Asymmetric Religion and Philosophy

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_retardation#Traditional_terms

standard Asymmetric disclaimer

In doing some research on developmental disorders, came upon the following entymology for the word Cretin, which we now use as a synonym for stupid:

Cretin is the oldest and probably comes from an old French word for Christian. The implication was that people with significant intellectual or developmental disabilities were "still human" (or "still Christian") and deserved to be treated with basic human dignity. This term has not been used in any serious or scientific endeavor since the middle of the 20th century and is now always considered a term of abuse. "Cretinism" is also used as an obsolescent term to refer to the condition of congenital hypothyroidism, in which there is some degree of mental retardation.

For hundreds of years, Christians took for granted that their way of life and morals were superior to both their non-Christian ancestors and non-Christians throughout the world. They regularly used the pejoratives Pagan for their ancestors and heathen for contemporary non-believers and up until recently, couldn’t imagine that missions to save souls were anything but an absolute good. That level of Christian confidence, for better and worse, is gone. Many people today view religion in general and Christianity in particular as something oppressive, traditionalist, and elitist while associating secularism with freedom, concern for those less fortunate, and progress.

A balanced reading of Christian history, however, would lead any fair-minded person to see Christianity as the original progressive movement, dignifying thousands of lives, especially those of women and children. In fact, many modern secular progressives may be Christians without realizing it, as many adopt the essential message of Christianity while rejecting those parts they deem of no use to them. I’ve heard many progressives quote the parts of the Bible that promote communalism and concern for the poor while at the same time denying the divinity of Christ. Of the many possible examples of the salutary effect of Christian morals on a society, I’ll just mention a few: Many pre-Christians routinely left sick babies to die in the wilderness as a sort of primitive eugenicism, Sparta being the most notorious. Without excusing the excesses of their conquerors or ignoring their many impressive accomplishments, pre-Christian America was a conflagration of human sacrifice, primitive religious beliefs, cannibalism, slavery, and unceasing warfare. Christians rejected these practices (although many seem to be making a comeback). I don’t mention this as an attack on our non-Christian brothers as much as an attempt to counter the prevailing attitude amongst many Westerners that Christianity has been a force for evil.

So, what does this have to do with the word Cretin? Cretin is an illustration of how Christianity brought dignity to the weak. Christians insisted that the disadvantaged be treated kindly and respectfully-not because they would rise up one day and destroy the bourgeoisie or because they were necessarily talented or as valuable economically, but because they had a soul. The Greeks would have killed them. I’ll return to this subject on occasion, but if you can’t wait, the book below discusses these matters.

CHRISTIANITY ON TRIAL : ARGUMENTS AGAINST ANTI-RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY by VINCENT/ SHIFLETT, DAVE CARROLL