Random Observations #2.

So I have a bit of variety to bring to you today. Before I go on, I want to let you know up front that this is going to be basically a cry for the reinstatement in culture old-fashioned orders. Two common mistakes among Christians are (one) that because culture is wrong, to do the opposite of culture (we are at war with culture after all, right??) is to do the right thing, and (two) that past is automatically right. We can see the latter attitude in the idolization of past events, certain presidents, and founding fathers, among other things.

With those things said, I believe there has been a great deal of good that has come from living in our modern day, and do not want to discredit these.

First is an anecdote from a favorite book of mine, The Family.

"Of course there is no young man with one spark of the true honor of manliness in his breast who will not instinctively defend his sister, if she is insulted in the street. Neither is there any brother worthy of the name who will not defend the honor of his sister if vile tongues asperse it. But more than this is required of a loyal brother. He should make himself a wall about his sister to shield her from every evil and unholy influence. Every young man knows other young men; he knows their character, their habits, their good and evil qualities. He knows the young men whose lives are impure, who are licentious, who consort with harlots. He knows those who indulge in strong drink, those whose lives are stained with the filth of debauchery. Can he be a true brother and permit such a young man to be the companion of his pure and gentle sister? Can he allow her in the presence of her heart to accept the attentions of such a young man, to lean upon his arm, to look up into his face with trust? Can he allow her to give her soul's confidences to him? Can he see a friendship forming, strengthening, between his sister and such a young man and remain silent, uttering in her ear no voice of warning or protest, and yet be a loyal and faithful brother to her?"

 This excerpt brings me to my next discovery. I believe I have found the ultimate in blogging experience. It is called the Art of Manliness. It is not an expressly Christian Blog, but with the background he comes from, his Christian roots are anything but undetectable. Anything from how to field dress a squirrel, to how to land a job interview to how to dress like a man, this is the go-to place for all things chivalrous and virile. Basically a call to real, quality manhood: the well-rounded, look, feel, act, and exude manliness in its most gentlemanly of forms. Here is a call for a 'menaissance' that I found to be at least encouraging.

A quick warning, I don't agree with this guy 100%, i.e. his touch on "homophobia," which I intend to speak on a later date. But I agree with his desire to pull out the best of the manliness of yesteryear, and leave the rest in the dust. Learn from the past.



Lastly, a friend of a friend. Great speech. She highlights the effects of abortion on women and the systematic attack on them from the day they are born.

So I hope to have highlighted the old-fashioned ideas of gender-equality, something in which the men and women knew who they were, and felt confident in their responsibilities. Maybe there was never such a perfect age, but we were far closer to it only  one-hundred years ago. Perhaps it will not take more than that for the shift to come back around. We can only pray.

Semper Reformanda,
Josiah M Woltersdorf.