If “we have never been modern,” why do we all say we have? Why do we say we’re living in an iron cage, that the world has been secularized and disenchanted, that religion has passed its sell-by date?
Perhaps we just like to beat ourselves up.
Or, perhaps the notion of “modernity” plays a protective role.
For instance:
The Bible talks about a violent atonement; modernity says that we’ve outgrown that. Since Kant, we’ve learned to bring in a kingdom of peace without blood. Therefore, the Bible’s not talking to us.
The Bible talks about angels and demons and miracles; modernity says that the world operates by scientific laws. Since Newton, Darwin, and Einstein, we’ve got it figured out. Therefore, the Bible’s not talking to us.
The Bible claims to be divine revelation, and talks about God intervening to speak and act in history; modernity says that the world is a closed system. Since everybody, we know that God, if He exists, couldn’t possibly speak in a way we could understand. Therefore, the Bible’s not talking to us.
It’s all a ruse. It’s a centuries-long, civilization-wide project in “suppressing truth in unrighteousness.”
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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