How Western Secular Beliefs Are Feeding An Epidemic Of Cowardice
Stories of Ukraine keep filling our headlines and social media feeds.
Despite being invaded over 4 weeks ago by a much stronger country, Ukrainians are still resisting. And more to the point, they are doing so bravely. Centre-Left social commentator Bari Weiss contrasts their bravery in the face of horrifying odds with our modern Western culture:
I cannot help but notice the gap between [the Ukrainians] and us. Between the bigness of their vision and their mission and the smallness of ours. Between their moral clarity and our moral confusion. Between their spine and our spinelessness. Between their courage and our epidemic of cowardice.
Our epidemic of cowardice.
I can’t stop thinking about that line—it’s got such an awful ring to it. No culture has ever seen cowardice as a moral virtue, and being a coward has always been associated with shame. And lest we’re in any moral doubt, the Bible also condemns cowardice (e.g. Rev 21:8).
And rightly so: cowards shirk moral responsibility. They’re silent when they should speak. They run when they should stand. And they get others to do their work for them.
I remember cowardice being on full display in 2012 when the Italian vessel Costa Concordia sank in the shallow waters off the coast of Italy. As one commentator has written:
On the Titanic, the male passengers gave their lives for the women and would never have considered doing otherwise. On the Costa Concordia, in the words of a female passenger, "There were big men, crew members, pushing their way past us to get into the lifeboat."
The Captain also abandoned his ship, leaving the passengers to suffer and die without him (he was later put under house arrest for dereliction of duty). It’s hard to describe those actions without the word ‘coward’ thrown in.
An Epidemic Of Cowardice?
But do we have an epidemic of cowardice?
It’s a tricky question to answer.
After all, nobody’s invading Australia or any other Western nation: that would be the ultimate test of national bravery. And yet, there are signs that people are more fearful today across the West than in previous years:
People seem hesitant to speak up about many issues, especially when they think differently to the prevailing cultural orthodoxy (e.g. on gender and sexuality).
Cancel culture is a real thing: not only does it chill speech, but more often than not leads to swift apologies from the canceled, rather than Martin Luther-like ‘here I stand, I can do no other’ responses.
And if panic buying is any indication, fear is bubbling beneath the surface, ready to launch us to grab the last rolls of toilet paper when #toiletpaperapocalypse trends on social media.
Update: there is new evidence that most Australians would flee if we faced the same situation as Ukraine. The Australian’s foreign affairs editor Greg Sheridan writes about a new poll just released:
‘A slim majority of Australians, if faced with a situation similar to that faced by Ukrainians, would not stay and fight for their country but would seek to flee overseas, according to a fascinating poll conducted by Compass Polling.’
Yes, Weiss may have a point when it comes to our growing fearfulness and – dare I say it – cowardice.
The Beliefs That Provide Fertile Soil For Cowardice
Whether or not there is an epidemic of cowardice, there are many common secular beliefs that provide fertile soil for the growth of cowardice.
Here are 6 such beliefs:
1) We value the ‘victim mentality’
Western culture now places special moral value on being a victim.
While there are genuine victims that should be valued and cared for, we now live at a time when nearly everyone wants to be seen as an oppressed victim by virtue of their group identity. You get special privileges and cultural kudos if you’re a victim, and you get to say and do things that other people can’t, especially about political and cultural issues.
And so, the victim mentality is rife across much of the West.
But the victim mentality is destructive. There’s a tendency to blame your problems on others, and expect them to fix it for you. It corrodes individual and group agency and turns your focus inwards rather than to the needs of others.
Such a mentality doesn’t promote bravery. On the contrary, it lays down fertile soil in which cowardice can grow.
2) We live for nothing greater than ourselves
We’re a culture that lives for no higher purpose than self-fulfilment.
Whether it be the fulfilment from work, family, or entertainment, our highest goal is self. We’re self-made people.
But if you live for nothing greater than yourself, you won’t fight for anything but yourself.
Instead, you’ll stay silent instead of speaking up. You won’t stand up for others if it means you might get hurt. And why would you put your life on the line for your nation?
3) We expect (and even demand) to be comfortable
Modern Westerners are the most physically comfortable generation in human history.
We haven’t had to fight a major war in 70 years. We’re not under constant threat. And our living standards are through the roof (especially compared to previous generations).
We expect, nay demand, comfort.
And if that’s our expectation, we’re less likely to do things that compromise comfort.
4) Our society is atomised and lonely, with little holding us together
While previous generations had many ‘mediating institutions’ with loyal followings such as social clubs, religious organisations and philanthropy movements that brought people together, such organisations are few and far between.
Most people in our culture don’t belong to any particular club (or if they do, they’re more consumers than givers). We’re more lonely, more individualistic than in recent history. And as such, there’s little holding us together.
Yes, there are tribal loyalties strengthened through the rise of identity politics (e.g., race, sexuality, gender).
But neither tribalism nor individualism can hold societies together, let alone inspire people to sacrifice themselves for others outside their inner circle. Without bonds of affection for others, we revert to only thinking about ourselves.
And that’s not exactly a recipe for courage.
5) We increasingly see the West not as a beacon of hope, but as a bastion of bigotry
Many secular elites across the West have bought into Critical Theory inspired views of Western Civilisation.
They increasingly see the West as irredeemably racist, xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic, imperialistic, patriarchal and bigoted. They believe White Supremacy is rife. And that it would be best to overthrow it all and start again.
While few people deny that the West has its share of shortcomings, this view of the West will not inspire anyone to fight for it when push comes to shove.
6) We see morality as relative: there’s no principle worth standing up for
Moral and cultural relativism is rife across the West. We don’t see one person’s or culture’s morality as any better or worse than anyone else’s. We can’t condemn other people for their moral beliefs, because we don’t believe in a moral standard that transcends time and culture.
And so, moral confusion is rife. We’re hard-pressed to find reasons why we should stand up for ethical principles.
(Admittedly, many secular woke people hold to a moral standard, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown the bankruptcy of moral relativism).
Nevertheless, if there is no external moral standard by which we can judge people of other cultures (e.g. Putin, China) and times (e.g. Stalin), then why risk your neck to uphold moral principles like justice and freedom?
What about Christians? Do we suffer from cowardice?
Christians are swimming in the same sea as the rest of our culture.
We love to be loved and hate to be hated. We’re tempted to live for nothing but ourselves and our own comfort. Furthermore, our views are under increasing attack, both culturally, and in some parts of the West, legally. In many ways, our situation is more pressured than our secular friends.
And yet.
We have all the resources we need to live courageously. Even though we are ordinary, weak people, we follow an extraordinary God who gives us courage:
We have the Holy Spirit giving us strength to be obedient to God in the face of persecution and pressure (e.g. Matt 10:18-20)
We have the hope and security of eternal life, which means we don’t have to fear even in the face of death (Matt 10:28)
Our God is in sovereign control, working out all things for our good (Rom 8:28)
Our aim in life is no longer comfort and ease but to be like Christ (Heb 12:3-11). It’s an honour to suffer for him, and our reward in heaven will be great (Matt 5:10-12).
Yes, Christians may be reviled for our counter-cultural beliefs. Yes, there may be an epidemic of cowardice across much of the West.
But may it never be said that Christians are cowardly.