Historians credit the Age of Enlightenment, a period of the 17th and 18th centuries, for introducing nihilism to America. Nihilism is a total rejection of social morals, believing that nothing in society is worthwhile. Slipped under the covers through comedy acts, cartoons and sitcoms, naive minds have been convinced by nihilistic propaganda that objective truth no longer exists. Thus, the nuances of nihilism is near completion, successfully shaping the worldviews of one generation to believe established authority is corrupt and must be destroyed to rebuild a just nation.
On the other hand, I believe nihilism was conceived during the Renaissance, spanning from the 14th-17th centuries. Christian educators claim the painting entitled The School of Athens by Raphael Sanzio between 1509-1510 served as a theological turning point. This piece contains 2 of Greece’s greatest philosophers, Aristotle and Socrates. Christian’s interpret this painting as a transition from the belief truth comes from God above toward a realization truth comes from within. John Calvin’s theology was inspired by the Holy Spirit to combat this age filled with humanism, naturalism and rationalism.
With an end goal of eliminating God’s existence, atheists and agnostics continue following in the footsteps of Friedrich Nietzsche who boldly proclaimed, “God is dead!” As the boob tube, social media and college elite drive home their message daily, most Christians are sleep walking through life, disengaged from this spiritual war. Yet, there are a few still up to this cultural challenge. Music groups like The Newsboys are carrying the torch against nihilism with their God’s Not Dead tour in 2011-2012. However, its going to take a radical effort, covered in prayer and led by vision, to take back the lost ground from the nuances nihilism has established.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 