This Side of 1984
I just finished reading Lesslie Newbigin's The Other Side of 1984. I plan on doing several posts on this essay. It has made a great impact on me. I found this essay on a bargain book table at Hearts and Minds (see the link. An awesome place to visit and shop online). Newbigin wrote this essay believing people would be evaluating the state of British society and comparing it to what George Orwell predicted what life in 1984 would be like. Newbigin spends the first part of the essay explaining and evaluating our modern culture. What I found fascinating about his analysis and critique of modernism, is how prophetic he is. He wrote this in 1983 and in my opinion I think he has put his finger on the pulse of American culture right now. Newbigin exposes the limitations of the modernist worldview. He explains how all the promises of the scientific method of being able to observe and verify reality while at the same time abandoning myths and stories has left people without hope.
He said, "In the subsequent years of ministry in England I have often been asked: "What is the greatest difficulty you face in moving from India to England?" I have always answered: "The disappearance of hope." I believe that everyone who has made the same move will bear me out. Even in the most squalid slums of Madras there was always the belief that things could be improved...In England, it is hard to find any such hope...For the elderly and the middle-aged there is, for the most part, only the hope of keeping reasonably comfortable amid the disintegration of so many of the familiar values. For very many of the young there is only the terrible spectre of nuclear war, with nothing beyond."
When I read this quote I was speechless. Newbigin articulated for me what I see here, people who live without hope. It's not only those who don't believe the Gospel, but those who align themselves with Jesus. The kids I work with, the couples I talk to are so filled with doubt and uncertainity. They live in stable homes and are a part of a safe community. They live a reasonable lifestyle. But, they are plagued by doubt and hopelessness. Even though they seem to have it all. The challenge is, how does the Resurrected Jesus call them to live out of a new framework, a new story? I hope to flesh more of this out in the next couple of posts.
posted by Jeff and Jodie @ 10:41 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Well, with the birth of a new baby and your other great posts, it is a bit tacky to get too excited about this Newbegin connection, but I must say this is great, great stuff. Good for you, my man. Thanks for the shout out, too, about Hearts & Minds. We need all the thoughtful readers we can get. Thanks for your serious hearts and good mind. 1984 by L.N. What a book. If you haven't, you have got to read Foolishness to the Greeks, perhaps my fav of his.
Byron
Thanks for this, Jeff. Newbigin is right about there being a lack of hope. 'course the spectre of nuclear war isn't what it was then; but maybe it's been replaced by the threat of war fueled by religious extremism.
The thing is, I think it's that same hoplessness that's creeped into our souls while we've been here (or at least we notice it more now). Feels like the cold chill that spread over the country in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince because the Dementors started breeding. Rowling is on to something, I think.
See Jeff, you just too smart and you make me feel stupid when I read your entries. Mine are like "I got up today, I ate a sandwich..." and here you are talking about these deep issues...geesh....
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