Saving Ourselves?
Comments about a comment about a claim
It’s been rather quiet lately on this Substack, a result to a large extent of “too much to do”. I have been managing to comment on other blog posts, though, and I want to highlight one of those in particular, and to clarify something about the comment. Here’s the post, containing a video by Dr. Mike Yeadon, along with a partial transcript:
The video is two hours long, containing many good points, and yes, I did listen to the whole thing — which is unusual for me — and in spite of already knowing these things largely thanks to his earlier efforts and those of others like him. My comment, which you can read here, concerns one single statement,
“No one is coming to save us, but WE can save ourselves, each other, and our community.”
Uh oh.
If you’ve read very many of my posts, you may see why I say “uh oh”. But here’s what I need to clarify. I’m not upset with Dr. Mike. I will continue to pay attention to what he has to say (although that does not necessarily include listening to every 2-hour video he records), and I am glad that he said it, in spite of the fact that it is the opposite of what I have been saying.
My reply was too direct. I really should have started with something more like what I said above, rather than this:
This is a fundamental assumption, presented without evidence, and based upon a negative that cannot be proven to be true (if no one comes and we are not saved, who would know?) but only ultimately proven to be false (if someone comes and saves us after all).
But how do you prove such a negative? Might it be time to consider alternatives? Never mind that people have been echoing similar sentiments almost since creation.
The idea contained in his statement can be found everywhere throughout the Substacks and other sources that I follow, but I can’t recall anywhere else I have seen it stated so succinctly. It needs to be said, and what is said needs to be examined. Repeating something endlessly doesn’t make it true, but if it is held as true then it can take on a life of its own, true or not, and this one has a life of its own. And this saying is not being examined closely.
I expect to have more to say about this. For now, though, I invite you to read the full comment and to reply either here or there.
I 100% feel the same way. In the earthly day to day sense, it's only by our steadfast faith and courageous moral resistance that we'll be saved, and very gradually. That's how it generally worked historically on both the individual and broader levels. If we continue to live in a stuporous, mindless wishy-washy existence, the evil won't go away, it will take us out; either in a sudden cataclysmic disaster, or by the death of a thousand cuts.
My issue in telling people that someone is coming to save them is that people negate their personal responsibilities at any chance they can. This message gives permission for people to remain immature because someone is going to rescue them in the end. I’m not denying any Christian beliefs, I’m just talking psychologically.
We have to be the hero of our own story. We have to challenge ourselves to be better and do better. We have to be willing to stand up and fight against evil, not just act like a deer in headlights and “wait”.
If a person doesn’t understand their own physiology or psychology, how do they know they aren’t being manipulated? Why would they bother trying to understand anything if all they have to do is believe in Jesus and everything will be ok? Seems like a great story to keep the masses from growing up and taking charge of themselves. Just my thoughts.