There are certain movements within American conservative Christianity. The philosophies of family, relationships, education, government, and business are re-thought. Families homeschool. Daughters perhaps stay home and serve the family. College is questioned. Entrepreneurial attitudes are encouraged and small businesses are started. The family works together. Excellence in all things is encouraged.
But sometimes when reading or viewing material from various groups related to such movements, I am left with an undefined uneasiness. I think I have perhaps finally determined the reason for some of this. There seems to sometimes be a promotion of a sort of modified version of the American Dream in all this. One could perhaps call this the "sanctified" American Dream. I imagine this is mostly unintentional. However, I still see it as being there. There seems to often be undue emphasis on superficial pursuits.
Certainly, something of the American Dream does not necessarily proceed from the ideas and values of these movements -- which movements I generally find to be good, wholesome, and praiseworthy, and which, for the most part, I myself adhere to. Nonetheless, it would seem that the ever prevalent American Dream has crept in, or remained where it was all along.
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8 comments:
"undue emphasis on superficial pursuits"
do elaborate.
and you ought to try to define "American Dream" more. i've been asked to recently... seems like there are many definitions out there for it.
Copy on that need for a definition of A.D. That was my first thought before reading Kalipay's comments. And to fit your process of thinking, your definition of AD must be exclusive of any aspects of AL (abundant life, ala Jn.10:10) or else, the AD you see in the "sanctified" thinking may just be aspects of AL which are inherent in AD! You may not say about AD, "I was using a mediocre colloquialism, which had no precise or well defined meaning" as you did in earlier posts! :)
Kalipay: the nice house, white picket fence, nice car, college education for yourself and your kids, secure job, and along with that--of course--the money to pay for it all. the error is one of emphasis, not of substance or particulars.
Wurd. That's exactly correct. Conservative Christianity gets alot of things right judged by the way they seem instead of the way they are. Quite easy to appear virtuous while living a life driven by same motivations of the World
thanks Daniel. youve put it pretty succinctly yourself.
but now I am left wondering which of my Daniel-friends you are?
to the anonymous one
I hesitate to accept your limitations regarding a definition.
the very thrust of this post was to provoke thought. I did not seek to define terms. the existing definition (which is not well defined) *should* work very well for this purpose. obviously the post has met its goal, at least with some.
regarding the "Abundant Life", this is potentially a misleading phrase, not one found in the scriptures. "perisson" is an adverb, and not an adjective. this life that we are to have abundantly is one eternal and greater than that we already posses. anyone who would wish to keep his life will lose it, and he who would lose his life will gain it. we are not called especially to enjoy white picket fences (though if you do, it is good and should be to the glory of God); we are called to suffer, following the example of Christ. and thereafter find our lasting city, and there, life abundantly. (again, this is not to deny that there are good and perfect gifts, given by the Father of Lights, which we shall enjoy here in this life).
to mistake a life eternal with a comfortable and satisfying earthly life (though in Christ is found satisfaction, and in Him alone) is one of the saddest superficialities I can think of.
you do well in questioning to what extent there is overlap between life that is given abundantly and the "American Dream". the answer, I suggest, would be found primarily in individual motivation, and an exhaustive and conclusive answer to that is outside of our grasp. thus the purpose of my post was to provoke rather than to define, to introduce a direction of thought rather than to deliver the conclusive work on the subject.
as to the term being a mediocre colloquialism, you do well to suggest that it is not. it certainly is neither precise nor well defined. but it is nothing of a mediocre colloquialism.
It's been a while since I read your blog, evidently. Thank you for posting this! You've laid a finger on, put words to, something makes me skeptical about the American Evangelical Conservative movement.
well, I havent been posting very much anyway.
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