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--- Nancy Gish <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > There is a vast difference between working > responsibly, caring for one's > family, and helping the world be more supportive of > humans (I would not > use the word "prosperous" because of its > connotations) and acquiring > greater and greater quantities of wealth in fewer > and fewer hands--which > has the opposite effect from what you describe. > Nancy Millenarianism is a strong component of Protestantism. The idea comes from Revelations in which Christ is described as ruling over a kingdom in this world for a thousand years. Anglicanism derives from the strain of this which believes it is the responsibility of humankind to physically prepare this kingdom for Christ's coming. I have always wondered about this in relation to the philosophy that I see in Eliot's writing. How does the image of failed individuals and failed societies in Eliot's work relate to the millenarian principles behind the faith that he actively studied and chose. Anglicanism with its millenarianism is a faith of this world. The faithful honor God's will by building a paradise on this earth. This is in direct contrast to Buddhism and Roman Catholicism which focus on preparation for another world. Eliot studied eastern religions. Why did he choose a millenarian faith and how is that reflected in the poems? This sounds like a question set for an examination. However I really do not know the answer to this and am asking for information. > > >>> [log in to unmask] 11/03/04 1:17 PM >>> > --- Nancy Gish <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Any > > reading of what Jesus said seems to suggest that > > neither Bush nor many > > of his followers have a clue about loving their > > neighbor or caring for > > the least of us or eschewing wealth. > > The idea of eschewing wealth is not universal in > Christianity. In particular, it is not universally > accepted in Protestantism or the faith of the Church > of England, which Elliot took up. There is a strong > millenarian tendency in Anglicanism. Followers > believe > that by supporting their families and creating a > more > prosperous world, they are doing God's work and > loving > their neighbour. In doing so, they are creating > God's > kingdom in this world. > > This is certainly the type of Anglicanism that I was > brought up in. It was the aspect of the faith that > differentiated it from Roman Catholicism. > > > I have wondered how this aspect of Anglicanism fits > with Eliot's view of the world. > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. > www.yahoo.com > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. www.yahoo.com