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I am always surprised but shouldn’t be by the relative ignorance of the populace and particularly of younger people (Jay Leno, anyone?) as it relates to their own culture’s history. Example: A Pew Research poll showing that 44 percent of Millennials (roughly those under age 30) didn’t know the 1973 Roe v. Wade case dealt with abortion. (On that topic, please read our TEXAN Digital issue on how the SBC has transformed since Roe was handed down 40 years ago next week.)
It bears repeating that we cannot learn from history if we don’t know our history. Indeed we are prone to repeat the mistakes of the past or to inflate our sense of cultural accomplishments or wisdom by thinking our contemporary way of thinking is new and novel. As Solomon stated, there’s nothing new under the sun, all is vain striving save for fearing God and keeping his commandments.
So if I didn’t know better I’d think there is a devilish conspiracy to keep the masses in one of two camps: as ignorant and dull of mind as possible, or as falsely educated by worldly wisdom as possible in order to foster arrogance and self-sufficiency. So we find ourselves led by the so-called “chattering classes” of elites in Washington, on Wall Street, in ivory towers, and in the boardrooms of Hollywood, arrogant beyond belief with true contempt for the great masses, who are happy to get their day’s wages (be they handouts or paychecks) along with their daily doses of amusement, intoxicating substances, and porn and fast food. Don’t empower these folks, control them, the thinking goes. I guess evolution hasn’t gone well lately. Must be a down cycle. This may be a reduction, but I’m not far off.
Between these two extremes are the traditionalists, those strange folks who actually marry, have children in that marriage, and tend to cling to their religion, and perhaps, even their guns. Some of these people read, and with some discernment. Strange indeed, these people who seem able to critically think and process information, and who are not so easily led. A good many of them worship the God of Scripture. But are there enough of them to make a difference by raising children who are aimed at turning the world upside down for Christ?
It pays to know where we came from in order to navigate forward. I can think of no better Book for both of those pursuits than God’s revelation to man. A little knowledge of Western Civ or American history wouldn’t hurt either. Get wisdom—God’s and man’s—and pass it on.
