Jim Spiegel, Author at Wisdom & Folly

As you might have noticed on the sidebar, my latest book, The Making of an Atheist, has just been released. In the book I discuss the moral-psychological roots of atheism, showing how disbelief in God is not the result of an intellectual assessment of evidence but rather the consequence of willful suppression of the truth about God. Essentially, I turn the tables on Richard Dawkins and his ilk, as I argue that it is not theists but atheists who are delusional. You can find out more about the book here.

I was recently interviewed about the book on Prime Time America. The interview is in two 10-minute parts. Here are links to the first and second parts of the interview.

January 25, 2010

Three Inspiring Videos

By Jim Spiegel

Want to see some really inspiring LIVE music videos?

Here is a performance by Nathan “Flutebox” Lee and Beardyman. I can’t decide if this is more remarkable as a music performance or as a circus act. Either way, it’s amazing.

Check out The Tallest Man on Earth performing for the NPR Tiny Desk music series. His name is Kristian Matsson, and he hails from Sweden. He’s a strong guitarist, singer and songwriter who is now promoting his debut album in the States. It’ll be interesting to see what becomes of him.

And this is OK Go playing their song “This Too Shall Pass” with a little help from, uh, their friends. These are the guys who made a You Tube splash a few years back with their treadmill video for “Here it Goes Again.” All of their videos are innovative, but “This Too Shall Pass” is my favorite.

January 20, 2010

Belief, Doubt, and Behavior (Part Two)

By Jim Spiegel

In my previous post I noted the connection between behavior and belief and how doubts about God are often rooted in disobedience. But how exactly does this work? Why should one’s moral conduct, whether good or bad, have intellectual ramifications? Let me quickly explain two moral-psychological dynamics that account for this.

First, there is the phenomenon known as self-deception. As many studies have shown, reason is not the sole determinant in belief formation. A person’s beliefs can be altered by significant desires, fears, and other emotions. In fact, people often act on their passions even when reason clearly points in a different direction. So, to illustrate regarding an ethical matter, when a person forms an immoral habit (say, anything from pirating DVDs to extramarital sex), they will naturally desire to avoid admitting their actions are really immoral. Consequently, a moral perspective or general worldview that condones such behavior will be more attractive to them, and the desire to avoid guilt and shame about it will motivate the belief that such theft or adultery, at least in the person’s present case, is not really wrong. This is a classic case of self-deception—believing what one, in some sense, knows to be false.

Second, and more fundamentally, there are the cognitive consequences of sin. As Notre Dame philosopher Alvin Plantinga has elucidated (see chapter 7 of his Warranted Christian Belief), sinful behaviors have cognitive ramifications. The mind was designed to, among other things, form true beliefs about the world, and when functioning properly in a congenial environment, it tends to do just this. Immoral indulgences disrupt cognition so that it cannot function properly, thus clouding judgment and skewing perceptions. This is especially so in the case of moral and spiritual beliefs where personal pride and selfish desires are most likely to interfere.

Because of the potentially devastating dynamics of self-deception and the cognitive consequences of sin, we must take great care in living virtuously and diminishing the corrupting effects of sin on the mind. Only by avoiding the negative cognitive effects of disobedience can the intellectual challenges to the faith be addressed in a clear-headed (and pure-hearted) way.

The practical upshot is that we must prioritize right living, and this is especially important when struggling with doubts. Some such doubts are genuinely intellectual and may be addressed accordingly. But others are rooted in vice, in which case the first order of business is repentance rather than apologetic research. In light of this, I have counseled some struggling students to live “as if” Christianity is true, even when they have severe doubts. By this I mean that it is wise to observe Christian moral standards even when questioning the truth of Christianity, because indulging in sin will only further confuse one’s thinking and invite self-deception.

I recall one instance in which a student came to my office, wracked by doubt and feeling that he was “living a lie” by acting as if he was a Christian. I told him to continue to live by biblical standards just in case Christianity is true. This way he wouldn’t have any regrets if his faith convictions returned. Well, sure enough, his Christian beliefs did re-solidify, and he later thanked me with immense relief that he hadn’t done anything rash (in terms of immoral indulgences) during his spell of doubt. I suppose there is something Pascalian in this approach, but then again, there is a Pascalian dimension to all of life, as we must “wager” about many choices we make.

