1) As Robert Lewis Dabney said, the church is one step behind the culture. First, everyone laughs at an idea; then the culture accepts it; finally, the church accepts it. I think that is true in many situations, unfortunately. :)

2) Very. The very fact that advertising companies spend so much money researching the effects their advertisements have on the human brain shows how seriously the 'professionals' take this. Some examples: When I say "Palestinians," what do you all think of? Arabs, right? If you watch the classic movie Exodus, which was produced in the 1960s, some of the Jews are referred to as "Palestinians." Also in that movie, persons with whom you are only aquainances are addressed as "Mr." or "Mrs." We don't do that anymore. There are sooooo many things that have changed, primarily because of culture. Why don't we call the Israelis "Palestinians"? (Forget for a minute the origin of the name "Palestine.") Don't they also live in "Palestine"? Why don't we address people as "Mr." and "Mrs/Miss"? Change in culture. :)
SecDef | Homepage | 09.28.05 - 5:05 pm | #

I thought I should mention, "The Tipping Point" by Malcom Gladwell, does an extraordinary job uncovering (among other things) the vulnerability of the human mind to outside influence.

I would highly recommend his book to anyone who hopes to start a movement, fad, or cultural trend.
Brett Harris | 09.28.05 - 8:20 pm | #

1) Claiming a God invisible and who died on the Cross, I think Christianity is in itself a call to "inner" values. There is today not a penny of social recognition to gain being a Christian. For the best. Christians who look for God in their daily lives are naturally led to look for these values.

2) I think that the animated and speaking image is fascinating for all human being. Watching TV implies an apriori acceptance of this power of fascination, thus of the content. Christians should not watch television. Full stop. :-)
Renaud | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 5:24 am | #

wow! that is a really good post! I have dealt with the consequences of the german lifestyle this summer when my cousin came and spent a month with us so we could 'straighten her out'. It was not fun...! It seriously shows us that we need to turn our nation back to christianity!
abby berg | 09.29.05 - 5:28 am | #

I think your observations are very wise and on target. America is becoming a "fake" culture based only on looks. Anyone who is at all "different" is expected to change, or cease to exist. This trend does not bode well for those with disabilities, especially in light of the recent Terri Schiavo case here in the U.S.

God bless you for your youth and wisdom!
4HisChurch | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 6:18 am | #

Excellent post. I seriously doubt that the problem of superficiality is greater now than it was in previous eras and cultures, but Hans's thoughts are nevertheless a very good critique of the problems of this mindset and the ways that it is perpetuated in our current culture.
J | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 9:29 am | #

J, could I ask you to elaborate? From what do you derive that previous eras or cultures were as caught up in the superficial as today? I respect your position, but I have not seen any proof for that claim.
Hans | 09.29.05 - 10:33 am | #

BTW, everyone, Hans just did an excellent job of respectfully asking J to provide support for her position.

Thanks, Hans.
Brett Harris | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 10:47 am | #

Excellent post Hans! I definantly agree with you.

1) I think that some Christians are more caught up in trivial matters than others. In seeker friendly churches I would say that most of the focus is on things that do not really matter.

2) The human mind is exteremly sucepptible (spelling?) to the media and culture. It is very evident all around us. People will believe anything these days...

~Nella
Ednella | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 1:27 pm | #

Hans, I made that statement on these grounds: The tendency toward superficiality has its roots in human nature, not in culture, and human nature has not changed. We have a tendency to view ourselves and our problems as unique (both on a personal scale, and on a cultural scale), but pick any era in western history, and I can guarantee you that your chosen culture struggled with the same problem of superficiality. Two examples that I have recently dealt with: The Puritan society of Jonathan Edwards' era, and the times of St. Augustine (as revealed in his Confessions). It is AMAZING how similar their struggles were to our own, despite the fact that Edwards is 250 years removed from us, and Augustine is 1500 years removed. Specifically, it is surprising how much they (and their respective cultures) struggled with superficiality. It is the specific manifestations of superficiality that change, but the tendency to superficiality is constant.

