Saturday, November 08, 2008
The Power of Narrative
The fallacy of the Modern Enlightenment was that logic, reason, and better information could override our narratives. Modern liberal politicians and theologians assumed that we could educate people right out of their naïve pre-modern narratives. The Modern Enlightenment also produced a conservative movement that thought we could bomb the world until it loved us again. They were both wrong. The New Enlightenment (post-modernism) understands the power of narrative and knows that information and force are both powerless against narrative.
Could the presidential election of 2008 be a glimpse into the future of America’s narrative as an inspirational force in the world instead of an imperial force? Could one election change the way the world frames the American story? In this new age, will religion be seen as a positive influence helping us cast this new narrative or will it continue to be a contributing factor in locking us into older failed narratives?
We live our narrative. The lived story is at the center of modern personality theory. The theory of neural computation, as we shall see later, shows how our brains not only permit this, but favor it. The typical roles played in narratives include Hero, Victim, and Helper. A doctor may not just be a doctor, but a Hero-doctor, saving people’s lives. A housewife may see herself as a Victim-Housewife, victimized by society’s sexism. A nurse may see herself as the Helper to the Hero-doctor. Or as a Victim of sexism in medicine. A president may see himself as a Hero rescuing a victim-nation from a Villain-dictator. Or as a leading a battle of Good against Evil. The roles in narratives that you understand yourself as fitting give meaning to your life, including the emotional color that is inherent in narrative structures.
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We cannot understand other people without such cultural narratives. But more important, we cannot understand ourselves – who we are, who we have been, and where we want to go – without recognizing and seeing who we fit into cultural narratives.
We know from cognitive science and neuroscience that such narratives are fixed in the neural circuits of our brains. We know that they can be activated and function unconsciously, automatically, as a matter of reflex. And just as we – automatically, with out conscious control – Anna Nichole [Smith] and Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush in terms of such narratives, so we see ourselves as having only the choices defined by our brain’s frames and cultural narratives. And we live out narrative choices made for us by our brains without our conscious awareness.
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In a New Enlightenment, cultural narratives will not be gone, replaced by cold, hard reason. Cultural narratives are part of the permanent furniture of our brains. But in the New Enlightenment we will at least be self-aware. We will recognize that we are all living out narratives. It will be normal to discuss what they might be, to raise the question of what influence they have, and whether we can or should put them aside. – George Lakoff - “The Political Mind” p.35-36
14 comments:
I won't bother reading your stuff--too boring. I am glad I gave you a laugh! I'll be laughing when Obama sticks you in the whazzoo with his socialist agenda. It is the church's responsibility to take care of the poor, not the government.
No one cares what you think, Mike. That is why no one comments your blog!
Have a blessed day!!!
This is a great blog and I find hope and excitement about this New Enlightenment that provides a vision for a new kind of Christianity appropriate to our changing times.
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Guess your making a new kind Jesus, too and he's got new name--Obamessiah!
rtw,
Yep, you got me. That's the plan. I want to replace Jesus with Obama and worship him as my lord and savior. You are a real sharp guy to figure out my devilish intentions so quick. But we won't stop with socialism. We will make America a communist nation, ban religion completely, capture all the rednecks down south and make them sex slaves.
Thanks for stopping by and debunking my evil plot. I thought I was going to slip that by you, but I guess you are just too smart for me.
Mike,
rtw comment is an example of the dumb a$$ narrative...
Keep up the good work, I read this informative blog often.
I'll come back in a year and we'll see how far down the toilet we've gone. Until then I'll print your blog and wipe my azz with it! And I'll make sure your name lands right on a hemorroid!
rtw,
The fine Christian spirit which you express is greatly appreciated.
Christ is the same yesterday and today but Christianity has continually changed and adapted since its beginning. I take that to be God's will.
Steve said :
"a new kind of Christianity"
Christ never changes. We are to strive to be like him, so why should we? There is no "new" Christianity, only deception.
Steve also said:
"The fine Christian spirit which you express is greatly appreciated."
Don't see you nailing the guy who called me a "dumb a$$" It's OK for him and not me?
Hypocrite!
rtw' You are a wonderful piece of Christian work. A true Christllike example. Just wondering by the way that entire hemmoroid business I was wondering if that was Christ coming out in you in his never changing way or what? And if by example your narrow mindedness has somehow led you astray we persecutedhemmoroid wipers for true Christianity must come together and pray for you. May you have a blessed warped sense of reality.
anonymous-
You side with the other judgemental freaks on this blog--are they Christlike, like you, super christian?
Christ was fully God and fully human. Did he have hemorroids? Sure he did!!
