The Psychologist and the Ad-Man: Saviors of the World?

David Wells, the historian and theologian, has pointed out that a number of transitions have occurred in our culture since the 19th century, including:

Virtues→Values
A move in conversation about the necessity and importance of Virtues (of character manifestations such as goodness, integrity, courage, fortitude) to Values (personal preference).

Valuing Character→Personality
This transition can be seen in the almost overnight phenomenon of modern advice books.

Human nature→“Self”
Replacing the discussion of Human nature (what is common to all people–what Christians might entitle ‘the image of God’) is the discussion of Self (my own unique perception of the world: my feelings, understandings, vantage point). And this, of course, has fed into a sweeping individualism.

Guilt→Shame
Guilt is the violation of an objective norm, whereas Shame is essentially internal embarrassment. In discussing Shame there is no violation of norms, and this factor of life can be treated by counseling: a clear secularization has occurred.

Wells’ conclusion?
Americans use to think in a moral framework: we thought about being saved.
Today, we think in a psychological framework: we think about being inwardly relieved and pleased.

This is essential to understanding the alternative “gospel” that culture is currently offering in place of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you know the “healers” of culture, then you can fairly easily deduce what disease persons think they have.

The two preeminent healers in our culture:
1—Psychotherapy
2—Advertising

Instead of a foundation of objective moral virtue that ought to be pursued through character growth in order to benefit society, we have become purveyors of personality improvement and individualized values which need not (and ought not?) impinge on others.

Our deep need is not a re-positioning from a place of guilt under God through reconciliation, it is simply the overcoming of our feelings of shame so that we can function in society.

The strictly secular “gospel” of our culture which offers new style and luxury or assistance in arousing self-esteem is a dangerous message completely incapable of solving humanity’s most fundamental need: reconciliation with God.

(Information from David Wells’ lectures entitled “The Gospel in Contemporary Culture”, 3-part series, Desiring God Conference, 1998)