LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

A thought came to me sometime last week when I was meditating, and it has returned at least a couple more times in the past few days. It’s one of those really wacky thoughts, but only history will be the judge of what I say here; and probably none of us will remember.

There are some events that happen over a few decades and those who are able to look back 50-100 years can see what those who were “in the moment” were not able to discern.

When did the people living during the period that we call the RENAISSANCE realize it? Or did they ever? How could they when it covered such a vast time frame (100-300 years?). And when did we come up with the term anyway?

When was it obvious to the people living during the ENLIGHTENMENT that they were living it? After all, it spanned the entire 18th century. We now know that it was accompanied by great historical names. The main figures of the enlightenment are fairly well known: Descartes, Pascal, Bayle, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, and Rousseau.

Or how about the REFORMATION period? It’s easy to say that it began with Luther, included Zwingli, and Calvin, but when did it end- or has it? Many prominent Catholics say it changed nothing because all the Protestants did was chnage a few rituals and then carried on with the same-old-same-old.

So, could it be that WE here in 2005, are seeing something like one of the three major cultural earthquakes as above? Could society (in light of my two earlier commentaries before this one) be going through the birth pangs of something major? With challenges to almost every Christian doctrine imaginable (can you say women in the ministry and gays serving as ordained ministers) and a cultural mix that is about as dangerously combustible as fire and gasoline, are we into or entering a major time? Some Episcopalian leaders have called the acceptance of gays and lesbians into the church ordinations as equal to the Reformation concepts. I think NOT!

As I said, only history will judge, but my discerner and intuitiveness say YES. Big time! Trying to ponder the ramnifications is futile. Just fasten your seat belts.