The decline of religion and the breakdown of the family are interconnected, with the sexual revolution of the 1960s contributing to both.
The rise of identity politics is a consequence of the fragmentation of the family and the search for attachment and belonging.
The human need for attachment and purpose persists even as traditional religions decline, leading to the rise of identity politics as a means of fulfilling these needs.
Societal changes, particularly the erosion of truth and the failure of family and social education, contribute to the growth of irrationalism in society.
Deep dives
The Decline of Religion Linked to Breakdown of the Family
The podcast episode discusses the decline of religion in the West and its connection to the breakdown of the family. The guest argues that the prevailing theories, such as material prosperity or the impact of world wars, do not adequately explain the decline. Instead, she proposes that the sexual revolution of the 1960s led to significant changes in family formation, which in turn contributed to the decline of religious practice and belief. The fragmentation of the natural family, such as through divorce, single-parent households, and the reduction of extended family networks, has presented challenges to religious faith and community. The guest highlights the importance of communal support and the need for attachment in religious practice.
Effects of the Sexual Revolution on Mental Health and Identity Politics
The podcast explores the unintended consequences of the sexual revolution on mental health and identity politics. With smaller families and reduced communal living, people suffer from profound loneliness and a lack of social support. This has resulted in a search for attachment and belonging, leading to the rise of identity politics and the formation of political communities. The guest highlights the anger and engagement observed in protests, indicating a deep desire for connection. The conversation delves into the impact on mental health, the need for attachment, and the suffering faced by young people who grapple with societal changes.
Religion, Identity Politics, and the Need for Belonging
The podcast episode addresses the role of religion and identity politics in fulfilling the human need for belonging and purpose. The guest argues that even as traditional religions decline, the impulse for searching for meaning and attachment remains. This search for attachment manifests in various ways, such as the rise of identity politics and the formation of political communities. The guest emphasizes the significance of understanding societal changes and their impact on communal living, attachment, and the pursuit of transcendental horizons. The conversation highlights the parallel between religious fervor and the zealousness observed in secular movements, demonstrating the need for attachment in human nature.
The Effects of Irrationalism in a Post-Truth World
The podcast delves into the problem of irrationalism in society and the challenges it poses. The breakdown of truth and the disbelief in objective reality are discussed, with authorities in some institutions no longer believing in truth. This phenomenon extends beyond political polarization, affecting various aspects of society. The guest highlights the need to address the erosion of truth and the implications for education and social cohesion. The conversation reflects on the impact of societal changes, particularly the failure of family and social education, in contributing to the growth of irrationalism.
The Crisis of Identity and the Collapse of Family and Religion
The speaker argues that the Western world is experiencing an identity crisis, which is exacerbated by the breakdown of family and religion. He suggests that in the past, people defined themselves through familial and religious attachments, while in modern times, young people are deprived of these traditional means of identity. As a result, they turn to identity politics and political tribes to answer the question of 'who am I?' The speaker also discusses the rise of transgenderism as a subset of this identity crisis, particularly among young women.
The Impact of Threat Intensive Environments on Girls
The podcast episode explores how threat-intensive environments, such as gender-based violence, pornography exposure, and the absence of protective male influences, contribute to the rise of transgenderism among girls. The speaker suggests that the desire to become trans may stem from the need to find an alternative identity in the face of these challenges and the lack of support systems. He discusses the potential social contagion effect and the way transgenderism can become a social phenomenon in response to a wider crisis of identity.
The Role of Religion, Charity, and Abortion
The podcast delves into the role of religion in society and its impact on issues like charity and abortion. The speaker argues that religion plays a significant role in promoting love, compassion, and social cohesion. He highlights the importance of Christian charities, adoption agencies, and refugee settlement agencies and criticizes the attacks and lawsuits against them for being Christian-based. The discussion touches on abortion, pointing out the ongoing debate and the difficulty of achieving a consensus on where to draw the line, highlighting the complex intersection of religious beliefs, personal choices, and social norms.
In this conversation on two of the hottest social and cultural issues of our day — the decline of religion and the rise of identity politics, Mary Eberstadt presents her alternative theory for the “secularization thesis” (that religious decline was followed by the decline of the family), arguing instead that the undermining of the family has undermined Christianity itself. Drawing on sociology, history, demography, theology, literature, and many other sources, Eberstadt shows that family decline and religious decline have gone hand in hand in the Western world in a way that has not been understood before — that they are “the double helix of society, each dependent on the strength of the other for successful reproduction.” Eberstadt argues that there are enormous social, economic, civic, and other costs attendant on declines of both family and faith, and Dr. Shermer presents counter examples to show that America’s extreme religiosity has been a burden on its social health and that the decline of religion is a good thing.
In the second part of the conversation Eberstadt and Shermer discuss her previous book on identity politics and how identitarians track and expose the ideologically impure, as people face the consequences of their rancor: a litany of “isms” run amok across all levels of cultural life; the free marketplace of ideas muted by agendas shouted through megaphones; and a spirit of general goodwill warped into a state of perpetual outrage. This rise of identity politics, she argues, is a direct result of the fallout of the sexual revolution, especially the collapse and shrinkage of the family. Eberstadt argues that from time immemorial humans have forged their identities within the structure of kinship. The extended family, in a real sense, is the first tribe and first teacher. But with its unprecedented decline across a variety of measures, generations of people have been set adrift and can no longer answer the question Who am I? with reference to primordial ties. Desperate for solidarity and connection, they claim membership in politicized groups whose displays of frantic irrationalism amount to primal screams for familial and communal loss.
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