I know I commented already, but I want to thank you for putting in a giant puzzle piece for me as it relates to our culture and statism. I might say it this way that communities are creation, and if our communities aren’t centered around something local (ideally God-fearing people in a local church), they will form around other things. As our corporate cultural desire to be autonomous grows, the ultimate community becomes the state.
Yes. You can form communities intentionally, but you can’t form community around the idea of “community” if that makes sense. Communities form within something larger, whether it is place, geography, or clans or more intentionally as the byproduct of a shared religious devotion. But once you disrupt those other “metaphysical” realities, by embracing the market and choice, then really the only higher order is that of the state, or its public sector equivalent, the corporation. It begins by rejecting the higher order values of the market in favor another higher order (you cannot worship both God and money…how right Jesus was) and out of that devotion community will emerge.
What you write about in this article, in many ways, sums up one of my significant struggles right now. It’s not so much that I am having a hard time seeing available church communities, but finding one’s that are trustworthy as they are infected by the same cultural disease as I am.
I've spent the better part of a year writing a book on this topic and what action men can take to let go of the state and reform connections to flesh and blood people. I'm glad someone linked to your piece the other day. I'll likely quote a couple of lines from this article if that is OK.
I came to a similar conclusion you did. The allure of choice and the expansion of the state is now so strong that community has to sprout up from faith in God who wants us to form the body of Christ in patience, love, understanding and building up of others within the "rules" of the gospel.
The book is about community, trying to solve a problem many people have noticed. Men don't have community and therefore, have no purpose, drive, are alienated from women and children, etc. So the book is about seemingly irrational, faith-based actions men can take in their spheres to reverse alienation and build community. I'm a Latter-day Saint and so it's a little tailored to that group but still applicable to anyone of faith I think. I'm editing it now and am nearly exhausted from the effort. Title is "Only The Weird Will Survive: A Men's Guide To Community"
What is the best way to introduce your writings to those who don't support you? For example, I'd like to share this with an individual who I think could be helped by it.
The one on community is a free one so that’s good! I think you can just copy and paste a link to an email and that should be fine...my very first piece is up and that is good as well. I have about 2/3 of my writing back up and the rest should go up this week...
On my end, the iOS Substack app says the community article is "PAID." I'll give it a shot though and share it. I don't mean to complicate this. I don't want to suck your time over this.
Maybe pick one or two of the free ones to send. If there is one specifically that you want them to read, I might be persuaded to turn off the paywall for a day or two...but maybe not the most recent one of course...
Excellent article! I completely agree that we need parallel societies. One aspect that I have become interred in is Stanford Professor Rene Girard’s notion of mimetic desire. It is well articulated in Luke Burgis’s book “Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life” (https://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Power-Mimetic-Desire-Everyday/dp/1250262488/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1JJD29XHORF0M&keywords=wanting+luke+burgis&qid=1685222649&sprefix=wqnting%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1). I believe this idea will be instrumental in gaining people to new groups and true community. We must consider how we can create a mimetic longing to imitate true community and values. I think you’d like it a lot as it dovetails with Ellul’s propaganda writings. As community disappears, corporations and the mass state can use the power of mimetic desire to target confused individuals without their mooring. The forces of good can also draw on the human interest in imitating others.
I will have to put that on my list to read. I have read some Girard though. I do agree with you on the mimesis thing though. But Christians would have to get past the idea of “equality” and be willing to embrace that they openly strive to be “better” and this can be seen in the lives they live. Not bourgeois values but a distinct Christian way of life that brings real Shalom to people’s lives.
I agree! Matt 5:13 shows us that we are to be the salt of the world and stave off decay, not join it in the pursuit of “equality.” Moreover, we must strive through the Holy Spirit to be the light of the world to be ambassadors of Christ (Matt 5:16).
Good piece; I may throw the book recommendation on the backlog. Reading through something my dear mother gave me for my birthday at the moment - then Ellul, and have a few books open and downloaded BUT AFTER THAT.
I think that you and I are paralleling a lot of thoughts and I won't repeat the old ones here, instead:
In Corinthians Paul discusses the Body of Christ and how each Christian has a particular role and meaning as a member of that body. We must also remind ourselves today that each member is dependent on the whole, and the whole in a way (analogies fail us a little, for together we are saved but we fall alone) is dependent on the members and experiences loss and pain even though it goes on. Especially in America* there is what I would term a dangerous trend to have Christianity stop being communal and become too much about the individual and their relationship to Christ.
I agree that our project is to build and strengthen Christian community and be a beacon in times of duress for so many.
*non-denom/evangelical Protestantism, to my mind, which is how I was raised.
I am glad to be back. Everyone was very supportive. It’s good to be writing again.
I know I commented already, but I want to thank you for putting in a giant puzzle piece for me as it relates to our culture and statism. I might say it this way that communities are creation, and if our communities aren’t centered around something local (ideally God-fearing people in a local church), they will form around other things. As our corporate cultural desire to be autonomous grows, the ultimate community becomes the state.