He dealt with pains in the azz just like you His entire ministry!!!
rtw'. I rarely blog twice on the same subject. However, in your particular case I believe you need some real medicine for your insistance on speaking of Jesus and so often refering to this problem you have with your anus.You are an abomination to Christianity. Remember the measure you use will be measured against you. I believe it was Jesus who stated "If they are not against me they are for me." That might not be the exact wording;perhaps you get the point. Maybe not. After reading all your comments I can honestly say you like the enemy knows all the versus in the word. And most of the time you like the enemy will use them to tear apart and ridicule and patronize. Instead of lifting up, encouraging and blessing. Perhaps we need to change the name of that dreaded inflamation of the bloodvessels surrounding the rectum. By the way, How do you know Jesus ever had those type of problems? I'm human. Never been blessed with that particular discomfort in my life and I'm almost 50. And no I'm not any kind of "super Christian". Just regular people. Not judgemental. Not unforgiving. Not contemptuous. Not argumenative. Oh yea I'm slow to speak. But I think we should build each other up; not tear each other down. Your comments about this site are uncalled for and out of line.I enjoy the free and open discussion that goes on here and appriciate other peoples opinion even if we don't agree. I can tell that's not a place you are comfortable with. And by the way about your take on Jesus and his ministry. You seem to add a 6th to the well known 5 fold ministries of Jesus. That sixth ministry is one that is not well documented in his word; but you certainly have a good grasp of it. And you say that you believe that Jesus is the same then as he is now. I beg to differ with you. Your assault on others shows me different. Why don't you be good and don't share your hateful reply with the rest of us openminded types. Or better yet let us all see your true colors, and hey, are you a short guy. or perhaps a little on the pudgy side. Cause I think I detect a bit of Napoleonic complex weft between your well typed lines. And I believe he had rtw ministries or should I say hemrrhoids. Now that was not very Christlike of me. It's good to be able to find faults in ourselves.
anonymous:
Pissed you off, didn't I?
That is my job, to weed out the fakes that call themselves Christians, but pick and choose who they will accept as fellow Christians. Jesus rebuked the "religious", the same way I do. One guy, Steve said it perfectly "new kind of Christianity appropriate to our changing times." Who defines this "new" kind of Christianity? Heck, if the bloggers out here are speaking of a new kind of Christianity, then what is wrong with me coming out with my own kind of Christianity? One that slaps people in the face with the hard facts! One that says you cannot be a democrat and a Christian because the two are opposites. One that says if you voted for Obama you are a hypocrite that doesn't want to give up his cushiony Christian existence. You fell right into the trap of who you truly are--you hate those who don't think the way you do! Mike, who is the author of this blog, patronized me and won't even dialogue with me. Why? Because he doesn't acknowledge my right to an opinion. The only one who is right is him and YOU think the same way? Did you know that the Bible is filled with murderers, adulterers, liars, losers, prostitutes, cheaters, all who were used of God? And got His message out, JUST AS HE HAD MADE THEM!!! But what they all shared in common was the ability to admit they were wrong.
Thanks for the love, anon--you are truly a superchristian!!!!
Wow,I have been looking at this site for about two months and I know Mike L. but this is starting to get wild. I am commenting for the first time cause the other times I wasn't quite sure if what I was saying made sense. It seems that there is some dilema between RTW Ministries and just about everybody who has written.I'm not sure I can agree with a position that openly states that you can't Be a Christian "whatever that is" and a democrat. That is absurd. Apparently your idea of Christianity somehow is encapsulated around a particular political position. I'm no scholar but isn't that what Christ was saying to all those that were looking for him to be a political hero. Wasn't he saying that to all who were expecting his kingdom approach to overthrow Roman rule. And wasn't he quick to key them all in on the fact that His Kingdom was not of this world. That he was fighting against principalities on people. He said we should "Love our neighbor as You have loved me and as I have Loved you". I aam not a Bible vituoso but I think it is best that we all agree to disagree and stop all this petty bickering. And RTW you by the nature of what you call yourself should know how to act and stop persecuting others for what political seed they sow. By the way what kind of ministry do you have besides the one that is apparent from you dialogue of persecution and uninformed political disinformation. Although you have stated you won't bother blogging on this site I would appriciate you answers thanks.
Lemy-
I said I wold not blog here and that ould be so had I not gotten an email with your response.
Your hero Mike responded to me on another blog calling me a goofball, just because I disagree. I tracked him as the owner of this blog and responded appropriately. Just the terrorists he supports, he attacked and ran like a wuss.
Answer for yourself Lemy-does the Democratic platform reflect Christian views?
In our democracy we are to vote for the person who best represents our beliefs. Being so diversified, not everyone will agree, but between to people, one would best reflect your beliefs. Thanks to Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Teddy Kennedy and the likes the things that are important to Christians are almost no more. They want God out of everything--sorry I won't stand for that and I would give my life for that. Jesus said in Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
There you have why I have an attitude because I am done with wussy Christianity compromising on every issue, sinning like fiends and using Grace as a rag to clean up your mess. My God's got way bigger kahuna's than any god or government you can come up with.
And I'm standing behind Him!!!
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