Our modern world faces a conundrum. We learned from Darwin that human value systems are based on no reality that is independent of the social interactions of humans as a species. The logical conclusion from this is that cultural values are relative. The entire educated secular class that is …
Our modern world faces a conundrum. We learned from Darwin that human value systems are based on no reality that is independent of the social interactions of humans as a species. The logical conclusion from this is that cultural values are relative. The entire educated secular class that is institutionally dominant worldwide has no coherent argument against this worldview.
Meanwhile, the religious people point to their belief in God as the source of moral norms and social stability. From the evolutionary perspective, the coalitions formed around these shared beliefs have been the organizing principle of societies. But as the traditional God retreats in the face of the Darwinian worldview, social cohesion searches for some replacement foundation. It’s why wokeism feels like a sort of half-baked residual religious impulse of secular society.
Faith must yield to obvious reality, but what we know of reality remains deeply mysterious.
We will never appropriate God's Divine Providence or, if you prefer, supply a Providence of our own and become the Gods who are missing amidst the eternally-moving particles.
I just subscribed because of this cogent essay!
Our modern world faces a conundrum. We learned from Darwin that human value systems are based on no reality that is independent of the social interactions of humans as a species. The logical conclusion from this is that cultural values are relative. The entire educated secular class that is institutionally dominant worldwide has no coherent argument against this worldview.
Meanwhile, the religious people point to their belief in God as the source of moral norms and social stability. From the evolutionary perspective, the coalitions formed around these shared beliefs have been the organizing principle of societies. But as the traditional God retreats in the face of the Darwinian worldview, social cohesion searches for some replacement foundation. It’s why wokeism feels like a sort of half-baked residual religious impulse of secular society.
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Your thinking is in line with the bigger argument made in "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self."
"It’s why wokeism feels like a sort of half-baked residual religious impulse of secular society."
Agreed that it is. It expresses its faith through ideology - its language.
Faith must yield to obvious reality, but what we know of reality remains deeply mysterious.
We will never appropriate God's Divine Providence or, if you prefer, supply a Providence of our own and become the Gods who are missing amidst the eternally-moving particles.
Al vostro servizio, Signore!