Antonio is right. Utopic visions and reality are incompatible.
But the source is important. SF isn't guided by Christian ethics, but instead French enlightenment logic. One sees people as broken in need of a savior. The other as a blank slate damaged by society.
But the source is important. SF isn't guided by Christian ethics, but instead French enlightenment logic. One sees people as broken in need of a savior. The other as a blank slate damaged by society.
https://twitter.com/antoniogm/status/1457129955444232193
The Bible is anything but utopic, which is one reason I was attracted to it as an atheist.
It’s the gritty account of reality. Its heroes are image bearers, but a herd of morons who God works through. Sound familiar? Sure does to me. And, as a moron myself, it gives me hope.
It’s the gritty account of reality. Its heroes are image bearers, but a herd of morons who God works through. Sound familiar? Sure does to me. And, as a moron myself, it gives me hope.
Contrast with 18th c. enlightenment optimism and confidence, the fruit of which is 19th c. terror, the bloodiest century in history.
Man’s replacement of God ushered in the politics of pure power.
Here's Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn from his Templeton Prize for Progress speech:
Man’s replacement of God ushered in the politics of pure power.
Here's Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn from his Templeton Prize for Progress speech:
Let’s take two exemplars of the philosophies — Augustine and Rousseau.
As young men both steal. Augustine stole pears. Rousseau asparagus. But they drew radically different conclusions about *why* they stole. And the implications of their conclusions reverberate today.
As young men both steal. Augustine stole pears. Rousseau asparagus. But they drew radically different conclusions about *why* they stole. And the implications of their conclusions reverberate today.
Augustine saw his own depravity in his theft. He stole because he’s broken and his heart is bent towards self-serving gain at the expense of others -- the essence of evil.
From this perspective, freedom comes when God graciously and lovingly rescues you.
From this perspective, freedom comes when God graciously and lovingly rescues you.
In stark contrast, Rousseau only saw the depravity of society.
On his own, he saw himself a pure, moral, virtuous being. But a friend compelled him to do it. Society corrupted him.
Freedom therefore comes by casting off social shackles and expectations.
On his own, he saw himself a pure, moral, virtuous being. But a friend compelled him to do it. Society corrupted him.
Freedom therefore comes by casting off social shackles and expectations.
One sees the darkness within. The other sees darkness out there.
One calls for repentance and the other for deconstruction.
One is real. The other is utopic.
One calls for repentance and the other for deconstruction.
One is real. The other is utopic.
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