American Culture, Institutions and Individualism

It seems that the loudest cry in our culture at this time is for individual "rights". While some of these pursuits are cloaked under a pretense of seeking rights as a larger group, the reality is that the group is comprised of individuals seeking those rights and they gather together for strength in numbers in order to rally and politicize the call for their rights. We also live in a culture where it seems to not matter at what cost these rights come. While many would think that we are coming into a "Post-modern" period of time in our culture, this is actually an accentuation of the "modern" way of thinking. Modernity was all about the rights of individuals and the ability to "reason". Modernity was about breaking away from any sense of governmental (or any other authority) control. People of the Renaissance saw the need to be able to think and reason beyond the authorities of the Church and State - and in some ways, this was a really good thing. There began to develop a new sense of personal freedom. While there was a surge of freedoms with the birth of modernity, there was still a sense of accountability. In post-modernity, it seems that the push is for more freedoms and even less accountability. Post-modernity is about a push for individual freedoms without an accountability to any type of authority beyond the "self". This is reflected by the thinking, "Do whatever feels good to/for you, as long as you don't harm anyone else." The problem with this line of thinking is that we are not always aware of how our behaviors harm others. The next logical step in this direction of thinking is, "Do whatever feels good to/for you and try not to harm anyone else," then digresses to, "Do whatever feels good to/for you and it is someone else's fault if they get hurt."

How does this way of thinking come about? While I am far from an expert on this matter, I think one has to look at history. While institutions such as the Church and Monarchs were patrons to the arts and eduction during the Renaissance, this patronage came at a cost. (While there were other institutions, these were the most powerful ones). These institutions expected a degree of loyalty from those they patronized. The problem came about when these institutions continued to grow in power and become corrupt. This corruption lead to a breaking away from these institutions and they were often very violent. First there were religious wars during the Protestant Reformation (1517 - 1648 - approximately 130 years) where the modern mindset sought to free itself from "the shackles" of the institutional Church in the West and then, around this time (1620) this pursuit of religious freedom began the founding of the American colonies. Don't miss this because it is important! It was not long after this the American Revolution occurs. From the "Pilgrims" until the revolutionary war, there is about a 156 year period of time and remember that there is a 2 generation overlap from the Protestant Reformation and arrival at the Americas. Can you see the pattern? Due to corruption in the Church, there was a breakaway from the religious institution. Due to corruption in the government, there was a breakaway from the government institution. One (relatively) quickly happened after the other. All of this occurred under the pursuit of "freedom". (The mantra of America has become the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.) I am not making a judgment of "right or wrong" here, it simply was what it was and there were both great benefits but also the opening of Pandora's box.

Why do I go over this history? I think the mistake many people make is to think that modernity has died and we are waiting for the next phase of humanity and society. We are continuing to see a similar pattern in the West of the corruption of the institution of the church (lower case "c" because in this case it is the human church) due to clergy sex scandals (both in the Catholic and Protestant churches), financial corruption within the clergy, and a general prevailing wind of distrust of people and the church. The church, as during the Protestant Reformation, has lost it's authority due to it's corruption. Now, we see this corruption in the government and financial institutions. We are at a point in history of America where two major institutions are severely distrusted by the people. This propagates a call for "freedom from the institutions". (See the blatant Freedom From Religion Foundation ( www.ffrf.org )). This brings us to the direction we are now going where there is a cry for even greater individual freedoms but living in a culture that has little sense of personal or corporate accountability. Do you see the danger? Do the institutions need to change? Absolutely, there is no doubt! The problem is that if change comes without accountability, there is a great propensity for violent change!

The ironic thing is that these institutions were supposed to hold each other accountable. Government (laws), Church (morality) and Industry (provision) were supposed to keep each other in check and on track for the benefit of society. The downfall happens when each branch is becomes separated and corrupt and does not hold each other accountable. Groups that push "rights" (whether ffrf or gay rights movements) become the catalysts of change at just the right time recognizing the corruptness of the institutions so they can ride the winds of change and grow in power and authority. Remember, where there is a vacuum in leadership, other leadership rise up in that vacuum. It is the perfect storm and it is very complicated.

Now, compare and contrast that with the mantra of America (pursuit of life, liberty and happiness) to the mandates of Christ. Secular humanism touts the pursuit of life whereas Jesus says, "Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it." Jesus gives REAL life! Secular humanism espouses (human) liberties. Jesus (and Paul) advocate being a servant (Paul claims to be a slave to Christ). Secular humanism promotes happiness, Jesus was "a man of sorrow" but more than that, offers something deeper and longer lasting than happiness - joy (and peace). Secular humanism pushes the individual and his or her pursuit of "freedoms" - even if it is at the cost of the institutions. What they fail in their task to do is to see the long-term effects and damage of this way of thinking, for if you overthrow the "institutions", you overthrow the society in order to pursue individual liberties and chaos ensues. For all their imperfections, throwing out the baby with the bath will cause more suffering in the long haul. Other "institutions" will naturally arise if the humanist approach has it's way, but it will not be long before those too are corrupt because what humanism fails to take into account is the brokenness of humanity that will be reflected in ANY institution. The humanists have failed to take into account that one of the rebellions against modernity is the recognition that science and human reason alone have failed to cure what ails them.