Secularism

We may be troubled in spirit by various influences some of which include: 1) – an excess of knowledge, sometimes called information overload which is simply more than we can process as individuals so to turn to specialists; 2) – a prevailing contradiction (doubt) about what is true and false related to knowledge in faith and fact, human contexts; 3) – an uncertainty about objectivity touched by powerful emotions, like prejudice, that distorts knowledge; and, the list lengthens.  We find troublesome the journey to truth, faith and action.  How do we gain intellectual balance to personal peace?  How much does one give to gain agreement from another so to turn a matter toward solution and acceptance?  Can we be sure the compromise is turning toward solution, or turning the projection away from the objective? Compromise is commonly necessary but the solution may be beyond compromise, so it is not a part of the ultimate solution, as was the occasion for Luther when he finally said: Here I stand!  He could not do otherwise.  We remain accepting of others, respectful, but there is ultimately no invasion of deliberate orientations of our lives.

One of our problems is our misperception of growth.  The world seems taken by growth as a principle for good.  It is believed that growth in society is a good thing.  The school wants more students, business wants more production, investors want more dividends, workers want higher wages, and so the concept of increase becomes the meaning in a visible growth proven by increase in goods, higher wages, and larger statistics for anything measureable and receipted in some way.  Growth becomes change that is presumed necessary because growth cannot be sustained without change, without compromise for something.  We may or may not find how to change, and may not want to if we must to sustain position. There are too many balls in the air to catch them all – resources, employees, laws, public, expenses, weather, costs, margins and the factors often fight each other, not cooperating to the level of effort given to the context of things.  Prosperity is theorized as related to growth.  Demand for goods and services must be encouraged (grown) so temptation and appeal spills over into excess. Even the excess must grow, because efficiency has grown, demanding more consumption.  This leads to materialism leading to cycles of boom and bust.

Surely there is a better way to meet the needs of society, to offer better economic balance, to dilute the fears of the public for retirement dignity, for fulfilling the need to work and serve; for health and family continuity; for advancement of human education to understanding and that to wisdom in how to make the good life that forms us into what we are meant to be – to the good life offered of God, and for those who do not believe in god (as though there were God).  Growth in Scripture is taken as maturing in life.  It is more related to quality than quantity.  There are no real short cuts, although some procedures are lengthened for some persons because of the differences found in every human being.  I prosper, as God interprets prosperity, when my faith grows (matures); when my concern for others grows; when my family is given adequate attention, especially in that related to mate and children; when my mind and soul are given adequate development; and, so the story goes.  There is growth, and a true sense of fulfillment that is far greater than the prosperity of materialism – when materialism is working.  If the quality of my life is not first in my concept of growth, I have missed its meaning.  Growth is not in my financial assets, except as that item fits into the larger perception of growth.  That larger relates not only to the quality of my life, but how I may contribute to the growth in the quality of other lives, beginning with my family.  Secularism related to world economies seeking growth has contributed to excesses of pollution, competition, jealousy, prejudice, illegal procedures, wealth – and the like.  Even some persons believing in God, in prayer, and biblical guidance for life have joined the furies, perhaps without an understanding of what they have done and are continuing to do.  If growth in volume of goods is the key to prosperity, why have we the hungry, ill-housed, neglected children, even some crime of materialists?  Scripture reminds us that when we are acting for quality in our lives – against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:23)  It can’t be overdone. God help us not to stumble in treatment of humane values in the meaning of service for good. (Acts 4:31-5:11; 6:1-4)