Living in the Iron Cage of Secularist Modernity
Civilly and publicly we live life as if God does not exist, a life of practical atheism
We moderns, the German sociologist Max Weber said, have voluntarily placed ourselves in an "iron cage" of secularism, a life where most of our public life is lived, and civil and political discourse is conducted, in purely secular terms. Civilly and publicly we live life as if God does not exist, a life of practical atheism. So-called "public reason"--which is the only reason allowed in the "iron cage"--does not allow God-talk, disdains Christianity, and positively despises Catholicism.
PrintAccording to this modern way of thinking, God and Faith belong only within the confines of the four walls of the Church. In the open, ample field that covers everything else, God and Faith (what the liberal political philosopher John Rawls--in secular terms--referred to as a "comprehensive doctrine") is expected to be bracketed, cabined, or perhaps more applicably "churched."
This, so the story goes, is done to make us more "free," more "equal," and to prevent some people from forcing others to do things against their will. We may not have a good life, but at least we have the goods life, and freedom is maximized and oppression minimized.
There is some value in seeing the ostracizing of God and Faith from public life as something that results in citizens being "disrobed" or "naked." Priests wear vestments in the Church, but not outside of it. Priests do not wear chasubles to political rallies. And so secularists think that what is required by good liturgy is required by good politics.
There is an ominous aspect to the insistence of a "naked public square." Obviously, disrobed or naked citizens are much easier to control and manipulate and get to accept the wiles of the devil as good (namely, the entire gamut of the liberal credo, including such moral enormities such as divorce and remarriage, contraception, abortion, and homosexual "marriage"). Citizens who are clothed with the whole armor of God, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of justice, the sandals of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, are not so malleable. (Eph. 6:10-17)
There is, however, an image other than the "naked public square" that might profitably be used to look at the efforts of secularists to control believers. We might say that the secularists would like to see us all forced to live in an "iron cage." I borrow that image from Steven D. Smith's book The Disenchantment of Secular Discourse, who himself borrows it from the famous German sociologist and political economist Max Weber. Max Weber referred to modernity and its secularist assumptions as something that puts us in a stahlhartes Gehäuse, an "iron cage" or "hardened steel-like shell."
We moderns, Weber said, have voluntarily placed ourselves in an "iron cage" of secularism, a life where most of our public life is lived, and civil and political discourse is conducted, in purely secular terms. Civilly and publicly we live life as if God does not exist, a life of practical atheism. So-called "public reason"--which is the only reason allowed in the "iron cage"--does not allow God-talk, disdains Christianity, and positively despises Catholicism.
The "iron cage" mentality explains why the Obama administration, acting through the Department of Health and Human Services in issuing the recent mandate, was totally deaf to the argument of the Church. The Church's teaching on contraception, sterilization, and abortion--even though it is not based upon confessional truths, but based upon reasonable truths (i.e., the natural moral law)--is by an act of secular will not part of the "public reason" recognized by secularist liberals. The Obama administration wants the Church to remain within the "iron cage." It insists in a "naked public square." Catholic truths, even if based upon reason, are to be "churched."
Within the "iron cage" of secular discourse, God and the Faith can be mentioned in completely vague and innocuous ways, but when it comes to implementing them or encouraging their practice in public displays (e.g., the Ten Commandments, Christmas crèches), or public ways (e.g., public school prayer), or in a publically-enforceable manner (e.g., in policy or law), the cry is quite clear and insistent: fuhgeddaboudit.
Some human activities work well when done in what Charles Taylor calls the "immanent frame" of the Weberian "iron cage." When one enters into the "iron cage," one looks at everything in an empirical way, and it follows that those things that require empiricism as part of their essential thought work well within the iron cage's bars: so science as science, applied science (technology) as applied ...
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Fascinating article. Accurate portrayal of our society, except for the fact that there is ALWAYS HOPE in CHRIST. Many years ago I commented that life in North America offered many blessings and advantages. One had to work hard and keep one's moral values. Without God, there is nothing. If one has turned from God, one needs to turn back to Him. Again and again.
Brilliant article and can't wait for the Holy Father's reply. Am forwarding this to all my contacts.
I can't wait for the Holy Father's answer!
While in general agreement, I take exception to ascribing "moral enormities" to the "liberal credo" because the conservative "credo" is equally subject to the "wiles of the devil". A significant part of the fight against secularism is to do away with the finger-pointing and the use of politically partisan tems. Another part of the fight against secularism is recogniton that sexual related issues (Contraception, homosexuality or divorce and remarriage) are not the only evils in existence.
I agree with this article and also Chris' comment about staying close to the Blessed Mother.We have been called to evangelize and yet the devil has put every roadblock he can in order to hem us in, even to the point of using an amoral secularist like Obama to block truly religious people. Although we don't ask for the physical destruction of anyone, we do ask the Blessed Mother to make a way for us. Remaining faithful to the Magisterium and their constant upholding of the Churches teachings is the very first thing to do. Remain faithful. Some Catholics are falling by the wayside and taking others with them but that is not the destiny of obedient Catholics. If you want the help of the Blessed Mother then say the daily Rosary. Visit Jesus in the Tabernacle and console Him for the loss of so many souls by your faithful and attentive love. Know the Catechism and obey its teachings even if it calls for some personal sacrifice. To sin and support sin is to win the world and lose your soul. The day for many more of us to speak is coming.
Bravo on this masterful piece. I applaud Chris' encouraging comments and will pray for the sense of despair I sense in Clayman's discouraging remarks. God is all Good Things. God is Love. God has conquered sin and evil on The Cross. There is no fear with God, for he is All Good, All Love, All Holy and our One True God.
Dear Chris...continue your encouragement to others like myself.
Dear Clayman...please look at the things above and read Chris' comments. It may result in a change of thinking and ultimately a true change of heart, to the Glory and Praise of The Most Holy Trinity, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Peace and God's love and mercy to all and May Our Lady of All Nations keep us in her Loving Arms. Amen.
Clayman, it seems that things are really bleak right now, but with fervent prayer, anything is possible. As long as we stay devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and keep our focus on Jesus, then we will be ok. Remember, we know the end of the story, the gates of hell will not prevail. Jesus loves us and always speaks the truth.
All of this is a testament to the foothold of the devil. Those who scoff at the non-existence of the devil actually enable him to become more powerful and more effective.
I recommend reading the humble Father Gabriele Amorth's two books: "An Exorcist Tell His Story" and "An Exorcist, More Stories." If people cannot see the effects of evil in our society, they are delusional. These two books really open your eyes to the secularization of our society and all of the evils associated with it. Not to mention stories of people being liberated from the evil one. If more priests and bishops believed in the practical existence of the devil we would have less suffering.
Great article. I'm truly afraid we've already lost the culture, however. There doesn't seem to be any hope of the masses returning to true religion, or even an inkling that they want to. The more I think about it, the more hopeless everything seems.