Max Weber – sociologist –
is talking about the loss of the sacred, the loss of our feeling of awe and
amazement and the sense of magic. This loss has been brought on by the age of
science, the extreme – and sometimes zealous – desire for rationality.
The loss of enchantment.
I get the desire to rely
on science rather than “non-science”. Science has given humans an immense advantage
in the survival of our species. I believe though that we have to be careful how
far we take this reliance on our left brains.
There’s a danger in believing
that if it can’t be proved, it’s not real.
I’m not a religious
person. I don’t believe in God. So I guess I’m an atheist. I don’t believe we
should all be living our lives by any set of rules linked to an external force
that will reward or punish us for our behaviour.
But I look at some of
the atheists I know and think they take it too far. Being an atheist isn’t about
intellectual superiority, and shouldn’t become a cause pursued with religious fervour.
Scepticism is taking over as a new religion. Take a look in the mirror you
guys, you’re more like the people you’re being intolerant of than you realise.
I do believe in something
other. I believe there’s more to
existence than science can currently prove. And I like that. I feel no desire
to debunk every possible belief that hasn’t currently been proved. I don’t
believe that we must be rational at all cost. Where’s the fun in that?
I also don’t feel the
need to preach to and convert everyone I know to the great god science.
Weber says that “
God, magic,
and myth are now replaced with logic and knowledge.”
In Western
civilisation, I believe he’s right.
What is the long-term
cost to art, creativity, literature, as we leave belief behind us? What will
this cost us if we continue to worship only at the altar of science?
What does
it mean to our sense of morality, ethics, and values, if all we care about is
rationality?Time will tell. For me
though, civilisation without magic, without the unknown, a sense of the divine,
the enchanting stuff that makes your hair stand on end because it triggers something deep
in your more primitive brain, will be a pretty dull place.
Footnote:
Many thanks to Julie Klop for bringing Weber to my attention.
A touch of magic in dull old Burwood is what prompted this post. This
is a very large ring of mushrooms – a Fairy Ring – around a tree down the road
from our house. I couldn’t get an aerial view to show it properly, but here it
is – first as is:
And now showing the actual path of the mushrooms.
Magical, huh?
Where do you find the enchanted in
your life?
