As secular society has steamrolled forward at a pace that we can brutally say is absurd, remembering the goods of the past has become more critical than ever. As the political apparatus creates a dialectic that shifts the goalpost towards a progressive telos, conservatism, more broadly in this era, simply seeks to be the liberals of the 1960s.
When stating the goods of the past, it’s not a romantic nostalgia for a specific historical era. Instead, it’s a connection to Tradition, which is not anachronistic but, in actuality, a revivifying timeless reality. A powerful and energetic torch possessing spiritual vitality passed down through generations, actively revealing the essential spiritual truths of reality. This connection to a symbolic reality between “heaven” and “earth” unveils the meaning behind the example of virtue, illustrating why courage is considered objective in one instance. This manifests in the doctrines, rites, laws, and culture that facilitate spiritual growth.
Humanity stands at a perilous crossroads, where the balance is tipped in a spiritual battle. One path could lead to the flourishing of humanity, not by idolising material wealth, but through a deeper spirituality that modern civilisation currently lacks (A return to a fuller enchanted Christian world?). The alternative path, however, involves the potential reality that the creation of artificial intelligence (AI) could become so powerful that we might lose our sense of agency. As discussed in a previous piece titled “AI Gods”, if tech leaders and innovators pursue the development of God-like AI without caution, we may find ourselves in a state of servitude to this technology, which, in some way, we are already at this point. This scenario won’t necessarily unfold in a dramatic, Matrix-like manner (though such a dystopian outcome isn’t entirely implausible); it could possibly unfold in a more insidious way.
In our time, overshadowed by desire, many often pursue fleeting pleasures. This pursuit, driven and weaponised by the modern economic system, captures us through our base desires. Inevitably, we remain in bondage unless we can break free from this spiritual prison.
Be cautious of the venom that techno-futurists may express as they seek to dismantle the old world. This era in the West reflects a complete detachment from reality. Despite our technologically advanced world, many people believe we can simply “evolve” beyond sacred doctrines, particularly the Christian worldview. Modern individuals become consumers who gaze into the abyss of their smartphones, searching for the next dopamine hit. This appears to be a novel phenomenon to the simplistic materialist type, but in reality, this mirrors the ancient myths, where gods of old demanded one’s attention for “worship”. This is a timeless “Golden Calf” problem exemplified in the story of Exodus. Today, for example, many participate in the myth of Narcissus through their smartphones.
Consequently, technology already plays a significant role in our lives. Aiming for a technological singularity that integrates AI and humans, this aspiration becomes a golden goose for some. Famously, Silicon Valley’s modern-day techno-sages and discussions among the World Economic Forum’s talking heads, including examples from Elon Musk’s Neuralink and Sam Altman’s Open AI, illustrate this progression towards this end goal.
Many questions arise regarding why some of the powers that be are so obsessed with technology in their aim to radically change humanity radically forever. In this hypothetical scenario, instead of being in the image of God, one will be made in the image of Skynet and the like. Furthermore, as mentioned, our focus and attention could become enslaved to the new technological deities that future society may venerate.
Any attempt to paint an abstract image of a potential future scenario suggests a grim conclusion: the end of humanity. This could technically be seen as the ultimate fate for humankind, and instead of a Christian resurrection, the prevailing powers seem to be pursuing a techno-materialist resurrection. As this alchemical transformation unfolds within the practical realms of rationalism, materialism, and scientism, it frequently neglects to underpin these developments with wisdom and the unseen world.
Thus, wisdom does not reign in this day and age.
The virtuous are hidden; many modern leaders do not represent the archetypal benevolent king.
Where is Plato’s ideal leader personified by the Philosopher King in the Republic?
Why is this technological takeover dominated by one-dimensional characters?
Thus, how cocooned can one be to think that the archetypal structure of reality can be moulded to one’s ego?
These detached cocooned symptoms reflect a culture that has become solely focused on shallow materialism, failing to recognise the spiritual aspect of life. In many circles, what is deemed spiritual – due to the prevalence of materialism – often degrades into mere emotional sentimentality rather than a transformative rite of passage that can profoundly change one’s perspective. Techno-futurists represent postmodernists in their desire to manipulate humanity not just through psychological means, such as far-left ideological programming, with gender ideology being an obvious example, but also through the use of technological advancements.
CRISPR technology is a notable example of how it has made the manipulation of human beings to satisfy egotistical desires a tangible reality. This trend distorts the very essence of what it means to be human, replacing the heart for the cold technocratic takeover. This is the Faustian bargain, seen in mythological stories and, famously, within our Christian story. Selling your soul to the devil, as the popular phrase denotes, to human beings selling the essence of humanity to technological supremacy. Instead of unleashing utopia, AI gods will rise, with an overarching techno demiurge keeping us chained in Skynet’s technological prison.
