The Bible of the Sacred Self

The Gospel Coalition ^ | 7-17-13 | Jonathan Leeman

[ReformationFan]

Rummaging through the attic of my mind not so long ago, my eyes fell upon an ancient and dark text. Ah, here was the Gen X Bible of my youth, that unholy script, that declaration of self-dependence, whose natural lines have shaped my intuitions and governed my ambitions for decades . . .

Selection 1

And I spoke all these words:

I am me, who brought myself out of slavery, out of the land of inauthenticity and the inarticulate self.

I shall have no other gods before me.

I shall not make for myself any God besides me, or a God that is anything other than a refashioned image of me, even if he speaks from heaven above or incarnates himself on earth beneath. I shall not bow down to him or serve him, for I am a jealous me, committed to politically disenfranchising and socially marginalizing the close-minded and intolerant naysayers of me, but showing steadfast favor to every friend, family member, celebrity, and preacher who loves me and celebrates the autonomy of me.

I shall not express myself in vain.

Remember the Self by keeping it holy. Six days I shall labor to please myself, free myself, improve myself, indulge myself, embrace myself, create and recreate myself, never judge myself, and tell you whatever I please about myself. On the seventh day I will do pretty much the same, but with an additional afternoon nap. Perhaps, too, I will attend a church or, better, enjoy a soul-enlivening walk in the woods for the sake of spiritualizing myself.

Selection 2

And tell the people, "This is how you are to enter the temple of 'me.' After washing yourself of unclean opinions and old religions, you may approach me non-judgmentally, speaking no offensive thing, for my authenticity and self-indulgence requires

[ReformationFan]

This satire is both funny and sad at the same time.

[madmominct]

Very true - and sad indeed. This pretty much captures my generation (Boomers). Unfortunately, we have passed our self-centered values on to the next generations. It’s all about defiance and pride.