Life In The Age Of Non-Reason
The famous theologian and scholar Francis Schaeffer was perhaps more prophetic than he realized when he so succinctly described our emerging society with the phrase “the age of non-reason” back in the 1970s. Day by day, we as a society are drifting further and further away from reason, truth and common sense. In fact, political correctness is really just a synonym for “non-reason” as well as a symptom of it. For example, what passes for “music” nowadays used to be considered the rantings of lunatics in asylums but today we have evolved so much intellectually (I really mean devolved) that we dare not label anything as bad, but rather just a matter of different taste, not poor taste or heaven-forbid we should label anything with an absolute label that is derogatory, though accurate, like vile or disgusting or simply offensive. And those who dare to call things like they are, are branded as intolerant, narrow-minded, old fashioned, out-of-touch and prejudiced. This irrational view of morality in society comes as no real surprise to those of us who study history and who have not been programmed by the public schools system to know nothing of independent critical thinking.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” [Isaiah 5:20]
Other areas of society where “non reason” is glaringly prevalent:
- Entertainment… people watch television programs that mock what is good and wholesome and then wonder
why their children are so disobedient and rebellious. - Abortion… people call the murder of the unborn an expression of a mother’s choice. If I murdered someone’s day old child, could I walk away from the crime scene scot-free? My act would not differ at all from the act of the abortionist and the child’s mother. One victim would simply be 24 hours older than the other. But in an age of “non reason” there is claimed to be a vast difference. Of course in the age of non reason, the victim is never recognized or acknowledge.
- Homosexuality… people have relabeled a dangerous, unhealthy and unnatural sexual activity as merely an alternative lifestyle. Yet we panic over the thought of getting AIDS or other STDs. In an age of reason, if an activity is dangerous it would commonly be treated as such.
- Spirituality… whatever you believe about God and the hereafter is acceptable… Even if two religions are diametrically opposed to one another. Both views are said to be legitimate. But then where do you draw the line? How do you tell the person involved in human sacrifice and torture that they are wrong? Because in the age of non-reason, once you draw a line in the sand you are being intolerant of at least someone or some thing and in the age of non-reason, the ultimate crime and the most grievous sin is that of intolerance. However, in the age of non-reason, intolerance is allowed and in fact mandated for any one who dares to subscribe to moral absolutes.
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
[Romans 1:21-22]