Secular Totalitarianism
At the beginning I said there were Personalities in God. I will go further now. There are no real personalities anywhere else. Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self. Sameness is to be found most among the most "natural" men, not among those who surrender to Christ. How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different are the saints. -- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Such were the words of the famed Oxford don. Lewis recognized a fact that can be found by any Christian living in the workaday world. It's ironic that secularists who resist Christian belief or at least resist dedication to a Christian life do so often on the grounds of "freedom." Allegedly, Christianity or "religion" is akin to a Communist tyranny: it will control you and place you in line with the rest of the conforming crowd; any sense of self-governance or freedom to "become who you are" (or want to be) evaporates.
But, as Lewis alludes, quite the opposite seems true. In observing secularism among my own peer group I find precisely the monotony Lewis speaks of. Irreligious lives are all quite alike: work, go home, get drunk at the bar/club, go back home. This is a pattern not isolated to a chosen few: every non-Christian I know in this demographic does the same thing -- cyclically. Not only that, but they dislike/disrespect those unwilling to do likewise. It is they who want to make the rest of us conform to a strictly non-Christian agenda. Secularism is a jealous god and a blatantly cruel one at that.
The Christian path is quite distinct. Christ gives us the very freedom we need to find our true purpose and fulfillment in life. It seems true that God intends all of us to do something to serve He and His Kingdom. But it is in this common purpose where variety and uniqueness peak. Think, for example, of the great Christian philosophers (Ockham, Duns Scotus, Craig), musicians (Handel, Cowper, Keaggy), or missionaries (Livingstone, Carey, Mother Theresa). All alike in their goals to serve Christ; all vastly different in their abilities, feats, and testimonies. Locating ourselves with Him presents the opportunity to discard the totalitarian pressures of the secular world bidding us to become sheep in the secular herd. The godless monotony is over; we can take the road and adventure that God has planned for us to ultimately advance His cause and advance our potential in Him -- experiences that are unique and invigorating for us all.
Such were the words of the famed Oxford don. Lewis recognized a fact that can be found by any Christian living in the workaday world. It's ironic that secularists who resist Christian belief or at least resist dedication to a Christian life do so often on the grounds of "freedom." Allegedly, Christianity or "religion" is akin to a Communist tyranny: it will control you and place you in line with the rest of the conforming crowd; any sense of self-governance or freedom to "become who you are" (or want to be) evaporates.
But, as Lewis alludes, quite the opposite seems true. In observing secularism among my own peer group I find precisely the monotony Lewis speaks of. Irreligious lives are all quite alike: work, go home, get drunk at the bar/club, go back home. This is a pattern not isolated to a chosen few: every non-Christian I know in this demographic does the same thing -- cyclically. Not only that, but they dislike/disrespect those unwilling to do likewise. It is they who want to make the rest of us conform to a strictly non-Christian agenda. Secularism is a jealous god and a blatantly cruel one at that.
The Christian path is quite distinct. Christ gives us the very freedom we need to find our true purpose and fulfillment in life. It seems true that God intends all of us to do something to serve He and His Kingdom. But it is in this common purpose where variety and uniqueness peak. Think, for example, of the great Christian philosophers (Ockham, Duns Scotus, Craig), musicians (Handel, Cowper, Keaggy), or missionaries (Livingstone, Carey, Mother Theresa). All alike in their goals to serve Christ; all vastly different in their abilities, feats, and testimonies. Locating ourselves with Him presents the opportunity to discard the totalitarian pressures of the secular world bidding us to become sheep in the secular herd. The godless monotony is over; we can take the road and adventure that God has planned for us to ultimately advance His cause and advance our potential in Him -- experiences that are unique and invigorating for us all.
posted by Tom Wanchick at 10:48 PM
2 Comments:
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I think the argument against Christianity, as well as most mainstream religions, is its shallow and unmoving understanding of the followers.
Sex before marriage is a sin, disobediance is a sin, eating meat on friday is a sin, to add many others as well. Also the understanding the trinity is male, God=male, Jesus=male, and in the past centuries the holy spirit went from Female to genderless.
There are many theologians questioning these ancient and recent interpretations. If people could see the egalitarianism and personal insights of christianity, it might allow for better dialogue.
I've seen many Christians act in "the secular life" equally as much as secular people. This is not to say the Christians were tempted into sin or evil, but all people are of the same humanity, Christian and gentile. Jesus did not preach alientation and dualism, except against those who alienate and hierarchicalize humanity.
Thank you
Stephan
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