The lesson here is that all of our behaviors, whether habitual or one-time experiences, impact our cognitive condition to one degree or another. And our cognitive health in turn impacts what we are inclined to believe and disbelieve. Thus, whether or not virtue is, as the saying goes, “its own reward,” it certainly has cognitive benefits, just as vice has cognitive costs. The wise person will take this to heart.

January 12, 2010

Belief, Doubt, and Behavior (Part One)

By Jim Spiegel

Over the years I have had discussions with many college students who struggle with doubts about their Christian beliefs or who say they feel their faith is “slipping away.” Some of them seek me out in hopes that I can provide some reassurance or guidance as they work through this trial. In such cases, I always probe to see if there are any personal or relational issues lurking beneath the intellectual surface which might shed light on their struggles. Often I discover that the student is involved in some misbehavior. For example, a few years back a male student, whom I’ll call Bill, shared with me that he was struggling with deep doubts about his faith—questioning the truth of Christianity while also wallowing in a general apathy about it. As I gathered some background information, Bill told me that his longtime girlfriend had broken up with him and since then he found it difficult to attend church. So I asked Bill when was the last time he attended a church service. His answer: “about eight months ago.”

“Interesting,” I said. “And when was the last time you read the Bible?”

“Probably about that long—at least six months.”

“Hmm… Bill, do you suppose the fact that you haven’t sat under the preaching and teaching of Scripture might have something to do with your doubts and apathy?”

“Wow,” he said calmly, and without even a hint of irony, “I haven’t thought of that.”

In conversations with other students I’ve learned that when it comes to the impact of behavior upon beliefs, many of them “haven’t thought of that.” Such cases are, you might say, examples of people failing to “work out their salvation,” as Paul puts it in Philippians 2:12. The life of faith must be active and engaged in the spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer, Bible study, fellowship, worship, service, sacrifice, fasting, confession, submission, etc.), or faith will die. Sadly, those who fail to pursue the disciplines are, for this very reason, unable to see that they are the ones causing their own doubts or apathy toward the faith. As Peter says, “they stumble because they disobey the message” (1 Pet. 2:8). See also Pr. 4:19 and Pr. 19:3.

In short, disobedience gives rise to unbelief. This biblical truth is evident in such passages as Ephesians 4:18-19, where Paul says that certain Gentiles “are darkened in their understanding…due to the hardening of their hearts,” which in turn he explains by the fact that “they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity” (Eph. 4:18-19). On the other hand, obedience brings wisdom and insight, as Scripture also teaches. God makes wise the simple and grants understanding to those who humble themselves (see Psalm 19:7, Psalm 25:9, Prov. 1:4 and Prov. 11:2).

Spiritual understanding is not just an intellectual matter but is also deeply moral. This is why it is crucial that doubts be addressed with spiritual formation in mind. In my next post I will note some of the psychological dynamics involved in the playing out of this biblical truth.

January 4, 2010

On Football, Dogs, and Athletic Achievement

By Jim Spiegel

I love football, particularly of the NFL variety. So for fans like me, this is the most exciting time of the year, as the playoffs begin next week. Of course, post-season play is the most exciting time in any sport at any level, but in the NFL it’s especially thrilling, because it’s a single elimination tournament culminating in the single most viewed sporting event of the year—the Super Bowl.

I follow the NFL closely—well, at least as closely as one can without the benefit of television or lots of free time. I do manage to watch a few regular season games, usually those featuring one of my favorite teams—the Colts and the Saints (a great regular season for both of these teams, and their fans, by the way). And I’ll be sure to watch all of their playoff games in the coming weeks.

Yesterday, while playing fetch with my dog, my thoughts drifted off to football. Not random daydreams, my thoughts were inspired by the fact that my dog is quite a nimble beast—fleet of paw and amazingly elusive. Watching him romp in the yard is a treat, as he can stop and start on a dime and instantly accelerate to a full sprint. As a young, 50-pound standard poodle, he might be rather ordinary, but compared to humans his athleticism is impressive.

