There are some writers who speak to me in fairly predictable
ways. Some of them are contemporary
people who write for newspapers, on the internet, and other social media. Others who speak to me are long since dead:
spiritual greats from centuries ago, i.e. people like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas,
John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila and a host of others. I don’t really pay too much attention to
their political or religious categorization---such as conservative or liberal,
evangelical or modern.
One such writer I like is David Brooks. He writes for the New York Times. Some of the
really great material he brings is nothing he invented. It comes from something he reads or hears
and, then, reflects on it. Maybe I am
attracted to this because it is much like I work.
Recently, I read something from Brooks. I was lured by the headline of the article:
“What Our Words Tell Us.” Granted, I
have a love of words. Any of my students
will tell you that. So I wondered what
our words tell us, according to David Brooks.
I was not disappointed.
His article begins with the fact that Google has launched a
database of 5.2 million books published between 1500 and 2008. Figures like this blow my mind. But I admit that I wondered whether my books
were part of the database. I guess that
is hubris---pride. I am glad I don’t
know the answer!
The database enables someone to enter a word and perform a
search. You can find out how often the
word is used in a particular century.
Brooks was quite interested in the trend line of words. What words were once important and have
become less important in our own time?
Do these trends tell us something about our culture? These are fascinating questions. And Brooks thinks he can sense some trends
and make some conclusive guesses about our culture. I share a couple of his observations.
The first point Brooks wants to make is clear. “So the
story I’d like to tell is this: Over the past half-century, society has become
more individualistic.” This one did not
surprise me. In fact, I would have been
very surprised had he concluded differently.
It does seem like the world in which I live is more
individualistic. He has a host of
words---words like “personal” and “self”---that make the case for his point.
The second point is a
little disturbing. Brooks contends this about
our culture. “As it has become more individualistic, it has also become less morally
aware, because social and moral fabrics are inextricably linked.” Simply put, he is suggesting our time is less
moral and less aware of morality than earlier times. Again, I am tempted to think this is true. And apparently our use of words buttress that
point. He cites the decreased us of
words, such as “virtue” and “decency.”
That makes me cringe.
Clearly, both of these
points have implications. Brooks puts it
bluntly. “The atomization and demoralization of society have led to certain forms of
social breakdown, which government has tried to address, sometimes successfully
and often impotently.” I would be
willing to argue this does reflect a culture that is more individualized
(atomized) and demoralized.
The question this
poses for me is whether this means spirituality is implicated? I think the answer is affirmative. To put it more sharply, I wonder if this does
not explain, in part, why religion seems less important in so many arenas of
American culture. In fact, I wonder if
the rising interest in spirituality is not the human heart---atomized and
demoralized---looking for meaning and purpose in ways that religion used to
address them?
Brooks has his own
conclusion which, granted is not proof, but is a good guess. He says, “these gradual shifts in language reflect tectonic shifts in culture. We
write less about community bonds and obligations because they’re less central
to our lives.” I think he is
correct. I do see less interest in community
and, certainly, less focus on obligations.
For example, many writers point to contemporary culture’s emphasis on
“rights” and less on “responsibilities.”
This resonates with me.
I am persuaded that
there has been a cultural shift. As one
who recalls the ‘60s, our world nearly 50 years later is culturally
different. Explosions of technology,
scientific innovation, etc. has created a different world. So has the cultural shift led to spiritual
loss. In some ways I believe the answer
is yes.
I am not depressed by
this or ready to give up. I am
challenged and energized to seek with others how to generate a spirituality fit
for our times and our culture. And I
believe what our words tell us give us a clue.
Perhaps we generate this spirituality by focusing on community and
morality. Perhaps these are the key and
not doctrine. That’s my hunch.
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