Understanding the Times
Paradigm: Model that forms basis of something; relationship of ideas to one another forming a conceptual framework; a typical example of something, especially one that forms the basis of a methodology or theory.
A paradigm is another way of saying how a person views the world. It is a type of lens on a pair of glasses and this lens distorts or makes clear the experiences in human life. The three prevalent paradigms today are Secular Humanism, Marxism/Leninism, and Biblical Christianity. They are distinct in their philosophies and goals for the future of mankind. By looking through each lens, you can get an idea of how each world view shapes a person’s habits, beliefs, experiences, and values. “In the end, every person must choose between a materialist/naturalist worldview or a supernaturalist worldview and this choice will create repercussions throughout every aspect of the individual’s life.”
Secular Humanism is based on the idea that the world and man are self-existing. “Nature alone, out of its infinite evolutionary complexity, gave rise to man, and that there exists no supernatural powers.” A humanist believes in man as the supreme authority. “There is no God and there is no soul. Hence, there are no needs for the props of traditional religion. …immutable truth is also dead and buried. There is no room for fixed law or moral absolutes.” Faith in science and continual evolution are based on the belief that one day man will overcome all environmental factors and restructure society until it reaches a state of utopia. This Utopian dream is based on the belief that humans are perfectible and continually advancing. “Humanism assigns to man nothing less that the task of being his own savior.” There is no heaven or hell, there is only the here and now and therefore the march towards a perfect society is a driving force behind humanism.
Marxism/Leninism adheres to the dogma of Darwinian evolution. They strive for a global communism based on the tenet of dialectical materialism. Dialectical materialism is the idea that development proceeds by a process of conflict and tension. Change is due to clash and struggle. The only constant in the world is conflict---it is the absolute. Evolution implies that the world is always in motion, always changing, and always in a state of tension. “Dialectics in the proper sense is the study of the contradiction in the very essence of objects.” This competition for survival leads to the formation of new species of higher quality. Marxists believe in man and his capacity to transform the world by his own hand. They operate on the assumption that society determines behavior and that by imposing ‘scientific regulation’ on individuals, they will elicit proper behavior. There are to be no classes and everyone works according to his ability and receives according to his need. Marxists are atheists and believe that religion is the opiate of the masses. “There is absolutely no room for either a creator or a ruler.”
Humanists and Marxists believe in basically the same tenets as follows:
*Humans are animals sprung from natural processes spontaneously generated from nonliving material.
*There is no God, no heaven or hell, no soul in man.
*There is no authority but our own. Human authority is supreme. Evolving man will usher in the Kingdom of Man.
*There is no meaning to life except survival of the species and the progress of mankind.
*There is no right or wrong. Values are relative. There are no absolutes and morality comes from calculated costs and benefits.
*Free will is an illusion.
Biblical Christianity holds to the idea that there is a God, a Supreme Being, who created the universe and the people who inhabit it. God is the fountainhead of moral law that is absolute and unchanging and by adhering to these laws with faith in Jesus Christ a person can be saved in the kingdom of God. Christians believe that there is order in the universe and purpose to the meaning of life. They believe that men are fallen beings who have free will and an internal sense of conscience.
By studying the prevalent worldviews in our modern world, I have gained more depth in my perception of interpreting events, people, politics and other matters. I have seen things differently by looking through the lens of Secular Humanism and Marxism/Leninism. In my opinion, these two worldviews are distorted and contain many blind spots in them (if not outright blindness). I believe that that by holding to these paradigms that a person would be “looking through the glass darkly” in regards to the purpose of life. Shakespeare sums up what I think the feeling of this worldview leaves a person with…“Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.”
Why a person would choose to hold to a materialist worldview is a puzzle to me. I see this paradigm not as a life force, but a death wish. To quote a secular humanist, “Modern science directly implies that there are no inherent moral or ethical laws, no absolute guiding principles for human society….We must conclude that when we die, we die, and that is the end of us.”
Every person on earth must at sometime ask himself the question, “Is existence ultimately meaningful, or is it ultimately absurd? If God is, He represents the ultimate meaning of existence, the sufficient reason why it came into existence and the final end towards which it moves as its destiny. If God is not, existence is an accident, a momentary flicker of light between an infinite darkness and void before, and after.”