So the thought occurred to me that has occurred to many football-loving dog-owners: How would an NFL team fare against my dog, or any dog for that matter, if they had to run him down on the field? Of course, this premise has been the subject of a few silly films over the years. But consider this: If dogs were allowed to play in the NFL and if a dog such as my standard poodle could be given the IQ of, say, a human 7-year-old, then that dog would be the MVP of the league. In fact, he would easily be a Hall-of-Fame player. How so? Well, no one could catch him. Even the best NFL defenders would look inept trying to tackle him.

What position would he play? Clearly you wouldn’t want to play the dog at quarterback or wide-receiver, where good hands are a must. Nor would you want to give a dog the task of blocking or kicking, for obvious reasons. So, granting our canine friend the right to carry the ball in his mouth (which isn’t illegal by NFL rules, as far as I know), the position of running back becomes an obvious choice. Also, kick or punt return duties would be a possibility. In any of these positions, once the dog gets possession of the ball, forget it. He’s gone—leaving a trail of flailing defenders in his wake.

Yes, it’s a silly suggestion that conjures funny mental images. But it also raises some interesting questions, both about football and athletics generally. First, what does it say about football as a sport that a dog with the IQ of a first-grader would be a dominant player, probably the greatest the game has ever seen? I don’t have any answers to proffer here—at least not yet. I simply pose the question for your consideration.

Second, this is a good reminder that much of human athletic achievement, as impressive as it is in so many sports contexts, is a species-centric thing. True, only humans can play tennis, golf, baseball, hockey, and many other sports. But when it comes to running, jumping, swimming, and some other basic athletic skills, the animal kingdom puts us to shame. It isn’t just cheetahs, horses, and greyhounds that can outrun Olympic gold-medal sprinters, but even cats, raccoons, and squirrels can do so. And I suppose there are thousands of species of fish who can swim faster than Michael Phelps.

So the next time you’re blown away by the speed, power, or agility of a professional athlete, you might want to put his or her ability in broader zoological context. And when you’re watching your favorite team in the NFL playoffs in the coming weeks, just consider how much better they would be if they had my dog returning kickoffs.

December 31, 2009

The Best and Worst of 2009

By Jim Spiegel

It’s been another exciting year, and we want to thank you all for reading and, if applicable, posting comments on our blog. Once again, we would like to close out the year with summary remarks about good and bad stuff related to film, music, books, politics, and family.

Best Film Experiences:

Jim: Slumdog Millionaire, Inglourious Basterds, and The Blind Side. Three very different films with one thing in common: a compelling story. See my March 2 post for extended comments on Slumdog, and our joint review of Inglourious Basterds in our October 29 post. As for The Blind Side, I confess that I went to see it begrudgingly, figuring it would subject me to two hours of eye-rolling melodrama. On the contrary, this simple but powerful film had me in tears the entire evening. And I’m no sentimentalist…
Amy: Jim chose the ones you’ve heard of, so here are a few older ones you might not have seen: 1927 Academy Award winning Sunrise. I am not a big fan of silent films but this one is amazing, a perfect movie. Another oldie but goodie is The Red Shoes. Finally, Murder! I am slowly working my way through all the works of Hitchcock and this was one I marked off the list this year. It’s classic Hitchcock, which is to say, suspense with heart and soul. Finally, this one isn’t an oldie, but since I spend a great deal of time watching children’s films I will give a shout out to my friends Charlie and Lola.

Worst Film Experiences:

Jim: Little Children—Three of my pet peeves in contemporary Hollywood films are: 1) stilted dialogue, 2) gratuitous sex scenes, and 3) plotlines that encourage viewers to root for a character to commit adultery. Well, this movie features all three of these vices. Some thematic originality or insight into truth might have helped to redeem the film despite these flaws. But, alas, this one was disappointing down to the last, contrived and implausible, scene.
Amy: The Reader, Japanese Story, and Summertime are three that standout in their badness. There are bad movies which are flawed in one way or another (poor writing, bad acting, etc.) and then there are movies that are faulty on a deeper level; like people who are really smart that you enjoy being with as long as you don’t think about what they are actually saying. These films would fall into the latter category.

