Not too surprisingly, my post “Life in a Disenchanted Age” did not appear to generate much interest. Perhaps there was some passing interest, but because of the subject matter, it was not something to elicit serious interest. After all, disenchantment is probably not high on our list of things to be concerned about. But I am not deterred in my assertion:
Living in a disenchanted age is the most significant challenge we face in seeking a relationship with God.
If you are seeking a relationship with God or struggling with your relationship with Him, understanding disenchantment , according to my premise, is important. What I hope to accomplish through this and subsequent posts is some understanding as to why I would make such an assertion. That process will inherently provide opportunity reassess my conclusions.
Let me start with some clarifications. Living in a disenchanted age does not mean there is nothing enchanted about our world and life experiences. Few would deny the existence of a spiritual realm / reality. Disenchantment is the default for the western worldview. As a result of the belief that only human agency or scientific law can function for us as causal forces, enchantment becomes irrelevant… fairy tales, or at its best, entertainment. As entertainment, enchantment is no small matter. Disney, super-heroes, sci-fi, zombies, et al , testify to an inherent human connection with an enchanted world. Likewise, for religion, faith, spirituality, mystery. However, in a disenchanted age enchantment is only a momentary diversion from reality. All that stuff is nice, but we all know that when it comes time to “cut bait or fish”… “if it is to be it is up to me”.
If my day to day reality is disenchanted, the implications to my life are profound. I do not want to live a life that is less than the full human experience.
There is much to think about.
Some years ago, in the midst of a serious spiritual struggle, God spoke to me through a song. In the light of this discussion, It was about my disenchanted life and it inadequacy to answer the question, “Who am I?”.
When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical
And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily
Oh joyfully, playfully watching me
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh responsible, practical
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable
Oh clinical, oh intellectual, cynical There are times when all the world’s asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
Please tell me who I am I said, watch what you say or they’ll be calling you a radical
Liberal, oh fanatical, criminal
Won’t you sign up your name, we’d like to feel you’re Acceptable
Respectable, oh presentable, a vegetable!
Oh, take it take it yeah But at night, when all the world’s asleep
The questions run so deep
For such a simple man
Won’t you please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
Please tell me who I am, who I am, who I am, who I am
‘Cause I was feeling so logical
D-d-digital
One, two, three, five
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It’s getting unbelievable