Life of Pride
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Ahh, less than two weeks until my Intercollegiate Studies Institute seminar at Princeton! I am excited, if only because they assigned us some truly stupendous books to read in order to prepare. I'm going to have to make a later post with some quotes from these books, I think.
They are all about the decline of Western civilization, the corrupted world we have inherited. People of the last generation were not too optimistic about our chances, it seems. I'm not optimistic either; I watched the movie Cinderella Man last night, and it displayed the fact that every generation of the world has its own problems - some more obvious than others. But I am hopeful, because I know God can turn any culture around.
The main question is: Do we even have a culture? What are its defining factors? No, we have a mass of people living in the same geographic area. What does America stand for any more, without God? Sneakers and bad manners, that's what. Nothing stupendous happens.
It reminds me of the little boy on his tricycle in The Incredibles. Mr. Incredible asks him, "So what are you waiting for?" He replies, "I don't know. Something amazing, I guess!" We are beginning to realize, with this latest slate of hero movies, that we again want something amazing. This world of bland sameness needs its heroes, its true leaders.
To be a leader, however, requires self-sacrifice in favor of an ideal, something bigger than visible reality. Too many people today live only in the world they see. Materialists and capitalists are unable to be heroes, so long as they don't subscribe to a higher reality.
All right, these are just random ramblings. I'm probably getting myself into trouble. Any thoughts?
They are all about the decline of Western civilization, the corrupted world we have inherited. People of the last generation were not too optimistic about our chances, it seems. I'm not optimistic either; I watched the movie Cinderella Man last night, and it displayed the fact that every generation of the world has its own problems - some more obvious than others. But I am hopeful, because I know God can turn any culture around.
The main question is: Do we even have a culture? What are its defining factors? No, we have a mass of people living in the same geographic area. What does America stand for any more, without God? Sneakers and bad manners, that's what. Nothing stupendous happens.
It reminds me of the little boy on his tricycle in The Incredibles. Mr. Incredible asks him, "So what are you waiting for?" He replies, "I don't know. Something amazing, I guess!" We are beginning to realize, with this latest slate of hero movies, that we again want something amazing. This world of bland sameness needs its heroes, its true leaders.
To be a leader, however, requires self-sacrifice in favor of an ideal, something bigger than visible reality. Too many people today live only in the world they see. Materialists and capitalists are unable to be heroes, so long as they don't subscribe to a higher reality.
All right, these are just random ramblings. I'm probably getting myself into trouble. Any thoughts?
Comments:
Mostly right on. Be careful about saying that without something grand, we have no culture (I'm not sure if that's what you were saying, but that's how it came across).
And about the post before this.. I've found out that you can become much less mature at 22 than you were at 21 :-/. Love and submit to God, and he'll keep you growing.
And about the post before this.. I've found out that you can become much less mature at 22 than you were at 21 :-/. Love and submit to God, and he'll keep you growing.
I'm thinking of writing a post eventually about what we can do about the government; here's my thoughts so far. Immediately, we need to vote for our principles. But to do this, especially medium and long-term, we need education. The fact is that people either don't vote because they don't care, or vote on a few unimportant issues because they don't know what the important ones are. An example is voting for a congressman because he's against "evil drug use!" and will violate the principles of our government to fight it. People in today's schools and society are not taught to think critically or about what the long-term consequences of an action are, and proper education (not necessarily in school/homeschool; writing/art and living a well-ordered life are a great methods to teach about what is important) will fix that.
Sarah:
I think the question would not be whether or not America has a culture, but rather, what the culture was and is and ought to be.
I very much agree that we have lost the "classic" American culture, in the sense of "One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all", with hot dogs, baseball, and apple pie.
Instead, [broadly speaking] Americans are a group of self-seeking pleasure hunters, without meaning, purpose, or direction - seeking to defend rights with responsibility. One might say this is no culture at all, but it is still generally representative of the American people as a whole, and therefore our "culture" for the present.
quaerens:
I disagree that a 'proper education' in and of itself will 'fix things'. An education of Platonic thought process is not the solution - rather, they are likely what has brought us to this point. Unless, by education you are referring to a more broad category of all life-skills in general. I believe the lack of critical thinking skills is only the beginning of America's problems. We need people who can not only think critically, but also have wisdom, in the sense beyond pure logic.
I think the question would not be whether or not America has a culture, but rather, what the culture was and is and ought to be.
I very much agree that we have lost the "classic" American culture, in the sense of "One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all", with hot dogs, baseball, and apple pie.
Instead, [broadly speaking] Americans are a group of self-seeking pleasure hunters, without meaning, purpose, or direction - seeking to defend rights with responsibility. One might say this is no culture at all, but it is still generally representative of the American people as a whole, and therefore our "culture" for the present.
quaerens:
I disagree that a 'proper education' in and of itself will 'fix things'. An education of Platonic thought process is not the solution - rather, they are likely what has brought us to this point. Unless, by education you are referring to a more broad category of all life-skills in general. I believe the lack of critical thinking skills is only the beginning of America's problems. We need people who can not only think critically, but also have wisdom, in the sense beyond pure logic.
# posted by 
: 4:04 PM
: 4:04 PM
Regarding previous post... we are getting far too introspective and infrequent :(. The effect of summer -- we all turn our thoughts to the future and feel old. And, Sarah, you are not old! 21 is young... and I agree with quarens about 22 being far less mature... :P. Hmm... maybe I'll feel younger at 23.
I would say yes, we do have a culture as far as societal trends, and in that culture there are leaders -- perhaps in some sense political figures, in a greater sense athletes and actors -- but disappointment with our leaders has led to almost pervasive cynicism, and our culture is certainly lacking that element of greatness. Wes, are culture judgments enirely subjective? Is any cultural standard arbitrary? I don't think so... but in making objective judgments or setting a standard we must be very, very careful.
How does one go about recreating greatness in culture? I would say by creating art that communicates to an audience (i.e., the people have to in some sense recognize and appreciate its greatness). This kind of art, and this kind of connection with people, grows out of a life that has carefully cultivated this element of greatness in itself... which comes from knowing the Person of Jesus Christ. Simplistic, perhaps, but true, I think.
I would say yes, we do have a culture as far as societal trends, and in that culture there are leaders -- perhaps in some sense political figures, in a greater sense athletes and actors -- but disappointment with our leaders has led to almost pervasive cynicism, and our culture is certainly lacking that element of greatness. Wes, are culture judgments enirely subjective? Is any cultural standard arbitrary? I don't think so... but in making objective judgments or setting a standard we must be very, very careful.
How does one go about recreating greatness in culture? I would say by creating art that communicates to an audience (i.e., the people have to in some sense recognize and appreciate its greatness). This kind of art, and this kind of connection with people, grows out of a life that has carefully cultivated this element of greatness in itself... which comes from knowing the Person of Jesus Christ. Simplistic, perhaps, but true, I think.
Mathew: I agree, it's not just what we think of as reason. (Not, Wes, "indoctrination," but thinking for one's self; uncritical acceptance and apathy are two major problems with citizens today.) Plato wanted a balance of the mind, emotions/spirit and animal appetite. His ideas may not be totally correct, of course.
We need a properly ordered life, and to know in practice what is important in life.
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We need a properly ordered life, and to know in practice what is important in life.