Yes. You can form communities intentionally, but you can’t form community around the idea of “community” if that makes sense. Communities form within something larger, whether it is place, geography, or clans or more intentionally as the byproduct of a shared religious devotion. But once you disrupt those other “metaphysical” realities, by embracing the market and choice, then really the only higher order is that of the state, or its public sector equivalent, the corporation. It begins by rejecting the higher order values of the market in favor another higher order (you cannot worship both God and money…how right Jesus was) and out of that devotion community will emerge.
What you write about in this article, in many ways, sums up one of my significant struggles right now. It’s not so much that I am having a hard time seeing available church communities, but finding one’s that are trustworthy as they are infected by the same cultural disease as I am.
Mine is the same way fren. It is challenge to find a church these days that has its ducks lined up.
I've spent the better part of a year writing a book on this topic and what action men can take to let go of the state and reform connections to flesh and blood people. I'm glad someone linked to your piece the other day. I'll likely quote a couple of lines from this article if that is OK.
I came to a similar conclusion you did. The allure of choice and the expansion of the state is now so strong that community has to sprout up from faith in God who wants us to form the body of Christ in patience, love, understanding and building up of others within the "rules" of the gospel.
I would be delighted to be quoted. Good to know I am not the only one thinking along these lines. What is the book about?
The book is about community, trying to solve a problem many people have noticed. Men don't have community and therefore, have no purpose, drive, are alienated from women and children, etc. So the book is about seemingly irrational, faith-based actions men can take in their spheres to reverse alienation and build community. I'm a Latter-day Saint and so it's a little tailored to that group but still applicable to anyone of faith I think. I'm editing it now and am nearly exhausted from the effort. Title is "Only The Weird Will Survive: A Men's Guide To Community"
Sounds interesting. Glad you found my piece insightful and helpful.
What is the best way to introduce your writings to those who don't support you? For example, I'd like to share this with an individual who I think could be helped by it.
Was there a particular topic? Because the best way to get into my thinking is my first Ellul piece and that one I believe is a free piece.
It was this particular piece about community I wanted to share. No worries. I'm not an "influencer," just a grateful reader.
The one on community is a free one so that’s good! I think you can just copy and paste a link to an email and that should be fine...my very first piece is up and that is good as well. I have about 2/3 of my writing back up and the rest should go up this week...
On my end, the iOS Substack app says the community article is "PAID." I'll give it a shot though and share it. I don't mean to complicate this. I don't want to suck your time over this.
Change has been made...
Thank you, sir!
You are right, it is. My bad. I will open it up for a couple of days for you and give him a chance to read it and maybe get hooked. 😁
Maybe pick one or two of the free ones to send. If there is one specifically that you want them to read, I might be persuaded to turn off the paywall for a day or two...but maybe not the most recent one of course...
This is fantastic. Bravo!!
Thank you!
A great article!
Thanks!
Excellent article! I completely agree that we need parallel societies. One aspect that I have become interred in is Stanford Professor Rene Girard’s notion of mimetic desire. It is well articulated in Luke Burgis’s book “Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life” (https://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Power-Mimetic-Desire-Everyday/dp/1250262488/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1JJD29XHORF0M&keywords=wanting+luke+burgis&qid=1685222649&sprefix=wqnting%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1). I believe this idea will be instrumental in gaining people to new groups and true community. We must consider how we can create a mimetic longing to imitate true community and values. I think you’d like it a lot as it dovetails with Ellul’s propaganda writings. As community disappears, corporations and the mass state can use the power of mimetic desire to target confused individuals without their mooring. The forces of good can also draw on the human interest in imitating others.
I will have to put that on my list to read. I have read some Girard though. I do agree with you on the mimesis thing though. But Christians would have to get past the idea of “equality” and be willing to embrace that they openly strive to be “better” and this can be seen in the lives they live. Not bourgeois values but a distinct Christian way of life that brings real Shalom to people’s lives.
I agree! Matt 5:13 shows us that we are to be the salt of the world and stave off decay, not join it in the pursuit of “equality.” Moreover, we must strive through the Holy Spirit to be the light of the world to be ambassadors of Christ (Matt 5:16).
Yes! Exactly.
I'm pleased that you're back.
Good piece; I may throw the book recommendation on the backlog. Reading through something my dear mother gave me for my birthday at the moment - then Ellul, and have a few books open and downloaded BUT AFTER THAT.
I think that you and I are paralleling a lot of thoughts and I won't repeat the old ones here, instead:
In Corinthians Paul discusses the Body of Christ and how each Christian has a particular role and meaning as a member of that body. We must also remind ourselves today that each member is dependent on the whole, and the whole in a way (analogies fail us a little, for together we are saved but we fall alone) is dependent on the members and experiences loss and pain even though it goes on. Especially in America* there is what I would term a dangerous trend to have Christianity stop being communal and become too much about the individual and their relationship to Christ.
I agree that our project is to build and strengthen Christian community and be a beacon in times of duress for so many.
*non-denom/evangelical Protestantism, to my mind, which is how I was raised.
I agree completely. Good thoughts. I think you will like what I have planned for my next piece. A look and humility and equality.
You are welcome! I will give it a few days before switching it back.