Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate." 7 Why then," they asked Him, "did Moses command [us] to give divorce papers (I) and to send her away?" 8 He told them, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts. But it was not like that from the beginning. 9 and I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."
Divorce was taught to be a last resort, not the 'I am tired of you' choice. Children are hurt and devastated by the divorce and more psychological trauma is being placed on the child. Children are losing context on the meaning of love and what to expect from it.
The Bible also states the expectation on men and women in regards to the family. In Genesis 1:28, it is written, "God blessed them, and God said to them, 'be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it'" (Holman Christian Standard Bible, 2004). We were meant to have families and raise our families, not be so busy that we cannot slow down for ourselves, much less our family.
Premodernism was an era that did not have the violent crimes, corruption, and greed that is threatening life as we know it. The Bible teaches morals and values promoting that we are to live with peace, joy, and love. The book of Proverb contains the wisdom and knowledge of Solomon, one of the greatest Hebrew Kings that has ever lived. It is not being implied that religion is the solution to all problems, but it provides the basis for a life of good.
In regards to the merger of science and religion, Dawson states,
"the relationship of the new religions to science" need no longer be conceptualized simply as "one of rejection, substitution and escape." New religions are not simply providing the meaning for life that the scientific worldview fails to adequately provide. They are actively seizing on both the new cultural relativism promoted by the spread of social scientific knowledge and some of the means and data of the natural sciences to facilitate and legitimate their existence" (Dawson, 1998).
People are beginning to realize the importance of religion in instructing, guiding, and teaching people the proper and moral way to live. The Bible warns about the sins of excess.
The Bible and religious leaders also teach of God's love and mercy. In the Bible, God came to Earth in the form of His Son, Jesus, to become a living sacrifice for the sins of man. John 3:16-19 states,
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Salvation is offered just by believing in...
In being in a premodernist way of thinking religious, the lessons learned teach us the way to live, which is by faith and righteousness. It teaches us to abhor evil and treat each other with loving kindness.
Conclusion
The world needs to return to the premodernism views of before the 1600's. The loss of the religious principles, values, and morals is plunging the world deeper into evil and crimes against each other. I do not claim that this is the absolute solution but it will create a basis for morals and values that can be built upon.
As a future psychologist, it is my desire to help people heal through contact and connection with their God or Higher Power. Hope, love, and joy can be found all through the New Testament of the Bible and people today need to experience more of these three principles. The minds of children are being corrupted by the violence on television, the divorce of parents and just life in general. Children need to be taught hope, love, and joy through the premodernism way. Many children need something that will instill the way of the moral and just.
Premodernism as characterized by Erickson states, "Because of Christ's substitutionary death, God can account his righteousness to all who believe, thus justifying such persons by grace through faith. The supernatural transformation of person, which is termed the new birth, initiates a lifelong process of growth in spirituality termed sanctification" (Erickson, 1995).
What else do we have to offer children today in a world of greed, corruption, violence, and immorality? Ignorance of the past leads to the repeating of the same mistakes. Sure sin and the fore mentioned offenses have been around since the beginning of men, but it is getting worse as time goes on.
References
Bertolet, Timothy J. 2002. "Truth or Consequences: The Promise and Peril of Postmodernism." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. Evangelical Theological Society. Retrieved May 06, 2010 from HighBeam Research: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-275630471.html
Dawson, Lorne L.. 1998. "Anti-modernism, modernism, and postmodernism: struggling with the cultural significance of new religious movements." Sociology of Religion. Association for the Sociology of Religion. Retrieved May 06, 2010 from HighBeam Research: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20913875.html
Erickson, M.J. (1995). Evangelical Christology and Soteriology Today. Interpretation, 49(3), 255+. Retrieved May 6, 2010, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5037673963
Holy Bible (King James Version). 1972. Thomas Nelson Inc., Camden, New Jersey.
Holman Christian Standard Bible. 2004. Holman Bible Publishers. Nashville, TN.
Riss, R.M. (2006). Some Eighteenth Century Views of the Relationship of Science to Religion. Retrieved May 6, 2010, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5037673963
