The Failure of the Enlightenment:

So What has science gotten us, after all?
Who says science failed?

Centuries ago, a new breed of person called the "scientist" began feeling very excited and optimistic about using "Reason" to lead humanity to a new state of freedom, happiness, progress, wisdom, harmony, etc etc etc. Science has been raging, full-steam ahead, ever since. So, how has it turned out, so far?

Well . . . now we have telephones, medicines, cars, airplanes (which bring people closer together, or splits them further apart?), cell phones, automatic windows, Hiroshima, Auschwitz, computers, World Wars I and II, worries about global warming, condoms, monster tv's with millions of channels complete with reruns of "The Brady Years: Behind the Scenes," Viagra, water fountains with touch-free buttons, Extra-Extra-EXtra Strength aspirin, diet pills, really realistic video games, antidepressants and side effects, bottled water, seat belts, infommercials . . .

On the surface, things are really different: we fly and drive around, swallow new pills, we've successfully postponed many deaths, we spend our time surrounded by clever gadgets and working to buy new ones, we're surrounded by more creature comforts than practically anyone in history could have ever imagined . . .

On the other hand, things are, essentially, the same. The same as they ever were, anyways: we're born, we eat, sleep, work, and die. There you go.

To go further, science can't even really completely answer, say, a basic question like "What diet is best?" . . . or even conquer the common cold. The human condition, overall, is very much the same, thanks.

Whether or not "The Enlightenment" really has completely failed or not, we definitely still have some serious issues unresolved.

Others elaborate on these issues . . .

Modern Trend: Mass Identity Crisis

I, am a Presbyterian who doesn't really believe in God.
I, am a Jewish Catholic, raising my kids agnostic.
I, am a fundamentalist pro-abortion Methodist who does yoga.
I, am a Jewish atheist.
I, was raised Lutheran (what do I believe in again?) and I practice Buddhist meditation.
I, I'm not sure, I kind of shop around.
I, don't believe in the Eucharist, baptism, confession, sin, the church, the Pope, Jesus, or God . . . but besides that, I'm a devout Catholic.
I, should go to church, and be good and all, or something, yeah, I know, but hey . . . the flesh is willing, and the spirit is weak.
I, don't know what I am, all I know is I'm supposed to be tolerant of everything else . . . umm, well, tolerant, except of anybody who's not tolerant . . .?

The lines are . . . getting . . . blurry.

"don't mix your drinks . . ."

 

Modern Trend: A flood of choices

Used to be, your father was a farmer, your grandfather was a farmer, your great-great-grandfather was a farmer . . . so for the most part, for better or worse, the road was pretty well laid out for you. Nowadays, however, you can become a doctor . . . lawyer . . . yogi, priest, network engineer, celebrity, unibomber, social worker, business tycoon, janitor, swami, porn-site operator, Trappist monk, world traveler, nun, plastic surgeon . . .

Definite benefits to facing a billion choices and wide-open horizons. Still, an overload of choices ("and you'd better not make the wrong one!"), without being anchored and grounded, a clear sense of priorities and how things work . . . can actually, sometimes, be a bit disorienting, a burden, an anxiety-producing disorienting burden at that, and with a million new choices always in your face, it can produce a definite aversion to making any commitments whatsoever.

 

Current Crisis Within Organized Religion

Traditional religion is facing many divisive issues in themselves: the decline of denominationalism, the rise of fundamentalism, mass moral confusion, literalism verses interpret . . . interpretational . . . um, interpretationalism . . . the relationship with science, controversy over the role of women, morality and sexuality, homosexuality, multiculturalism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gnostic Gospels other taboo texts . . . Efforts such as Vatican II, have kicked in to gear . . . but what is really happening? What are the fundamentals they all agree on? Are traditional traditional religions are on the decline? If so, what would replace them? On the other hand, are the institutions simply growing and evolving with the times? If so, what will they evolve into?
Some evidence . . .

 

Do-it-Yourself Theology, "Pick & Choose" Religion

One trendy fashion consists of not aligning oneself with any particular tradition, teaching or group, instead proclaiming oneself to be a uniquely one-of-a-kind individual, who cannot be "labeled" or grouped with any "ism" or group of beliefs.

While extreme individualism has its definite advantages, this is also, in a sense, can have the effect of "putting the inmates in charge of the asylum." One is then free to simply believe whatever one wants to believe and reject whatever one wants to reject, which is all too often a recipe for self-delusion and the perennial "head-up-the-arse" syndrome.

 

Religion and New Generations

According to some reports, some mainstream denominations are experiencing a serious shortage of new ministers, priests, and preachers to fill the pulpits (see here).
Why?

Because of retirement benefits or health plans? Because of job perks and retirement options? Because of a lowering of status for "spiritual leaders"? Because of an overall lack of interest in spiritual matters? Because science and business are attracting the most talented and intelligent individuals? Because religion itself, at least when taken seriously, is increasingly seen as some form of delusional extremism? Because younger generations somehow can't seem to find the same "faith" that for older generations seemed to come naturally?
This sounds like a job for a daring LiveReal Agent . . .

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