I am thankful for the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, who gives me the lens of hope in which I view life. I believe that the Biblical Christian worldview is the most correct and clear outlook for a life of purpose and meaning. In the words of C.S. Lewis, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
Copyright L.L. Williams
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Abolition of Man
The Abolition of Man
C.S. Lewis convincingly illustrates in his book The Abolition of Man how modern academia is altering the fabric of society by the way they infuse their philosophy into textbooks. “They write in order to produce certain states of mind in the rising generation…. because they think them to be the means to some state of society.” The ideas found in ‘The Little Green Book ’, a text-book designed for elementary school children, are aimed at building a secular society based on scientific materialism. This type of society is termed progressive and enlightened. The aim is to focus on ‘real’ or ‘basic’ values which will cut away the ‘parasitic growth of emotion’ and help to keep men centered on logic and reason instead of feelings. Ethics, religion, and morals are said to be without merit because they are outdated and do not work within the framework of scientific thinking. This belief system has produced a society of what Lewis terms “men without chests.” He states that if values are based on the ‘natural’ man then there can be no foundation for virtue, because we are departing from what makes us human, namely our morality. Without the establishment of ‘the Tao’ or the truth to be an underpinning of educational teaching then the ultimate outcome is the crumbling of character. It is apparent our culture has become selfish and materialistic, without loyalty or courage, and focused on worldly things instead of eternal values. This erosion of principle has caused a landslide of problems ranging from personal despair to societal decay. There is an epidemic ailment that is burdening many people today and it is the atrophy of character. ‘Men without chests’ have lost heart.
The word ‘heart’ can be used to represent the core of life and strength. This includes the mind, spirit, and soul of a person. One of the dictionary definitions states: ‘Heart is the center of the total personality with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion: the center of emotion, in contrast to the head as the center of the intellect.’ Therefore, the seat of the soul is the heart. This is where valor, integrity, honor, love, and the whole range of emotions and beliefs are held. There is a divinely inspired sense of right and wrong that is also felt within the heart. But for many, this point of truth is obscured. The feelings and ideals of a person are educated out of them and are looked upon as inferior to logic and reason. “all emotions…are contrary to reason and contemptible and ought to be eradicated”, according to the producers of modern texts like 'The Little Green Book'.
This divorce of reason from emotion has produced “fools and villains”. “We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.” This is witnessed time and time again as we listen to the news with shock and horror. I believe that Lewis was right in stating, “The practical result of education in the spirit of The Green Book must be the destruction of society.”
This is why I feel such a resonance with the appeal to return to the classics. Within the classics we will find the Tao, the way, the light --- truth. It is in finding this path that we will be open to the knowledge that man is not only a visceral being, but a dual being with a divine spark which I call the ‘Light of Christ’. This knowledge has been buried by piles of worksheets and fill in the blank tests that coincide with The Green Book. Modern education does not allow the teaching of traditional values and has replaced them with rational/scientific views and methods. In addition, one of the most important classics that our society has turned from is the Bible. It has been called a fictitious tale of imaginary legends and it is scorned as stale mythology. This departure from a core book has created a black hole of relativism. “we are ready to scrap traditional morals as a mere error and then to put ourselves in a position where we can find no ground for any value judgments at all.” Within this realm man has lost hope for anything better than this world except what is thought to be the ultimate in triumph…the accumulation of power. Many will, “Give up… soul, (to) get power in return.”
The basis of C.S. Lewis’ appeal is that the foundation for a secular society is corrupt. Because the Tao or eternal truths have become irrelevant to modern man, we have ceased to look within the center of the soul and have come to depend on might and mind instead. As a result, there are an enormous number of cases of heart disease and it is the leading cause of death of the spirit. The groundwork for this ailment starts at a young age with a seemingly benign ‘little green’ book; however, the outcome is in Lewis’ words, “The Abolition of Man”.
