Welcome to the based boomer podcast on eschatology matters, part of the Fight, lap,

the network, the history of pietism and cultural irrelevance.

Piatism is the most important development in the history of Christianity most Christians

have never heard of. It wasn't high on my

radar either until a few years back when I began to learn about its contribution to the rise of

secularism in Western culture. Because of the Gnostic and dualistic nature of pietism,

the successful takeover of secularism in Western culture was inevitable.

With the church and Christians in general focused on otherworldly concerns, culture and

governing could be left to the godless. This was never the pietists' intention, but it was inevitable

given their theological assumptions. Both pietism and secularism

lead to the same thing, a secular society devoid of Christian influence. I'll repeat that

because it's so important. Both pietism and secularism lead to the same thing, a secular society

devoid of Christian influence. This might seem counterintuitive given the former is passionately

religious, while the latter is completely anti-religion. As we'll see, pietism has been a disaster for Christian cultural influence in the West,

turning Christianity into a culturally irrelevant force.

This was not at all the intention of its founders, or for most who subsequently embraced it,

but it was the practical result of their understanding

of Christianity nonetheless. Before we go back in time, let's clarify terms, since few people

are familiar with pietism. We are not talking about piety, the good and necessary personal reverence or devotion to God, but a German-Lutheran

movement that developed in the early 17th century. Because of the influence of pietism,

secularism triumphed as Christianity became primarily inward and personal,

eschewing cultural engagement for personal devotion.

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