Best Musical Experiences of the Year:

Jim: Wilco (The Album). Jeff Tweedy & Co. have been making great music since the mid-90s, and their latest effort is more of the same. 2009 is also the year that I discovered the Kings of Leon. Thanks to Jason Fortner for his insistent introduction to the beauty of the Followill brothers’ musical world.
Amy: It isn’t a specific album but I loved my Christmas music this year. One of my faves included Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas, “What Child is This” by Andrea Bocelli, and Mary J. Blige and Emmylou Harris’ Light of the Stable. They all strike the chords of awe, sadness, and rejoicing that I love about the season.

Favorite Songs of the Year:

Jim: “Breathe” by U2. This song slaps you in the face, spins you in circles, then sits you down and caresses you into ecstasy. What begins as an almost tuneless rapid-fire narrative resolves into one of the most melodically satisfying songs in the U2 repertoire. Check out that entrancing combo of cello and guitar as well as the memorable lyrical images—e.g., “people born of sound” wearing songs “like a crown” and “the roar that lies on the other side of silence.” Oh yeah.
Amy: See my comments above about Christmas songs.

Jim’s Favorite Sports Moment of the Year: The season-long dominance of the Saints and Colts (two of my favorite teams), both of whom earned home field advantage throughout the NFL playoffs. I’m not naïve enough to think both will make it to the Super Bowl (#1 seeds almost never meet in the championship). But I’m hopeful that one of them will play on Super Sunday.

Jim’s Most Disappointing Sports Moment of the Year: The Detroit Tigers’ squandering their division lead on the last day of regular season. It wasn’t so much a moment as a week-long, fated collapse. Ugh.

Amy’s Best Eating Experience of the Year: New Orleans’ restaurant Mona Lisa’s eggplant parmesan. Spicy marinara sauce, crispy eggplant in a creative setting with friendly folks. And the service is great—at the Mona Lisa everyone is treated like a regular.

Amy’s Worst Eating Experience of the Year: “Zucchini and Basil Soup.” In an attempt to cleanse our bodies of toxins, Jim and I did a cleanse diet which excluded all cheese, eggs, wheat, soda, and basically anything you might enjoy eating. The diet was actually not that bad, but this cold “soup” was definitely the low point.

Most and Least Satisfying Reads of the Year:

Jim: Antony Flew’s There is a God, in which the former atheist chronicles his journey to belief in God and masterfully summarizes the three main considerations which prompted him to embrace theism. I’ve also greatly enjoyed the Arts and Letters Daily blog. My least satisfying read was Kwame Appiah’s Cosmopolitanism—an attempt to salvage shared moral values while affirming cultural relativism. I kept waiting for an argument, but it never came. And until the very end I hoped Appiah would rescue his project from incoherence. My hopes were never realized.
Amy: Elizabeth Gaskell’s Ruth, Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit and Same Kind of Different as Me were all inspiring. They just don’t write them like that anymore. I didn’t like The Girls from Ames. Also, on three separate occasions, I began reading The Shack, but I couldn’t complete it. Bad theology and even worse writing.

Political High Point of the Year: Our hopeful sides want to celebrate the seemingly grass roots movement afoot in our country against government expansion and irresponsibility. But our cynical sides tell us that it’s all just more talk that will, in the end, be undermined by profiteering.

Political Low Point of the Year: The revelation that (now former) Green Czar Van Jones was a Marxist…or perhaps the revelation that (now former) White House communications director Anita Dunn was a Marxist sympathizer. Or (speaking of Marxism?) perhaps the real low point was the health care bill.

Most Outrageous News Events of the Year: The balloon boy hoax (what can you expect from a couple who would name their kid “Falcon”?) and Bernie Madoff (an appropriate surname, until the Ponzi schemer artist got busted) and climategate (when scientists feel they have to fudge numbers, this should give pause to even the most dogmatic believers in their theory). Ah, the hits just keep on coming, don’t they?

Our Kids’ Most Memorable Statements of the Year:

Bailey: “I think cussing is just adults’ way of whining.”

Sam: “Dad, just try to name a breakfast cereal I don’t like.”

Maggie: “I think the wind is God whispering ‘I love you.’”

