A Thought that Stops Thought

The new rebel is a skeptic, and will not trust anything…
Therefore the modern man in revolt has become
practically useless for all purposes of revolt.
By rebelling against everything he has
lost his right to rebel against anything…
There is a thought that stops thought.
This is the only thought that ought to be stopped.

G.K. Chesterton’s words sound as if they were written this morning. The United States of 2016 has wholeheartedly embraced the type of skepticism described by Chesterton. If you listen to the cries of society today, you will hear that no one can tell you what is truly right or wrong – you need to figure out what is right or wrong for you. Your truth might not be the same as everyone else’s truth and your right might be someone else’s wrong. This kind of thinking is most clearly shown in the recent firestorm that has hit the country on the “transgender” issue. In today’s “post-modern” society of relative truth, the United States of 2016 is telling adults and children alike that they should be skeptical of their own biological makeup. Our society teaches that truth (even the indisputable truth of one’s own gender) is only determined by the thoughts and inclinations of the individual, not necessarily by the actual state of matter. Our society teaches that everyone should do as they see fit.

In our society’s battle to destroy some of the basic truths of humanity, a funny thing has happened – a funny thing that G.K. Chesterton wrote about almost 100 years ago. The hypocrisy of the post-modern definition of truth is painfully obvious: the claim that absolute truth does not exist is a claim of absolute truth in itself and, therefore, should be totally ignored by any individual if they do not identify with the claim. It’s staggering to see this kind of thinking among our society’s so-called “great minds.” Is this really the best contribution to thought that our generation can offer? When I hear most of today’s “great minds” and “great leaders” saying things that are as far away from greatness as possible, I’m starkly reminded of Paul’s words:

Let no one deceive himself.
If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age,
let him become a fool that he may become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.  For it is written,
He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again,
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’
So let no one boast in men.