How did it come to be?
Have you ever wondered how things came to be? My children often ask me questions like, “Why do we trade money rather than candy? What makes money more valuable? Candy tastes better.” They have a point, candy definitely tastes better, but along the way as society developed so did our concept of trade and then currency to the point that it has evolved into what it is today.1
The Book
In the book “Strange New World,” by Carl Trueman, Trueman discusses the historical, social, theological, and philosophical context that gave rise to the great thinkers whose ideas would be embedded in the deep parts of our culture and understanding of the world. The subtitle of this book, “How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution” gives the readers a clue to the fact that Trueman understands the power and influence that thinkers and activists can have on a culture. As leaders understanding the strengths and the pitfalls of this power is so important as it can have deep effects on a society long into the future.
An Example
One example written by Elisabeth Bloechl reminds us about the consequences of ideas as she reviews Trueman’s book. She writes about the “one child law” in China. She writes “What we believe, how we imagine the world, these things motivate, and help us make sense of, our actions individually and as a society. They shape the very fabric of our culture.”2 Then she goes on to explain the impact this idea about only having one child has influenced a country and a culture.
” Take a modern example: for decades Chinese leaders openly taught that for the good of the nation each family ought to have no more than one child, and less openly believed that male children were more valuable than female. Today, China is at risk of dying out because people are not replacing themselves, and there are far more men than women in the younger generations. Despite their recent efforts to reform, the government is unable to undo years of propagating their one-child policy; many people are still hesitant to have multiple children. The ideas which the government put into practice for years have shaped the culture in drastic ways that are not easily reversed.”3
If ideas have the potential to have great power and leaders impact generations through their ideas it is critical that we look at our leaders and their health.
My Project
My research for this program centered around risk-taking and why leaders lose their capacity for risk. Trueman’s book is a reminder the health of leaders is vital to healthy leadership that can leave a healthy mark and healthy ideas with our society. By taking a look at history and trying to understand these great thinkers, Trueman reminds us who we are, where we came from, and how these ideas have impacted our culture and our personal understanding of the world.
Conclusion
If we want to understand the current world and our cultures, we must understand how we got here, so that we can learn to engage with where we are and look forward to what’s coming in our future.
- Carl R. Trueman and Ryan T. Anderson, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2022).
- “‘Strange New World,’ by Carl Trueman: A Review | Modern Reformation.” n.d. Www.modernreformation.org. Accessed April 15, 2024. https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/strange-new-world-by-carl-trueman-a-review.
- “‘Strange New World,’ by Carl Trueman: A Review
About the Author
Sara Taylor Lattimore
Sara is adopted, a wife of 17 years, a mother to 2 amazing children who give her opportunities to be a cheerleader, dress up like a princess, play soccer in the mud, and go on amazing adventures. With a Bachelors in political science and sociology, Sara worked for Child Protective Services as a legal caseworker before following a call into full-time ministry in 2008. During her time in full-time ministry Sara has served in medium to large size local congregations, as well as camp ministry. Sara has a passion for serving others, writing, and speaking. In 2016 Sara worked on a joint publication as a Curriculum Writer. Sara wrote the Intergenerational/Family & Day Camp Resources in “Beyond Belief” for InsideOut Christian Resources for Outdoor Ministry- Published by Chalice Press- Release Date 2018. Sara is looking forward to writing her own book next. Sara completed her MDiv from Iliff School of Theology in 2019 and is currently working on her Doctorate in Leadership and Global Perspectives from Portland Seminary. Sara currently serves as Lead Pastor of a local church in Southwestern Montana. She has previously served in ministry positions leading congregations in engaging globally in healthy mission and outreach partnerships, living life missionally, building innovative programs, and building relationships as the Director of Missions and Outreach, College Ministry Coordinator, Family and Children’s Ministry Director, Director of Christian Education, and Camp Program Director. She is an innovator and visionary who looks to find empowering and dignity restoring ways of building communities of belonging, while listening and partnering with others to find ways to also address the needs of the communities she is planted in. Beyond her work, Sara dreams of growing her family through adoption, kayaking with Orcas, going on pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago in Spain, traveling in an RV across North America, and traveling internationally.11 responses to “How did it come to be?”
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Hey Sara! What kind of candy would be most valuable to trade? Gummy worms would be like nickels to me. Reeses more like $100!
I like the connection between the weight of ideas to risk taking. That’s certainly why leaders shy away from risk. Do you think societies are similar? What about churches? I think I see this in my current church. We just voted to sell property with the intention of building but there is little trust that we will follow through with building. Trust is low as is the risk taking necessary to take on difficult endeavors.
Chad, thank you so much for your thoughts and questions! I think absolutly churchs and organizations as a whole can fall into this. My current context has issues with trust and they think small when setting out on a new endeavor in an effort to play it safe.
Sara,
Great post, I really liked your intro and look forward to reading about your project.
Greg,
Thank you for your feedback! I am excited to share my project. I am grateful for you and for your leadership!
Dr. Sara, I enjoyed reading your post.
I also found Elisabeth Bloechl’s article and used the China example. (Too funny.)
Dr. Audrey, Thank you for the feedback, When I read about the China example I thought this is a key way to explain this concept and to see the impacts that can occur. Great minds think alike! Or at least our Google search engines think we should.
Sara, I really enjoyed your post. Have you watched “Wonka?” They use chocolate as a form of currency. As such, it becomes a rare and precious commodity and most people do not have access to it. It is an interesting depiction of how something can become constricted by not only supply and demand, but by those who control the supply. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it, by the way.
Becca, I have seen Wonka! It was a good movie, there were so many interesting bits woven into it that stood out as interesting ways to address social issues that are present in our real world. The working to pay off the ever-growing debt at the boarding house was a very interesting part of the storyline. Power certainly is a curious thing.
Sara, I love how you relate your research project in the program, which focused on understanding why leaders lose their capacity for risk-taking. You underscore the importance of leaders’ health and well-being in shaping healthy leadership and leaving a positive impact on society.
Daron, Thank you for your feedback and I hope that my project can help leave a positive impact on leaders and on society as a whole, changing the world one leader at a time.
I really enjoyed reading your post and agree… candy would be better!