C.S. Lewis convincingly illustrates in his book The Abolition of Man how modern academia is altering the fabric of society by the way they infuse their philosophy into textbooks. “They write in order to produce certain states of mind in the rising generation…. because they think them to be the means to some state of society.” The ideas found in ‘The Little Green Book ’, a text-book designed for elementary school children, are aimed at building a secular society based on scientific materialism. This type of society is termed progressive and enlightened. The aim is to focus on ‘real’ or ‘basic’ values which will cut away the ‘parasitic growth of emotion’ and help to keep men centered on logic and reason instead of feelings. Ethics, religion, and morals are said to be without merit because they are outdated and do not work within the framework of scientific thinking. This belief system has produced a society of what Lewis terms “men without chests.” He states that if values are based on the ‘natural’ man then there can be no foundation for virtue, because we are departing from what makes us human, namely our morality. Without the establishment of ‘the Tao’ or the truth to be an underpinning of educational teaching then the ultimate outcome is the crumbling of character. It is apparent our culture has become selfish and materialistic, without loyalty or courage, and focused on worldly things instead of eternal values. This erosion of principle has caused a landslide of problems ranging from personal despair to societal decay. There is an epidemic ailment that is burdening many people today and it is the atrophy of character. ‘Men without chests’ have lost heart.
The word ‘heart’ can be used to represent the core of life and strength. This includes the mind, spirit, and soul of a person. One of the dictionary definitions states: ‘Heart is the center of the total personality with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion: the center of emotion, in contrast to the head as the center of the intellect.’ Therefore, the seat of the soul is the heart. This is where valor, integrity, honor, love, and the whole range of emotions and beliefs are held. There is a divinely inspired sense of right and wrong that is also felt within the heart. But for many, this point of truth is obscured. The feelings and ideals of a person are educated out of them and are looked upon as inferior to logic and reason. “all emotions…are contrary to reason and contemptible and ought to be eradicated”, according to the producers of modern texts like 'The Little Green Book'.
This divorce of reason from emotion has produced “fools and villains”. “We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.” This is witnessed time and time again as we listen to the news with shock and horror. I believe that Lewis was right in stating, “The practical result of education in the spirit of The Green Book must be the destruction of society.”
This is why I feel such a resonance with the appeal to return to the classics. Within the classics we will find the Tao, the way, the light --- truth. It is in finding this path that we will be open to the knowledge that man is not only a visceral being, but a dual being with a divine spark which I call the ‘Light of Christ’. This knowledge has been buried by piles of worksheets and fill in the blank tests that coincide with The Green Book. Modern education does not allow the teaching of traditional values and has replaced them with rational/scientific views and methods. In addition, one of the most important classics that our society has turned from is the Bible. It has been called a fictitious tale of imaginary legends and it is scorned as stale mythology. This departure from a core book has created a black hole of relativism. “we are ready to scrap traditional morals as a mere error and then to put ourselves in a position where we can find no ground for any value judgments at all.” Within this realm man has lost hope for anything better than this world except what is thought to be the ultimate in triumph…the accumulation of power. Many will, “Give up… soul, (to) get power in return.”
The basis of C.S. Lewis’ appeal is that the foundation for a secular society is corrupt. Because the Tao or eternal truths have become irrelevant to modern man, we have ceased to look within the center of the soul and have come to depend on might and mind instead. As a result, there are an enormous number of cases of heart disease and it is the leading cause of death of the spirit. The groundwork for this ailment starts at a young age with a seemingly benign ‘little green’ book; however, the outcome is in Lewis’ words, “The Abolition of Man”.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Alas, Babylon
Growing up during the Cold War brought thoughts of the apocalypse especially when I was a teenager. I believed that the future would surely be full of nuclear blasts and destruction on a grand scale. I didn’t figure on marrying and having a family, house, dog, cat and chickens of my own. But things changed so fast and then the Berlin Wall came down. It was over… in theory. The Cold War is part of history now, but reading Alas, Babylon has brought back thoughts of ‘what if?’
If a nuclear attack did occur on free soil, I think the consequences would be revealing. I say revealing because during times of crisis a persons moral fiber is exposed. If he has any mettle and resolve, people automatically look to him for leadership. This was the case for the character Randy Bragg. During ordinary times, he was a slacker in daily life with no direction or ambition. But under the perilous circumstances he found himself in after ‘THE DAY’, he became the head of the family and of his community. Fortunately, he had gained leadership ability while serving in the Korean War as an officer.
