Heretics, I - Introductory Remarks On The Importance Of Orthodoxy

Once upon a time, men who argued for any conviction whatsoever would claim the mantle of orthodoxy-- for they at least would desire to claim to be right.  But now, men gleefully laugh at adopting the mantle of heresy, for the pursuit of rightness and truth is in itself viewed as misguided.  As a consequence, we hear the most outlandish statements [e.g. "Life is not worth living"] and shrug-- despite the absurdities it contains.

In the recent past, we allowed the exploration and proclamation of heresies, expecting in doing so that me might gain a greater awareness of and appreciation for the real truth.  Instead the very idea of the importance of truth was lost.  And because of that, we are far worse off than before.  Consider the treatment of Oscar Wilde: applauded for daring to publicly ridicule and defy the reigning social mores; jailed for personally living out what he proclaimed-- because his personal conviction of the supreme righteousness of his actions was over the line.

In place of large theories, we think we have found meaning examining the details of art, politics, literature. [Deconstruction?]  Yet it is the strong who look beyond themselves to external goals worth pursuing.  It is the weak who busy themselves with self-maintenance, turning inward and shrinking from the world.  The result of this cultural turn is bad art, bad politics, bad literature.  For the bold, in their boldness, were capable of extraordinary heresy as well [e.g. Milton's Satan]. 

A pursuit of practicality above all else, and the attendant shunning of grand theory, does fail and must fail.  So let us be bold, and have it out!

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This is so cool.  And the final paragraph is amazing, so I have to quote it in full:

Suppose that a great commotion arises in the street about something, let us say a lamp-post, which many influential persons desire to pull down.  A grey-clad monk, who is the spirit of the Middle Ages, is approached upon the matter, and begins to say, in the arid manner of the Schoolmen, 'Let us first of all consider, my brethren, the value of Light.  If Light be in itself good--' At this point he is somewhat excusably knocked down.  All the people make a rush for the lamp-post, the lamp-post is down in ten minutes, and they go about congratulating each other on their unmediaeval practicality.  But as things go on they do not work out so easily.  Some people have pulled the lamp-post down because they wanted the electric light; some because they wanted old iron; some because they wanted darkness, because their deeds were evil.  Some thought it not enough of a lamp-post, some too much; some acted because they wanted to smash municipal machinery; some because they wanted to smash something.  And there is war in the night, no man knowing whom he strikes.  So, gradually and inevitably, to-day, to-morrow, or the next day, there comes back the conviction that the monk was right after all, and that all depends on what is the philosophy of Light.  Only what we might have discussed under the gas-lamp, we now must discuss in the dark.

I'm not crazy.  Thanks, Gil.