Andrew: “I never want to get married, ‘cuz you have to kiss someone every day.”

Most Satisfying Shared Experiences of the Year:

Jim: Walking around the French Quarter together at the ETS conference in November. Also, our August vacation in Houston with the incomparable Newcomb family.
Amy: Our various bike rides together as a family; also, seeing two of our kids become communicant members of our church and sharing the communion experience with them.

New Year’s Resolutions:

Jim: To get to bed before midnight more than half of the time
Amy: To put Ranch Pringles behind me once and for all

Happy 2010 everyone! And happy new decade as well!!

December 25, 2009

The Aesthetics of Christmas

By Jim Spiegel

As another Christmas rolls around, Amy and I have been struck again by the sheer beauty of the story. The God of the universe condescends to take on human flesh and even humbles himself to the point of joining a rather pedestrian family. And, as Amy noted in her last post, the irony of the Christmas story is wondrously exceeded by the Easter story, as the Christ is murdered—by us, the ones he came to save—but, in the most beautiful moment in human history, he rises from the dead, defeating death itself in the process and earning salvation for his elect, who were powerless to save themselves. Truly, in terms of aesthetic richness, the Gospel story is incomparable.

For all of its spiritual significance, the aesthetics of Christmas (as with Easter) should not be overlooked. Indeed, the spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of the Gospel are inseparable—a point emphasized by Pope Benedict when he recently met with hundreds of creative artists. See my post on this on the EPS blog.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

December 11, 2009

Top Ten Albums of the Decade

By Jim Spiegel

It’s the end of the ‘00s, which means it’s time for top ten lists. Below are my picks for the best albums of the last ten years. Honorable mentions: Bob Dylan’s Modern Times, The Killers’ Day and Age, Neko Case’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, The Strokes, Is This It?, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ By the Way, The Shins’ Chutes Too Narrow, Arcade Fire, Funeral, and Modest Mouse’s Good News for People Who Love Bad News.

10. Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004) – The Kings of Leon Just when it appeared that no one would make a great rootsy, blues-based rock again, the Followill boys arrived on the scene to prove it can still be done…and how. Aha Shake Heartbreak was the sophomore effort from the Kings of Leon, a marked improvement on their debut which earned critical acclaim in its own right. These guys are the full package, soulful at every instrument with the chemistry of kin to boot. This album soars from the start and never lets up. Highlights: “King of the Rodeo” and “The Bucket”

9. Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006) – Morrissey For his second album since his return from a seven-year hiatus, the Moz put legendary ‘70s producer Tony Visconti at the helm. The results lived up to the hype, as Visconti built innovative orchestral elements into most of the song arrangements. Combined with the fact that the songs were among Morrissey’s strongest compositions ever—both technically and emotionally—it’s no surprise that some critics hailed it as the best ever from the Pope of Mope. Highlights: “The Youngest Was the Most Loved” and “In the Future When All’s Well”

8. No Line on the Horizon (2009) – U2 Following two strong but less than groundbreaking efforts, the legends from Dublin looked to find some fresh musical inspiration in the unlikely country of Morocco. Setting up camp in a studio in Fez, some of the songs on the album bear the marks of Arabic musical influence. During the long recording process the band invited producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois to make songwriting changes as well in hopes to make the material still stronger. The results on No Line speak for themselves, as it is the most fresh and inspired U2 album since Achtung Baby. It is also less commercial than anything they’ve done since Zooropa, which explains the cool reception of the album in some quarters. But let’s hope this doesn’t discourage the band from further musical exploration.