Leadership isn’t an inborn trait or produced because of heredity. I believe that leadership naturally occurs because of preparation and character. The preparation needs to happen before the crisis, because when it hits, it is too late in many cases. The foundation needs to be laid and roots sunk deep before the storm arrives. I think a good way to prepare for leadership is to read about the amazing leaders who founded our country and led it through difficult times. That is how Lincoln became the man he was because he read George Washington’s biography over and over again. He emulated Washington’s qualities and became a great person by walking down the same path. Lincoln wasn’t born to aristocracy, but he naturally rose to the call because of his devotion to education and his matchless integrity. I believe that ordinary people like Lincoln, without great means or opportunities, will be called upon to do extraordinary things because of the world we live in today. It is the preparation and foundation that is laid now that will enable liberty and freedom to survive the assaults raining down upon it.
Character is the supreme quality that will be of most value during a crisis. Honesty and trust will carry more weight than gold. This is true when placed in extreme circumstances and survival is in the balance, being able to trust your neighbor to share water, food, or what have you will determine whether or not you will deal with that person. If they haven’t had honor in the past, you certainly wouldn’t want to exchange any goods or services with them during a catastrophe. Intense situations bring out the best and worst in people. Therefore, character that is established in ordinary life will be magnified during times of crisis. A person of integrity will be looked to for guidance and trusted with responsibility.
According to The Fourth Turning by Strauss and Howe, times of crisis will come as surely as winter follows autumn. By reading about a post-nuclear community from Alas, Babylon, I have gained a sense of what matters most in times of war. It is physical preparation which includes having adequate food, potable water, and medical supplies, but perhaps more importantly is individual character. Initiative, integrity, and leadership are the most valuable commodities during disastrous times, but must be paid for in advance.
Copyright L.L. Williams
Growing up during the Cold War brought thoughts of the apocalypse especially when I was a teenager. I believed that the future would surely be full of nuclear blasts and destruction on a grand scale. I didn’t figure on marrying and having a family, house, dog, cat and chickens of my own. But things changed so fast and then the Berlin Wall came down. It was over… in theory. The Cold War is part of history now, but reading Alas, Babylon has brought back thoughts of ‘what if?’
If a nuclear attack did occur on free soil, I think the consequences would be revealing. I say revealing because during times of crisis a persons moral fiber is exposed. If he has any mettle and resolve, people automatically look to him for leadership. This was the case for the character Randy Bragg. During ordinary times, he was a slacker in daily life with no direction or ambition. But under the perilous circumstances he found himself in after ‘THE DAY’, he became the head of the family and of his community. Fortunately, he had gained leadership ability while serving in the Korean War as an officer.
Leadership isn’t an inborn trait or produced because of heredity. I believe that leadership naturally occurs because of preparation and character. The preparation needs to happen before the crisis, because when it hits, it is too late in many cases. The foundation needs to be laid and roots sunk deep before the storm arrives. I think a good way to prepare for leadership is to read about the amazing leaders who founded our country and led it through difficult times. That is how Lincoln became the man he was because he read George Washington’s biography over and over again. He emulated Washington’s qualities and became a great person by walking down the same path. Lincoln wasn’t born to aristocracy, but he naturally rose to the call because of his devotion to education and his matchless integrity. I believe that ordinary people like Lincoln, without great means or opportunities, will be called upon to do extraordinary things because of the world we live in today. It is the preparation and foundation that is laid now that will enable liberty and freedom to survive the assaults raining down upon it.
Character is the supreme quality that will be of most value during a crisis. Honesty and trust will carry more weight than gold. This is true when placed in extreme circumstances and survival is in the balance, being able to trust your neighbor to share water, food, or what have you will determine whether or not you will deal with that person. If they haven’t had honor in the past, you certainly wouldn’t want to exchange any goods or services with them during a catastrophe. Intense situations bring out the best and worst in people. Therefore, character that is established in ordinary life will be magnified during times of crisis. A person of integrity will be looked to for guidance and trusted with responsibility.
According to The Fourth Turning by Strauss and Howe, times of crisis will come as surely as winter follows autumn. By reading about a post-nuclear community from Alas, Babylon, I have gained a sense of what matters most in times of war. It is physical preparation which includes having adequate food, potable water, and medical supplies, but perhaps more importantly is individual character. Initiative, integrity, and leadership are the most valuable commodities during disastrous times, but must be paid for in advance.
Copyright L.L. Williams
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