We tend to think of propaganda as something done to us. But given the effects of the technological society, we have come to need propaganda to keep ourselves and society functioning.
Fascinating read. I downloaded Substack just to read your pieces. I agree that propaganda is necessary now that the political has replaced the religious. Many of my closest friends have an astute intuition about the political, like mandated lockdowns being bad for society, but they are not interested in the laborious task of engaging deeply with the political or being ‘informed’. Propaganda is the means by which a coalition can be built among those with an astute intuition.
I am interested in exploring the ways I, a right wing thinking Mormon, or member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, can become more involved with The Christian Ghetto group. I am not interested in religious disagreement, but I see the Mormon movement as being deeply rooted in the traditions of the pioneers who came before us, and that tradition being threatened by both the political and the feminine managerial influences that you speak about. I will continue to follow along. Thanks!
Very interesting balance of what we need as individuals and what our modern society leaves us with.
I think you could describe the individual as needing an organizing principle in order to exist with the rest of society. If men were solipsistic, their opinions would go in billions of disorganized directions, such that the net effect on society is that it goes nowhere (all men pulling in every direction at once). If I am reading you correctly, the nature of modern society, particularly its nihilism, kills off all the organizing forces (religion, values, etc.) that formerly guided individuals into coherent strains of thought with others in their communities, thus killing off the ability of communities to have any net direction (most men pulling in the same direction).
I think you are saying propaganda is the unfortunate only solution to restoring our ability to give society direction or purpose, given modernity's effects. I suppose I agree in a way--modernity has ingrained in our minds such that we think in its terms, and the idea of having simple convictions about values and faith seem alien to us. But, I guess I still think we can regain a mindset of simple values and convictions rather than settle for propaganda.
Why Modern Societies Need Propaganda: A Look at Milk and Pasteurization
In modern technological societies, especially in cities, propaganda isn’t just something we encounter—it’s something we need to live at ease. Jacques Ellul observed that the complexities and alienation of these societies create a void that propaganda fills, offering meaning and cohesion.
Take the milk industry as an example: Large milk producers, reliant on CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), push the narrative that milk needs pasteurization due to "germs." This propaganda shifts attention away from the real issue—unhealthy cow diets and poor conditions in industrial farming.
In the past, agricultural societies thrived on milk from local, grass-fed cows, with no need for pasteurization. But as cities grew and logistics demanded industrial-scale production, pasteurization became a way to legitimize lower-quality milk. It’s not about safety—it’s about control.
By promoting fear of raw milk, these large producers secure their dominance, marginalizing small, grass-fed dairies that provide healthier, more sustainable alternatives. The truth is covered, and the system thrives on the very propaganda that keeps us “comfortable.”
Understanding this helps us see the bigger picture: propaganda shapes how we view the world, often in ways that benefit the powerful more than the people. Choose wisely and question the narrative.
Fascinating read. I downloaded Substack just to read your pieces. I agree that propaganda is necessary now that the political has replaced the religious. Many of my closest friends have an astute intuition about the political, like mandated lockdowns being bad for society, but they are not interested in the laborious task of engaging deeply with the political or being ‘informed’. Propaganda is the means by which a coalition can be built among those with an astute intuition.
I am interested in exploring the ways I, a right wing thinking Mormon, or member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, can become more involved with The Christian Ghetto group. I am not interested in religious disagreement, but I see the Mormon movement as being deeply rooted in the traditions of the pioneers who came before us, and that tradition being threatened by both the political and the feminine managerial influences that you speak about. I will continue to follow along. Thanks!
Glad you have been benefitting from them! Welcome aboard.
Very interesting balance of what we need as individuals and what our modern society leaves us with.
I think you could describe the individual as needing an organizing principle in order to exist with the rest of society. If men were solipsistic, their opinions would go in billions of disorganized directions, such that the net effect on society is that it goes nowhere (all men pulling in every direction at once). If I am reading you correctly, the nature of modern society, particularly its nihilism, kills off all the organizing forces (religion, values, etc.) that formerly guided individuals into coherent strains of thought with others in their communities, thus killing off the ability of communities to have any net direction (most men pulling in the same direction).
I think you are saying propaganda is the unfortunate only solution to restoring our ability to give society direction or purpose, given modernity's effects. I suppose I agree in a way--modernity has ingrained in our minds such that we think in its terms, and the idea of having simple convictions about values and faith seem alien to us. But, I guess I still think we can regain a mindset of simple values and convictions rather than settle for propaganda.
Why Modern Societies Need Propaganda: A Look at Milk and Pasteurization
In modern technological societies, especially in cities, propaganda isn’t just something we encounter—it’s something we need to live at ease. Jacques Ellul observed that the complexities and alienation of these societies create a void that propaganda fills, offering meaning and cohesion.
Take the milk industry as an example: Large milk producers, reliant on CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), push the narrative that milk needs pasteurization due to "germs." This propaganda shifts attention away from the real issue—unhealthy cow diets and poor conditions in industrial farming.
In the past, agricultural societies thrived on milk from local, grass-fed cows, with no need for pasteurization. But as cities grew and logistics demanded industrial-scale production, pasteurization became a way to legitimize lower-quality milk. It’s not about safety—it’s about control.
By promoting fear of raw milk, these large producers secure their dominance, marginalizing small, grass-fed dairies that provide healthier, more sustainable alternatives. The truth is covered, and the system thrives on the very propaganda that keeps us “comfortable.”
Understanding this helps us see the bigger picture: propaganda shapes how we view the world, often in ways that benefit the powerful more than the people. Choose wisely and question the narrative.
That is a good point and there are many examples like it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/stevenberger/p/nothing-is-as-it-seems?r=1nm0v2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Good piece. Thanks for sharing.
This was eye-opening, informative, engaging. Thank you!
Thanks! Most people never think about it. But being aware of what is happening is an important step in regaining your own thoughts.
Currently reading this amazing book because of your series. Thank you!
Glad to hear, and glad you are enjoying the book.