But, of course, technology has been a part of the human story since the dawn of man. The Biblical lineage of Cain is linked to technology, for example. However, man’s autonomy is being chipped away. The deepening reliance on technological development, paired with the idolisation of economic progress, became particularly pronounced during the Industrial Revolution and has continued to grow rapidly in our digital age. While humanity has not evolved into futuristic soldiers like those in Warhammer 40k, many individuals have become complacent instead, representing the last man, an entitled blob with no agency. Sucked into the technocratic system of multiplicity, confusion and spiritual weakness. The warning signs are clear as artificial intelligence and similar advancements continue their relentless march toward an uncertain future. From C.S. Lewis’s “The Abolition of Man” to René Guénon’s “The Reign of Quantity” and numerous other prophetic works and figures, voices of caution converge to emphasise that humanity has become fragmented, diminished, and engulfed in spiritual confusion.
Modern conservatives can be argued to be fools, moaning about the loss of traditional values; but ironically support swift technological progress and economic growth. Some adhere to secularism as an ideology rather than live a religious life, in particular, a Christian one. They often fail to realise that implementing rapid and drastic changes in a society’s technology and economy will also lead to swift changes in many other aspects of that society. Such rapid transformations can inevitably undermine Tradition and, as described, undermine what the sacred is.
Many yearn to understand what is a symbol, an archetype, the string that connects the material world to the metaphysical?
But post-Enlightenment philosophical idol-worship of “scepticism” has decisively undermined the foundations of our civilisation, stripping away its spiritual splendour. The secular worldview, prominent in our age, is anchored in relativism and universalism and has undeniably weakened the spiritual core of Europe. Militant atheism, disguised as communism, represents a realised delusion. As the New Atheists promoted their “rationality,” they simply represented part of the wrecking ball – which never understood the goods of the past, minus sentimental platitudes towards religious traditions such as enjoying Christmas carols.
While many New Age spiritualists have good intentions, New Age spirituality fundamentally represents a significant spiritual deception based on modern liberal ideas rather than Traditional spiritual ones. A muddled understanding of ‘sacrifice’ binds them to shallow contemporary presuppositions entrenched in a secular, materialistic worldview that we are relentlessly bombarded with. In the end, their worldview leads to scaffolding the cold technological revolution. As some see many worldviews as unbalanced between the feminine and masculine principles, Neo-paganism appears to be a suitable action. They will lament the loss of the goods of Tradition and attack Christianity as part of this degeneration process seen in the values of our modern world. The degeneration process has swallowed all Western paradigms.
Alas, Nietzsche is ultimately wrong. God is not dead; rather, we exist within an artificial layer that has atomised, lost sight and disenchanted our connection to the divine. In a “post-Christian” world, people are waiting for new prophets and demi-gods to emerge, but nothing true is in sight. False gods remain, and the apples remain rotten.
Returning to Christianity and Europe, the European people and their civilisation have a considerable debt to pay to Christ the King. As society has promoted this non-spiritual, materialistic liberal perspective on freedom, Europe has to remove its egotism and its selfishness and be honest about where its Weltanschauung lies.
As mentioned earlier, being anachronistic about civilisation and idolising it is not the solution. Instead, we should remember a civilisation that reflects the spiritual principles bestowed upon us from above, which underpin and define a great civilisation. Regardless of apologetic debates, Catholicism in the West and Orthodoxy in the East are the apostolic chords back to Christ. As inheritors of this profound legacy, we have an essential role to fulfill. But as mentioned, this is not to idolise a civilisation. Through the Spirit, we live in Christ, helping us comprehend the Father (Ephesians 2:18), the infinite, in our finite nature.
Primarily striving for union with the God of Christianity, we must live in a way that aligns with the God-man Christ, who has shown us the path, surpassing all gurus and prophets from other traditions and faiths. It is crucial to understand the importance of passing the grand torch of Christendom from one generation to the next. In a post-Christian and nonsensical culture, our aim should be to baptise modernity while balancing the ability to juxtapose the spirit of the world in understanding the “end of the world”.
Christianity was never intended to destroy the old world; instead, it aimed to integrate and elevate it into something higher. It possesses a remarkable ability to illuminate the so-called “pagan” world, which includes baptising the ideas of great philosophers like Plato and Aristotle into the light of Christ. Additionally, the concepts of Chivalry were incorporated into Christianity, including integrating the earlier development of the notion of “Just War,” famously articulated by St. Augustine (even if, at times, this integration in practice was a messy one).
While technological delusion will remain a powerful force this century, we must “Ride the Tiger” while humbly adhering to Christ and His teachings. As our age encounters numerous forces that undermine loftiness and grandeur, utopian thinkers often remain blind to their own darker agendas. Techno-futurists tend to overlook Tradition, ideologues frequently fail to embrace agape love, and the lack of meaning in our secular culture gives rise to a wide variety of pseudo-religious movements.
Alas, a new journey is emerging for those who seek to walk a path of Sainthood, untainted by the distractions of the world. We are at a pivotal moment in humanity. Baptism of modernity must come, allowing the fullness of divine revelation in Christ to shine forth. Whether one can think of modernity in apocalyptic terms or not is irrelevant in praxis; what matters is living in accordance with spiritual principles and following the teachings of Christ. This timeless journey remains constant, whether we find ourselves in the Roman Empire of old, later Christendom or today’s superficial culture.
So, what does this baptism and transformation really involve?
Shine a light into the darkness my friends.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:1-5
