsibility for the attacks and their stated reasons for carrying them out, all ignored by the media. The media, perhaps understandably, has demonstrated an unwillingness to aid in the spread of their propaganda but I believe there is another reason.
It is uncomfortable even to acknowledge the contents of the statement because its description of the increasingly decadent West is rather 'too close to the bone.' Let it be absolutely clear though, in what follows, I am not suggesting for a moment the perpetrators of these crimes were justified in their actions. Never-the-less, there is surely a connection between the secularisation of Europe and the increasing jeopardy of the safety of its citizens.
Danish Media
Columnist and award-winning Danish journalist Iben Thranholm, having previously worked for Denmark's equivalent of the ABC, threw caution to the wind and spoke her mind.
For instance, while the media reported the name of the band playing at the Bataclan Theatre was The Eagles of Death Metal, they chose to ignore the fact the killing spree happened just at the moment when the band were performing their popular song, 'Kiss the Devil'.
Was it, as Thranholm wrote, a 'diabolical irony' the massacre took place just as people were joining in with the lyrics, "I'll love the Devil, I'll sing his song." The deaths of so many people, many in the prime of life, is absolutely tragic however, listening to some political leadership through the media, one would think the 'jihadists' were not motivated by their Islamic faith at all and yet they say they are.
Thranholm again; "There is little sensibility to religion and spirituality in Europe—and none whatever among the political elite. This is the root of the problem. ... The decline of Christianity in the West has created a spiritual and moral vacuum of colossal proportions."
Do the facts suggest this is so?
To deny this is simply the crassest political correctness.
Satanic Shenanigans
Why is it taboo to mention the connection between such terrorist acts and the religious ideology behind them? Why did the media avoid drawing attention to the satanic shenanigans of the Bataclan rock concert? They desperately want to believe the 'war on terror,' which Western nations must fight, has nothing whatever to do with religion!
However, in their hearts, at least some people suspect this to be true.
Apostle of atheism, Richard Dawkins wrote;
"There are no Christians, as far as I know, blowing up buildings. I am not aware of any Christian suicide bombers. I am not aware of any major Christian denomination which believes the penalty for apostasy is death. I have mixed feelings about the decline of Christianity, in so far as Christianity might be a bulwark against something worse."
Christianity, the Force for Good
Thranholm goes on to highlight some of the sure signs of this abandonment of Christianity, such as the removal of "all religious symbols from public spaces" on the part of several EU member countries. These are things with which we are becoming increasingly familiar. The 'root of the problem,' as Thranholm makes clear, is the "spiritual and moral vacuum which has resulted from the rejection of Christianity."
What some find exasperating about this wilful blindness is Christianity is the 'force for good' for any society and we reap what we sow if we suppress its truth.
John Skinner served in Vietnam then the Tasmanian Police before taking up the position of CEO of the Australian Rough Riders Association (professional rodeo based in Warwick Qld). Before retirement to his small farm, he was a photo-journalist for 25 years. He is married with 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
John Skinner's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/john-skinner.html