(An analysis in 7 parts of the ideological foundations of today’s secular society, as opposed to the former religious basis. It doesn’t fall easily into my usual three categories, but I have put it in the faith stream as being about fundamental values.)
A religious and a secular basis for society
Part 1: The emptiness of secularism, disguised by clamour over identity
In recent decades the UK has moved decisively from having a religious basis to a secular one. A key impact of this development becomes ever clearer in the distressing emptiness at the heart of society, as people desperately thrash around trying to find some alternative for what they have lost. The essence of what they have lost is the confident assurance that faith in God imparts. Having kicked God out of the picture, secular society was confident that it would usher in a brave new world of freedom and fulfilment. Instead, without God, there is an aching emptiness at the heart of society – because, of course, so many individuals feel an aching emptiness. The void, like any vacuum, does not, of course, remain empty. All sorts of bright, new alternative ideologies rush in, screaming for attention, but it is increasingly clear that society has searched for a beneficial alternative to religion – and failed.
As evidence for this I will cite many things. There is the epidemic of mental health problems; the intense anxiety and depression that so many feel, the absence of meaning and purpose. There is also the hollow falseness of the alternative ideologies being promoted – an emptiness that is obvious to anyone not brainwashed by the constant propaganda desperately trying to assert that true is false and false is true. The very extremism and fanaticism with which these ideologies are asserted is evidence that they could not survive if people took a clear, deep look at them, and so anyone who does not conform to the supposed new orthodoxy must be coerced into silence.
The religious view – so disparaged by the self-confident secularists who have taken power in the key centres of authority – is so much healthier than the secular view – yet this simple truth falls on deaf ears. Nevertheless, we must keep speaking until people rediscover truth.
The failure of modern ideologies is shown by their intense focus on “identity”. I have never had the slightest doubt about my identity. I have an enormous confidence that, “I am me” – and I use my name as a label under which I gather my lifetime of experience and actions and relationships. That is who I am. I have no need to agonise over it. Or assert my identity. Or get into conflict with others to prove who I am. I am just me. I am here. I deserve to be here because I am here. And nothing else needs to be said.
Spiritual Devotion 