Heroes | Ep.14
Heroes are an indicator of the moral state of a society. The Odyssey shows that the ancient Greeks prized bravery, strength, military might, and clever deception. With a story like Beowulf we see that the Anglo-Saxons prized similar things to the Greeks, but that their societal values were beginning to change at the time it was written due to the recent introduction of christianity. We see Anglo-Saxon culture beginning to value self-sacrifice and generosity. These stories indicate the state of the societies that produced them, and serve as reminders to everyone at that time of how they ought to live their lives. Our heroes today still do the same thing.
Today, however, our society does not have a healthy idea of what a hero is. Heroes ought to be like us emotionally but surpass us morally. In other words, they should feel the same emotions and needs we feel, but they do not act the ways we act. They ought to have more integrity. This is the example Christ set for his followers, and through the history of Christendom this example is the basis of all good heroes. However, as western society seeks to exalt the idea of the individual, we begin to bring our heroes down to our own level. Rather than find something to aspire to we believe that we are good just as we are and we make heroes that are exactly like ourselves. This does not lead to growth, but it allows vice to grow.
These “woke” heroes are indications of the health of the society, but the health of the society is a further indication of the health of the church. The church in modern western society has grown weak. It has caved to postmodern ideology and teaches that a person’s thoughts and feelings supersede those of anyone else. In other words, we get to make our own reality. This leads to heroes that do not inspire us to greatness but only affirm what we already are. Mankind is by nature wicked, lazy, and selfish, and our heroes reflect this back to us. We no longer feel the need to aspire to anything. According to our new heroes we have arrived! We have given up our pursuit of betterment, because we have reject the idea that there is anything better to be had. Through an examination of our heroes the health of our society is revealed to us, and we can see that we live in a completely confused and debased.
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