Five Star Funerals - Evangelism in an Age of Despair

In 'The Ethics of Authenticity,' Charles Taylor delves into the concept of authenticity as a central virtue in modern moral thinking. He argues that authenticity involves both the creation and construction of one's self, as well as openness to horizons of significance and self-definition in dialogue with others. Taylor discusses three malaises of modernity: individualism, the primacy of instrumental reasoning, and the soft despotism of modern systems. He emphasizes the need to balance individual expression with a sense of community and shared moral responsibility, highlighting the tension between these aspects and the potential for authenticity to become tyrannical if not recognized by others.

The book argues that the pursuit-of-happiness project has been a spectacular failure, leaving people isolated and constantly chasing distractions. It posits that the church's calling isn't to add happiness but to accompany people into sorrow. It presents evangelism as consolation rather than conversion, which sounds both obvious and revolutionary. It dives into why the optimistic 90s crashed into our current age of anxiety. It considers how social media turned authenticity into competitive rage, and what it might mean for pastors to be professionally human rather than professionally shiny.