Given the inevitability of time and hydraulics, what is released at the river headwaters will eventually wind up at the river delta. How fast it arrives is determined by the river itself.
A society built on lies cannot command trust. That is the crisis. Institutions still want the authority of churches, courts, fathers, schools, and constitutional government, but they have rejected the moral foundations that made that authority legitimate. They demand compliance while teaching that everything is constructed, oppressive, subjective, and disposable. No human relationship survives without trust. Neither does a civilization. Smith’s river metaphor lands because the poison was released upstream decades ago. The delta is now full of it: libertinism, collectivism, abortion worship, gender fantasy, climate religion, speech control, and institutional collapse.
In Exodus 32 Moses goes up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone from God. God is clearly communicating His moral authority to a people he just rescued from slavery. As soon as Moses is out of sight, they, as a whole, decide it's a good idea to go back to the old gods who seemed to be more fun. They melt enough gold to create a golden calf that represents the "fun" gods and no moral restraint. God informs Moses of what just happened.
7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” Ex 32:7–8. ESV
It took about five minutes for the people to turn from God, who had just demonstrated His awesome power to them by delivering them from Egypt.
They knew better, but it's more fun to be your own little god and throw off all the silly constraints imposed by a limiting deity.
And so it is in our postmodern age. The idols of the heart (golden calves) are many, but they all add up to men and women wanting to be god.
One of the great ironies of our day is the libertine alliance with Islam and Marxism, two systems that control all aspects of life.
Why must there be a "divinity" -- an invisible entity controlling and judging humankind -- for there to be morality ? Christian mythology, just like Greek, or Norse, or American Indian, or African, or whatever mythology you like, can provide a perfectly serviceable moral system for human beings. All that is required is agreement on a few basics: murder and rape are wrong as are lying, cheating, stealing. Other things to avoid are bearing false witness, hypocrisy, mendacity, greed, lust, sloth, gluttony, avarice, pride, envy, narcissism, prejudice, manipulation, intolerance. Treat others with kindness and do unto them as you would have done to you. Aspire to be kind, truthful, tolerant, honest, humble, inquisitive, caring, just, prudent, honorable. And these things must be taught by parents and society, but it is not at all necessary to cloak them in religion. Humankind needs to evolve beyond superstition and magical thinking. Such change is within our power. It should not be this hard to do so.
Great essay! But I would argue that modern "Progressives" are not libertines as traditionally described.
They're more like the Henry Fords of the world, regarding the available color options for the Model T: You can get it in any color you want, as long as it's black.
Modern "Progressives" are all about freedom ... as long as you choose the same things they choose. As soon as you would opt for something different, whoa, you fascist, the government needs to control you!
"The contradiction at the center of the modern progressive project is this idea: No one may tell me how to live, but government may tell everyone how to live."
It's not a contradiction when you consider, if modern "Progressives" had their druthers and held the reins of government power, the government would be telling everyone how to live, but wouldn't say anything to the "Progressives" because the "Progressives" are already living that way.
They think it's freedom because it's what they'd choose anyway. They don't see that they're living in the same cage as everyone else; it's dressed up and comfortable just they way they like it ... but at the end of the day it's still a cage.
I'm not certain, but I believe the ancient Greeks and Romans had moral systems without reference to any books about God(s). Morality was rooted in tradition and certainly one risked consequences if one offended the gods. It is the Abrahamic faiths that claim morality must come from God/Allah. Well, all three of them can't be correct - at best only one is: Judaic, Christian or Muslim.
"The old gods disappear, but humanity proves remarkably capable of creating new ones."
Which is an excellent description of why revelation isn't all it is cracked up to be.
"This is where modern progressivism becomes particularly interesting."
You know what else is interesting about progressivism - it started as a religious movement, the Social Gospel before it spread into politics. It is also interesting how over time it lost faith in God, but not in Government! This is also why I am horrified when I see the right emulating the approach of progressives; you're going to end up just like them.
The culture feeding our society is a contradiction as a result of man's ability to say "good for thee but not for me". Laws are great when they protect what you want, but horrible when they force you to do something you are against. It has always been so, at least in the west.
How else (and this is worldwide, not just the west) can a person fight for their personal freedom and yet condone slavery? Is it really possible or logical that one person deserves freedom and rights while another does not?
Only on the 3rd rock from the sun. And it doesn't make sense here either.
