Great stuff as usual. The loss of narrative is also something closely related to a loss of common identity. Part of being human is that we share stories; we hold them in common and then pass them down. For a timely example given the calendar, consider the American Founding Myth. There was once a near-universally understood "story" about how this country emerged. I needn't recount it, as I think you (the reader, whoever you may be) are familiar with it. However, you must also be familiar with other founding myths. There have been explicit attempts in the last decade to shift the focus of the narrative and undermine the traditional Founding Myth entirely. Things like the 1619 Project. When we no longer share a common understanding of our history as a people group and country and when we no longer share the same principles, what can become of us except that we fragment and deteriorate?
Great stuff as usual. The loss of narrative is also something closely related to a loss of common identity. Part of being human is that we share stories; we hold them in common and then pass them down. For a timely example given the calendar, consider the American Founding Myth. There was once a near-universally understood "story" about how this country emerged. I needn't recount it, as I think you (the reader, whoever you may be) are familiar with it. However, you must also be familiar with other founding myths. There have been explicit attempts in the last decade to shift the focus of the narrative and undermine the traditional Founding Myth entirely. Things like the 1619 Project. When we no longer share a common understanding of our history as a people group and country and when we no longer share the same principles, what can become of us except that we fragment and deteriorate?
TY for yor thoughtful comments. I'm a scientist (physicist). You might find my Critical Thinking Substack to be of interest. For example, I did a four part commentary about Beliefs <https://criticallythinking.substack.com/p/some-obervations-about-beliefs-part>.
Thank you John! I am subscribed to you under another email as well. Funny how the first sentence of your piece and mine are almost the same
We are on the same page — although you are a bit more loquacious than I am...