This is a most poignant article, Daniel! Something that is universal to all of us is we are part of a grand overarching narrative in some way or another. In that sense, we transcend the particular and join in in the great universal collective. We are part of a narrative whether it be cultural, racial, religious, gender, sexuality, level of ability, ethnicity, or national origin based. If you’re an American, you follow in the footsteps of our founding fathers and mothers who risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to birth our republic. If you’re English, you follow in the footsteps of Alfred the Great’s soldiers who repelled the Danish invasion of England. If you’re French you follow in the footsteps of the Republican revolutionaries who toppled the Bourbon Monarchy and sought to bring democracy to the masses in France. If you’re German, you follow in the footsteps of Frederick the Great and the newly reorganized Prussian Army, a model fighting force who defeated the mighty Hapsburg Empire to win control of Silesia, allowing Prussia to rise to great power status.
Those on the social justice left who seek to tear down tradition and dispatch with narrative, are motivated by something that is totally understandable, finding greater meaning and purpose for their lives. But something they need to understand is, they need not tear down the grand narrative of their country and blow up tradition to achieve positive social change. The two are not mutually exclusive. Both belong together like the yin and the yang. They balance each other out. You embrace your country or religion’s grand narrative and fight for social and racial justice! You can be a proud American, Brit or Frenchman while also fighting to improve your country. Or be a pious Christian, Jew or Muslim while also fighting to improve your faith. For example, I am a proud Lutheran who is pro-choice, pro-birth control, pro-gay marriage, pro-women become pastors, pro-environmentalism, and pro-racial equality. I greatly admire Martin Luther warts and all, and my churches’ history of rebelling and breaking away from the Catholic Church. But I also advocate for Lutherans to take a more nuanced position on abortion, accept birth control, welcome LGBTQ+ people into the church, accept and bless same-sex couples and perform same-sexual weddings, have good relations with our Catholic and Orthodox brothers, and fight racism, sexism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.
Daniel, you’re right that people need narrative. We don’t live in abstractions. The story of Abraham shows us that.
God called a particular man from a particular place and formed a particular people, but with a universal purpose: "In you, all nations shall be blessed." The story points beyond itself. It’s the means by which something universal is revealed. Israel is to be a "light unto the nations."
So, yes, we need narrative. But the real question is whether the story is just something we inherit to give ourselves meaning, or whether it’s actually telling us something true about the world.
This is a most poignant article, Daniel! Something that is universal to all of us is we are part of a grand overarching narrative in some way or another. In that sense, we transcend the particular and join in in the great universal collective. We are part of a narrative whether it be cultural, racial, religious, gender, sexuality, level of ability, ethnicity, or national origin based. If you’re an American, you follow in the footsteps of our founding fathers and mothers who risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to birth our republic. If you’re English, you follow in the footsteps of Alfred the Great’s soldiers who repelled the Danish invasion of England. If you’re French you follow in the footsteps of the Republican revolutionaries who toppled the Bourbon Monarchy and sought to bring democracy to the masses in France. If you’re German, you follow in the footsteps of Frederick the Great and the newly reorganized Prussian Army, a model fighting force who defeated the mighty Hapsburg Empire to win control of Silesia, allowing Prussia to rise to great power status.
Those on the social justice left who seek to tear down tradition and dispatch with narrative, are motivated by something that is totally understandable, finding greater meaning and purpose for their lives. But something they need to understand is, they need not tear down the grand narrative of their country and blow up tradition to achieve positive social change. The two are not mutually exclusive. Both belong together like the yin and the yang. They balance each other out. You embrace your country or religion’s grand narrative and fight for social and racial justice! You can be a proud American, Brit or Frenchman while also fighting to improve your country. Or be a pious Christian, Jew or Muslim while also fighting to improve your faith. For example, I am a proud Lutheran who is pro-choice, pro-birth control, pro-gay marriage, pro-women become pastors, pro-environmentalism, and pro-racial equality. I greatly admire Martin Luther warts and all, and my churches’ history of rebelling and breaking away from the Catholic Church. But I also advocate for Lutherans to take a more nuanced position on abortion, accept birth control, welcome LGBTQ+ people into the church, accept and bless same-sex couples and perform same-sexual weddings, have good relations with our Catholic and Orthodox brothers, and fight racism, sexism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.
כל הכבוד!
Daniel, you’re right that people need narrative. We don’t live in abstractions. The story of Abraham shows us that.
God called a particular man from a particular place and formed a particular people, but with a universal purpose: "In you, all nations shall be blessed." The story points beyond itself. It’s the means by which something universal is revealed. Israel is to be a "light unto the nations."
So, yes, we need narrative. But the real question is whether the story is just something we inherit to give ourselves meaning, or whether it’s actually telling us something true about the world.
Abraham’s story does both.
Nicely put David.