7. Hail to the Thief (2003) – Radiohead On the heels of their landmark Kid A and Amnesiac albums, what could the Oxford quintet do next? How about create another masterful album which is even more unified than its predecessors, if only because it’s creative explorations are not as multifarious. The album also has a discernible theme, which is evident in its title. And the interpretive Rosetta Stone for the 16-song cycle is “A Punchup at a Wedding,” where the most sacred of events is marred by a drunken brawl. For Radiohead the wedding is nature, and human beings are the intoxicated fighters. A powerful image, even if it does seal Yorke & Co. as misanthropes. Such a dark theme, however, does not diminish the sheer beauty of this album. Highlights: “Go to Sleep” and “Scatterbrain”

6. Retriever (2004) – Ron Sexsmith This unsung Canadian songwriter’s songwriter has yet to make an album that isn’t at least very good. Retriever features a dozen artful tunes which demonstrate why everyone from Elvis Costello to Paul McCartney count themselves among Sexsmith’s biggest fans. Producer Martin Terefe effectively created an organic warmth which perfectly reinforces the wistful melancholy of most of the tracks. Several songs are achingly beautiful. Some still move me to tears. Highlights: “Imaginary Friends,” “For the Driver,” and “Wishing Wells”

5. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) – Wilco Recorded in 2001, Wilco’s record company, Reprise Records, refused to release the album because of its perceived lack of commercial viability. Eventually the band was released from their Reprise contract and signed with Nonesuch Records, who released the album the next year. Naturally, the album sold like hotcakes. It’s a brooding, sometimes dark record with plenty of atmospherics and interesting turnarounds. Probably the very things that turned off the Reprise execs are what turned on listeners. So much for the convergence of market sense and aesthetic sensibility. If you haven’t discovered the raw rock paradise of Jeff Tweedy and friends, this album is a good place to start. Highlights: “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” and “Pot Kettle Black”

4. Neon Bible (2007) – Arcade Fire After the critical exultation over their first album, Funeral, most fans of the indie band Arcade Fire braced themselves for a let down with their follow-up. But Neon Bible proved to be even stronger than their debut. Both albums are melodically and emotionally rich, but Neon Bible is more mature in terms of lyrical vision. The album’s abiding theme of spiritual angst is especially compelling, with several songs wrestling with the realities of sin, death, and redemption. Highlights: “Intervention” and “The Well and the Lighthouse”

3. Return to Cookie Mountain (2006) – TV on the Radio This unique outfit from Brooklyn, New York blends progressive rock, jazz, hip-hop, and electronica. The song’s lush textures, thanks to the production wizardry of band guitarist Dave Sitek, reward repeated listening. Layers of melodies, rhythms, and vocalisms create a unique and hypnotizing soundscape for stream of consciousness lyrical explorations. One of the album’s standouts, “Wolf Like Me,” is quite possibly the song of the decade. Other highlights: “Hours,” “A Method,” and “Dirthywhirl”

2. Love and Theft (2001) – Bob Dylan Just prior to the album’s release, the Bobster was quoted as saying Love and Theft felt like a greatest hits album. This seemed like pre-release hype at the time, but he turned out to be correct. Each song feels like a classic, whether the style is rockabilly, swing, bluegrass, parlor jazz, or blues. Dylan and his band—featuring the incomparable tandem of Charlie Sexton and Larry Campbell—move effortlessly from genre to genre, humbly serving each tune. Lyrically, Dylan is at the top of his game—which is no small boast—spinning captivating yarns, tossing off wise proverbs, telling jokes, and creating an abiding feeling of riverboat adventure and Old South nostalgia. All in all, a flawless album. And to think he did it as a man in his sixties.

1. Kid A / Amnesiac (2000-01) – Radiohead Okay, so these are two albums rather than one, but I’m combining them because all of the music was recorded during the same sessions. The band didn’t want to release it all on one double-length CD, so they divided the songs into two separate albums. In actuality, it’s more like a time-released double album, with half of the songs appearing about six months after the others. AMNESIAC The novelty of the release format only hints at the originality of the music itself, which felt at the time—and in many ways still does feel—as if it had been recorded in the year 2050 and sent back to our time to blow our minds. Amazingly, the albums have “aged” well. The truth is, as with all great music, it doesn’t seem to age at all. Kid A highlights: “Optimistic” and “Idioteque”; Amnesiac highlights: “I Might Be Wrong” and “Knives Out”

December 2, 2009

Two Cheers for the Manhattan Declaration

By Jim Spiegel

If you haven’t done so yet, check out the recent Manhattan Declaration, a Christian manifesto on issues related to abortion, marriage, and religious freedom. Co-authored by Charles Colson, Robert George, and Timothy George, the statement was initially signed by over 170 Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant religious leaders. Since then (November 20, 2009), more than 238,000 people have signed the declaration, including Amy and me. We agree with every word of this document and are greatly encouraged by it.

