Shifting Culture
Ep. 243 Mike Cosper - The Church in Dark Times: Resisting the Lure of Ideology
Nov 19, 2024
Mike Cosper, author of 'The Church in Dark Times' and director at Christianity Today, delves into the church's vulnerability to ideology. He draws on Hannah Arendt's insights about the 'banality of evil,' exploring how disconnection and unbundled identities lead to moral failures. Cosper advocates for practices of solitude and storytelling as antidotes to ideological allure. The conversation addresses the challenges of modernity while promoting a deeper, transcendent sense of identity in faith.
55:50
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Quick takeaways
- The church's vulnerability to seductive ideologies reflects a broader societal rootlessness, prompting individuals to seek belonging at the cost of core beliefs.
- Hannah Arendt's concept of the 'banality of evil' illustrates how ordinary people can unwittingly propagate harmful ideologies, emphasizing the need for deeper moral understanding.
Deep dives
The Seduction of Ideology
The church is increasingly susceptible to ideologies that promise meaning and purpose but ultimately distract from the teachings of Jesus. This shift is rooted in a larger societal issue where individuals feel a sense of rootlessness and loneliness. When offered compelling narratives that explain their circumstances and provide a sense of belonging, many are willing to abandon their core beliefs, seeking fulfillment in these seductive stories. Analyzing how these ideologies emerge helps illustrate the need for a more grounded understanding of faith that prioritizes genuine connection over ideological adherence.
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