In seeming contradiction to what I have just said about the universal tendency to shallowness, I think there is simultaneously an equally strong and equally universal desire to get below the surface. Just like the tendency to focus on mere appearances, this desire for something of depth is present in every time and every culture, and it would be short-sighted not to recognize it in our own culture as well. This desire is evident in, say, a cursory glance through popular song lyrics, which often reveal a deep lack of fulfillment with the superficial and a longing for something more. From this, I conclude that you are right that we are superficial, but only partially right to imply that our culture is satisfied and content with this. Again, whether in the 5th century of Augustine, or the 18th century of Jonathan Edwards, or our own 21st century, there is something in all of us that wants something BEYOND the superficial.
J | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 2:53 pm | #

I should have learned by now not to pick a fight with J. ;)

On a more serious note, I wholeheartedly agree with you, J, that human nature has a tendency towards the superficial. As I wrote in my post, this is no new problem. The difference between today and previous eras is that today, we are bombarded with photographs, movies, television, and the list goes on. These things together with the mass media make our problem much more complex and far reaching than ever before. I do agree with you that man cannot be completely satisfied while living in a superficial state of mind. However, I believe that few people realize what is causing their discontentment, so how can they be expected to change? Trying to content themselves at all costs, most sink deeper and deeper into the traps that have in reality been the cause of their discontentment. Realizing that a problem exists is entirely different from realizing what the problem is, or how it can be solved. Escaping a problem such as this one is no easy matter… but it is not impossible, else blogs such as The Rebelution might as well not exist. :)

I am confident and optimistic that, through efforts like The Rebelution, enough Americans will wake up to the problems we are facing, and stay the downhill course our nation has been on. In order for this to happen, however, Christians need to wake up and be the light of the world rather than following and desiring worldly things as is sadly too often the case among today’s Christians.
Hans | 09.29.05 - 4:04 pm | #

I'm not sure in precisely what sense you used the word 'superficial' in your original question, but I would say that people are certainly more caught up in the material than they used to be. People tend to believe that the things they can observe with their senses are more real than things which are intangible. I think this consitututes supeficiality.

The supernatural, to most of those who actually believe in it, is more remote and less relevant than the material world that they experience with their senses. This is a tragedy, not only because it has resulted in an obsession with the trivial, but because it has distracted so many from what is the most real. Very few people have what could be considered an eternal focus anymore. It's rare for people to make decisions based on the eternal, spiritual impact those decisions will make.
Karen Kovaka | 09.29.05 - 4:05 pm | #

I think you are perfectly right, Hans, that movies, photographs, etc. put a whole new spin on the superficiality problem. And that is why I acknowledged (originally) your post was a very good critique of the mindset and of the specific ways it is perpetuated in our culture. I also fully agree that discontentment with superficiality is not the same thing as knowing how to remedy it.

In other words, I don't think we have any disagreement. :-)
J | Homepage | 09.29.05 - 4:28 pm | #

Regarding question #2, I belive it says somewhere in the Bible that there is an enemy that marches to and fro over the Earth, seeking whom he may devour... Coming from a the generation who for the most part was brought up by a television set, I say we are extremely succeptible to the effects of media and culture. I still battle with the fact that when the TV is on, I can't think of anything else to do. Ane there's plenty that needs to be done. My husband and I just attempted a TV fast for the past few days and honestly, in the beginning I actually had withdrawal symptoms. I was very irritable and bored. It really taught me a lot about myself. I realized that when my mind is distracted by 100's of different images per second, I absolutely cannot hear from the Lord. Even if it's a seemingly harmless program such as Martha, or a remodeling show that I enjoy, I am still distracted with something that is less than the Word of God to me. And that just doesn't cut it. The wise Dr. Howard Morgan once said, " If you think you are above being deceived, you are deceived already!"
Katy Waldrop | 05.23.06 - 2:10 pm | #