Read & Respond #5

Chapter 9: Scientism

From page 147: Scientism has 3 interrelated ideas:

1. methods of natural sciences can be applied to the study of human behavior

2. social science generates specific principles which can be used to organize society on a rational and humane basis (control human behavior)

3. faith in science can serve as a comprehensive belief system that gives meaning to life

Postman uses this chapter as an opportunity to reflect on science under the influence of technology. He says, “What we call science, then, is the quest to find the immutable and universal laws that govern processes, presuming that there are cause-and-effect relations among these processes” (p. 148). He goes into the different areas of study that are classified as “science” in our society, and narrows it down to science, social research and storytelling. About that, he says, “Science itself is, of course, a form of storytelling too, but its assumptions and procedures are so different from those of social research that it is extremely misleading to give the same name to each” (p. 154). Science can be called true, he argues, while social research is based on interpretations, bound by time, situation, and cultural prejudices.

This final quote seems to sum up what the chapter was about:

“It is the desperate hope, and wish, and ultimately the illusory belief that some standardized set of procedures called “science” can provide us with an unimpeachable source of moral authority, a superhuman basis for answers to [life’s hard] questions. . .to ask of science or expect of science, or accept unchallenged from science the answers to such questions is Scientism. And it is Technolpoly’s grand illusion” (p. 162).

This was a very challenging quote to read—because I think he hit it on target. The same way both Postman and Pink talk about how people believe what is fed to them by the “authorities,” I feel that maybe that is also the very thing the world is searching for—prove to me that such and such is true so I can go along with what everyone else is doing/believing. (And it makes me think of all the studies that disprove and approve previous studies—for example, let’s say, studies on if immunizations are good for infants/children or not). I think this can hold considerable danger for Christians as Scientism and God may clash in areas. While science can “prove” something or tell us that there is no danger in this procedure or this principle or this product, God’s standards might be quite different. We need to be sure and strong in what God wants to not fall under the spell. Yet at the same time, if science is “proving” things (like when the life begins) that coincide with what the Bible says, then the danger of it all seems less. I wonder if we need to be spending more time studying the Word, rather than what Technolpoly is throwing at us as Scientism.

Burning Question: How do you teach your students to believe or not believe what the media is throwing at them?

Chapter 10: The Great Symbol Drain

From page 165, Symbols are:

1. endlessly repeatable but not in exhaustible

2. the more often a symbol is used, the less potent its meaning

“What we are talking about here is not blasphemy but trivialization, against which there can be no laws. . .the trivialization of significant cultural symbols is largely conducted by commercial enterprise” (p. 165). I liked Postman’s example of the obscenities—that when used “appropriately” they have much meaning. But since they are at times overused, their meaning has become lost. Critiquing TV and movies now as a parent makes me see how right on Postman is in what he is saying. I can recall a recent conversation I had about this topic—how meaning has seemingly been lost in today’s culture. The person I was speaking with talked about how we just watch whatever movie is out there and seem to be more oblivious to the content that would have never been suggested when he was a kid. Or how church has changed—what is said and viewed at church might lack the reverence that he was taught to observe for his Saviour or how the sacraments and the 10 Commandments seemed to have “changed” to suit our lifestyles instead of us changing to suit our Saviour. And it reminds me that I am a Christian in a symbol filled world and need to honour God in what I see, hear, and what I do with the symbols around me. And hopefully, that I can do my part in restoring what God wants to keep His people centred on Him.

Burning Question: What is a symbol that you feel has been drained? And might it need restoring in some way?