A society built on lies cannot command trust. That is the crisis. Institutions still want the authority of churches, courts, fathers, schools, and constitutional government, but they have rejected the moral foundations that made that authority legitimate. They demand compliance while teaching that everything is constructed, oppressive, subjective, and disposable. No human relationship survives without trust. Neither does a civilization. Smith’s river metaphor lands because the poison was released upstream decades ago. The delta is now full of it: libertinism, collectivism, abortion worship, gender fantasy, climate religion, speech control, and institutional collapse.
In Exodus 32 Moses goes up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone from God. God is clearly communicating His moral authority to a people he just rescued from slavery. As soon as Moses is out of sight, they, as a whole, decide it's a good idea to go back to the old gods who seemed to be more fun. They melt enough gold to create a golden calf that represents the "fun" gods and no moral restraint. God informs Moses of what just happened.
7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” Ex 32:7–8. ESV
It took about five minutes for the people to turn from God, who had just demonstrated His awesome power to them by delivering them from Egypt.
They knew better, but it's more fun to be your own little god and throw off all the silly constraints imposed by a limiting deity.
And so it is in our postmodern age. The idols of the heart (golden calves) are many, but they all add up to men and women wanting to be god.
One of the great ironies of our day is the libertine alliance with Islam and Marxism, two systems that control all aspects of life.
Why must there be a "divinity" -- an invisible entity controlling and judging humankind -- for there to be morality ? Christian mythology, just like Greek, or Norse, or American Indian, or African, or whatever mythology you like, can provide a perfectly serviceable moral system for human beings. All that is required is agreement on a few basics: murder and rape are wrong as are lying, cheating, stealing. Other things to avoid are bearing false witness, hypocrisy, mendacity, greed, lust, sloth, gluttony, avarice, pride, envy, narcissism, prejudice, manipulation, intolerance. Treat others with kindness and do unto them as you would have done to you. Aspire to be kind, truthful, tolerant, honest, humble, inquisitive, caring, just, prudent, honorable. And these things must be taught by parents and society, but it is not at all necessary to cloak them in religion. Humankind needs to evolve beyond superstition and magical thinking. Such change is within our power. It should not be this hard to do so.
Great essay! But I would argue that modern "Progressives" are not libertines as traditionally described.
They're more like the Henry Fords of the world, regarding the available color options for the Model T: You can get it in any color you want, as long as it's black.
Modern "Progressives" are all about freedom ... as long as you choose the same things they choose. As soon as you would opt for something different, whoa, you fascist, the government needs to control you!
"The contradiction at the center of the modern progressive project is this idea: No one may tell me how to live, but government may tell everyone how to live."
It's not a contradiction when you consider, if modern "Progressives" had their druthers and held the reins of government power, the government would be telling everyone how to live, but wouldn't say anything to the "Progressives" because the "Progressives" are already living that way.
They think it's freedom because it's what they'd choose anyway. They don't see that they're living in the same cage as everyone else; it's dressed up and comfortable just they way they like it ... but at the end of the day it's still a cage.
…still just a rat in a cage.
Despite all their rage....
"morality from religious authority"
I'm not certain, but I believe the ancient Greeks and Romans had moral systems without reference to any books about God(s). Morality was rooted in tradition and certainly one risked consequences if one offended the gods. It is the Abrahamic faiths that claim morality must come from God/Allah. Well, all three of them can't be correct - at best only one is: Judaic, Christian or Muslim.
"The old gods disappear, but humanity proves remarkably capable of creating new ones."
Which is an excellent description of why revelation isn't all it is cracked up to be.
"This is where modern progressivism becomes particularly interesting."
You know what else is interesting about progressivism - it started as a religious movement, the Social Gospel before it spread into politics. It is also interesting how over time it lost faith in God, but not in Government! This is also why I am horrified when I see the right emulating the approach of progressives; you're going to end up just like them.
When men act as god, they presently behave as devils.
Suicidal empathy may explain it
The culture feeding our society is a contradiction as a result of man's ability to say "good for thee but not for me". Laws are great when they protect what you want, but horrible when they force you to do something you are against. It has always been so, at least in the west.
How else (and this is worldwide, not just the west) can a person fight for their personal freedom and yet condone slavery? Is it really possible or logical that one person deserves freedom and rights while another does not?
Only on the 3rd rock from the sun. And it doesn't make sense here either.
Right on, Michael. Thanks!
fascinating…. and excellent points michael!
unless that government is Donald Trump- 😂😂😂