I am just not a good enough social and political theorist to really grasp what’s happening in our society. I’m torn between two inclinations
The “Brief Madness” Framework
This is when I see this woke craze as a brief interlude that will quickly fade away. As I listen to another entry in the Oxford History of the United States series, this volume covering 1945-1974, I see this woke religion of white guilt has least a superficial parallel to the Red Scare in the early 1950s:
A genuine issue
blown out of proportion by politicians and cultural elites for political ends
destroys lives and changes American society
Constitutional rights are ignored or gotten around because of the “urgency” of the issue
and relatively quickly dies out (4+ years) as it destroys itself
but leaves terrible cultural damage behind
I have to look at my text copy of the chapter I just listened to, and follow the trail of footnotes to some extent, but the parallels made me raise my eyebrows quite a bit.
The “It’s All Over” Framework
This is the alarm Dreher and others are sounding, along with some of the usual theological suspects (Gagnon, James White, Sovereign Nations, etc.). This is a plot to overthrow Western civilization. It’s Nazi-like. A police state is coming. Concentration camps are on the horizon. Etc. Etc.
I’m not really sure what to think. I don’t think anyone is really sure. So confusing. So troubling.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
Discussion
NewTorn
I am just not a good enough social and political theorist to really grasp what’s happening in our society. I’m torn between two inclinations
The “Brief Madness” Framework
This is when I see this woke craze as a brief interlude that will quickly fade away. As I listen to another entry in the Oxford History of the United States series, this volume covering 1945-1974, I see this woke religion of white guilt has least a superficial parallel to the Red Scare in the early 1950s:
I have to look at my text copy of the chapter I just listened to, and follow the trail of footnotes to some extent, but the parallels made me raise my eyebrows quite a bit.
The “It’s All Over” Framework
This is the alarm Dreher and others are sounding, along with some of the usual theological suspects (Gagnon, James White, Sovereign Nations, etc.). This is a plot to overthrow Western civilization. It’s Nazi-like. A police state is coming. Concentration camps are on the horizon. Etc. Etc.
I’m not really sure what to think. I don’t think anyone is really sure. So confusing. So troubling.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.