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In the first chapter of his book The Way of the Modern World: Or, Why it's Tempting to Live as if God Doesn't Exist Craig M. Gay introduces the reader to the very interesting concept, which is deeply examined in the latter chapters, of absolute atheism through the practical everyday denial of Gods presence in the nature and moral traditions of our society. The profound and provocative analysis of what is lying underneath the cover of every-day life of modern America is delivered with quite a diligent approach. Gay introduces his of view of the society that is now looking like a construction built with a complete ignorance of laws and principles of physics, and the heavily used notion practical atheism. Gay proposes the reader to witness the possible consequences of this approach and encourages Christians to investigate its destructive nature. Writers ultimate understanding of the society is that nowadays the practical atheism combined with the social culture leads the nation the idea that God is largely irrelevant to the real business of life (2).
However this practical atheism does not rule-out the religious understanding but rather tries to modify its nature. To the atheist the religion and its spirit must be more or less regulated by the natural conditions. The final version of our religion would be totally controlled and thus allow the humans not to have any controversies with the Lord, for Gods Law will now be explained in the favor of the living people. The only logical outcome of this approach is the collapse of our society and universal morality. CHAPTER 4. This chapter continues the discussion about the modern institutions of the society and the theology of personhood, started in chapter 1.
Particularly the chapter gives the guidelines to combating the narcissism of current society. The author proposes the humankind to deny the notion of eternal satisfactions of the needs of remedy and usage. Rather, the people should focus their attention on the Christian self-awareness in which "love for God and neighbor is progressively realized and deepened" (232). By revealing the inherent to the American institutions elements of self-actualization and continuous greedy collective narcissism-the writer exposes how each of the above are sophisticated by description and anti-Christian by nature. Author stresses out that it is now the time, which is not too late to prevent the global catastrophe. All we need to do is rediscover ourselves before God and let Him to determine the future path of humankind development.
Gay warns us that the therapeutic consumption in the long run leads only to its increase until the resource is fully depleted. The current behavior of the worldwide society is absolutely inverse. Instead of identifying ourselves within God we try to succeed in our haughty pursuit for the actualization of personal rights and material needs. In the conclusion of this chapter Gay gives the readers practical advises on how to avoid the logic of modern society based solely on monetary values and economic benefits of global leader-nations.
Up to the end of Chapter Four the writers intent is to show us how the practical atheism is threatening Christ in our society in Him, and what can we do to prevent its devastating consequences. Works Cited Gay, Craig M. The Way of the (Modern) World: Or, Why It's Tempting to Live As If God Doesn't Exist. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998.
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Research essay sample on God Doesnt Exist Live As If God Society