In addition to providing lucid statements about the ethics of abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage, the Manhattan Declaration affirms the appropriateness of civil disobedience in cases where state or federal laws would compel complicity with immoral practices: “We recognize the duty to comply with laws whether we happen to like them or not, unless the laws are gravely unjust or require those subject to them to do something unjust or otherwise immoral…. We…embrace our obligation to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence.”

Amen.

November 23, 2009

Plato, Calvin, and Internet Anonymity

By Jim Spiegel

It is a sad fact about the Internet that thoughtful news commentaries and blog posts are often appended with strings of comments that degenerate into hostility, name-calling, or obscene language. Lately, I have encountered more of these than usual (not on this blog, thankfully), and it makes me wonder what happened to mutual respect and good manners in public debate. Evidently, in the minds of some people these days, the Internet put an end to that.

Like many aspects of contemporary life, this got me to thinking about Plato, specifically a famous passage in his Republic. In Book II, a character named Glaucon relates a story of a shepherd named Gyges who discovers a ring which has the power to make him invisible. Realizing the potency of his new possession, Gyges uses it to seduce the queen and murder the king, thus establishing himself as the new ruler. Yet, prior to discovering the ring, Gyges was a rather ordinary guy, a humble shepherd who worked hard for his pay and never hurt anyone. Glaucon’s point is that the only reason Gyges behaved himself was to avoid reprisal. He obeyed the laws because he feared he’d get caught and punished if he disobeyed. So when he happened upon a means to avoid such consequences, he exploited it to the extreme. Furthermore, Glaucon suggests that all of us are like Gyges. The only reason we act morally—to the extent that we do so, that is—is because we are compelled by the laws governing society. The truth is, says Glaucon, we are immoral by nature, and if any of us had the Ring of Gyges, we’d act no differently than that ordinary shepherd. Under the cloak of invisibility, even the most righteous would prove their perversity by stealing and snooping, if not seducing and killing just like Gyges.

As a Calvinist, I wholly affirm the doctrine of total depravity, and I consider Plato’s myth to be profoundly insightful (as did J.R.R. Tolkien, whose Lord of the Ringsseries was inspired in part by Plato’s story). Though I think Glaucon goes too far in suggesting that given the power of invisibility everyone of us would succumb to such extreme temptations, I do think many folks “fake it” and act morally only because, as Glaucon suggests, they fear the consequences of detection. In a strange way, the internet confirms this truth, as so many people are willing to ditch all decorum when posting comments on various websites. When I read such hostile or abusive language I think, “Who are these people?” (Naturally, they never identify themselves.) Well, they are no doubt the same people I encounter every day—at the store, on the street, perhaps even in the classroom. In public (presumably) they behave themselves, but on-line they acquire a limited form of Ring of Gyges. And while invisible in that domain, they let their true moral colors show.

They say you can judge a person’s character by how they handle themselves in small matters. If that is true, and anonymous comments on websites are any indication, then there appear to be a lot of bad characters out there. Old Glaucon had a point. On the other hand, lest I sound like a moral pessimist (some would say all of us Calvinists are), most people do behave themselves on-line, even while “wearing” the electronic Ring of Gyges—restraining themselves and managing a respectful tone when making comments. Is this a falsification of Glaucon’s thesis? Perhaps. But then again, maybe not. This might actually serve to further confirm Glaucon’s point, since (at least many of) these same people might behave themselves out of fear divine reprisal. After all, the internet cloak of invisibility doesn’t obscure God’s view.

Of course, we will never know how many of us are motivated out of a desire to please (or not to displease) God. But Scripture does clearly and emphatically teach both that God knows all things and that he will judge all of our actions, words, and even thoughts. For example, we are told that “God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecc. 12:13; see also 2 Cor. 5:10).

So let’s keep this in mind as we post comments on websites, particularly when we find someone’s opinion disagreeable or even repugnant. Ultimately speaking, there is no anonymity. And no one is ever really invisible.

Comments anyone? 🙂