Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Individualism Divides What Must Be United

Individualism Divides What Must Be United

Last updated on: May 26, 2020 at 3:16 am by Henry Karlson

Individualism Divides What Must Be United 2020-05-26T03:16:40-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

quicksandala: Cosmos / pixabay

S.L. Frank, writing about society, suggests individuals cannot exist independent from society as they are abstractions based upon society itself: “Furthermore, society is the only reality in which man is given to us concretely. An individual conceived as isolated is only an abstraction.”[1] No species exists in one person, one individual alone. They always exist in groups. And they live and thrive as a group. There is no one, no human, who exists who is entirely independent or alone, and in this way, Frank is right. Individuality is an abstraction. But it is more than this. It is a false abstraction, for it suggests that a particular individual can exist all on their own. This is far from the truth, for no person exists alone, no person has an independent existence. Everything is interdependent, and society itself is a representation of the interdependence between persons:

Man lives in society not because “many” individuals “join” together, finding their mode of life most convenient for themselves, but because man in his essence is inconceivable except as a member of society – just as a leaf can only be a leaf of a whole tree or, to use Aristotle’s example, a hand or foot can exist only as a part of a whole body, as its organ.[2]

How society represents itself, how it understands itself, is not always the same. Different times and places will result in different self-representations. Society exists in the interdependent relationships between various persons, and a good society will work for the good of all those relationships. A bad society will ignore various aspects of that interdependence, losing the harmony it needs to flourish. Obviously, not everyone in a given society is the same. One person cannot just replace another. Each person is different. But all have equal dignity and should be shown equal respect, despite whatever differences exists between them. Indeed, while some people might seem to have a more important role in a given society than others, it is vital we remember the best society recognizes and respects the needs of all and sees that what often appears to be insignificant is the base and foundation by which the rest of society flourishes.

In Christian theology, the interdependent nature of humanity is recognized in a variety of ways. First, there is the unity of humanity in the “Old Adam,” in the unity of fallen humanity. Then there is the humanity of the “New Adam,” in graced humanity, designated traditionally as “the Church.” Then there is the interdependent nature of humanity, not understood in any religious sense, as it works to protect all of humanity as it finds itself in the world (both from external threats, such as the forces of nature, and with internal threats, such as unstable persons who disrupt the harmony of integral humanity). The State, in its way, is a creative engagement of the unity of humanity for that very purpose – that is, for protecting integral humanity, especially from those forces which will thrust itself upon humanity from outside itself: “In general, the State is humanity’s buttress against the external elemental forces which are acting upon it and within it.”[3]

Christianity not only teaches us that the integral nature of humanity will be restored to is pre-fallen state by Christ, but it will be deified, made greater than it existed at its inception thanks to the incarnation. All members of humanity have their place within the New Adam, the Church, even if those places differ. Paul uses a bodily image to represent this:

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together (1 Cor. 12:12-26 RSV).

Nonetheless, we should recognize this is so because the Church represents the restoration of humanity, and so each member of humanity has a place within the whole of that humanity. By taking their place in the Church, Christians do not lose their place in humanity. They are still united with those who have not to integrate themselves with the Church. Together, they are one. That is, those who have already crossed over to restored humanity still are within the integral unity of the old Adam. For restored humanity is the same humanity as the unrestored one. It is not another humanity. It is not a new essence. It is not created ex nihilo.

Thus, Christians must recognize their place both in the Old Adam and in the New Adam. Being connected with those who have not yet taken their place in the New Adam, they will experience temptations. But, as they are a part of the New Adam, the Church, they have grace which they can use not only to resist temptation but to help those in the Old Adam also lift themselves up beyond their fallen state. To do this, Christians must act according to the gifts they have been given by becoming a member of the New Adam. They must see what they can do to help humanity, to help those still in a fallen state be engraced and revitalized in Christ. They must follow God, not just with good pious thoughts, but in deeds:

He Who knows all things says: See to it that you do not love God in a den of thieves [cf. Matt 21.13] by calling on Him amid your vanities and by invoking Him with words but not with deeds. I will respond to the person who speaks to Me with earnest words, but I keep Myself distant from those who speak to Me in rote phrases. [4]

As God is love, so humanity, created in the image and likeness of God, must reflect that love. Love acts. Christians, engaging the grace given to them, will act. They will not selfishly look after themselves and their own wants and desires; rather, they will look for the good of the whole. The common good, therefore, also promotes the particular good. The particular good must not be made into an enemy of the common good, for when it fights against the common good, it ultimately leads to its own impoverishment.

St. Basil, understanding this, also shows how the human body points to the need for communal activity, saying that by such communal work, we do better than if we try to do things as abstract individuals:

Then, too, the Lord has taught us the necessity of unity of action from the very construction of our bodies. For, when I reflect upon these limbs, that not one of them is sufficient in itself for activity, how shall I consider that I alone am strong enough to combat the troubles of life? In fact, neither could one foot move safely forward unless the other helped to support it, nor could the eye see clearly if it did not have the other as its partner, and if it did not, in harmony with it, cast its glance upon the objects to be seen. The hearing is more accurate when it receives the sounds through body channels; the grasp is stronger through the cooperation of the fingers. And, in general, I see that none of the actions performed either naturally or by inclination is accomplished without the agreement of kindred forces, since even prayer itself which does not come from persons praying together is much feebler, the Lord having declared that He will be in the midst if two or three call about Him with oneness of mind. [5]

Through sin, we cut ourselves off from the integral unity of humanity and form prideful, egotistical shells of the self which we prop up and use like avatars in the world. Sin is what tries to create such abstractions which destroy the unity of humanity. Sin tries to divide and demolish the common good. And so, when we accept the guidance of sin, we reject the common good. We lose sight of how the common good helps and promotes the greater good for everyone, including ourselves.

Pride suggests we can do all things by ourselves. We can’t. Nothing we do is done entirely by ourselves. We are lifted up by society and the structures which society have put into place. By ignoring them, we ignore who we really are. And if we try to destroy them for the sake of lifting ourselves up above everyone else, all we do is slowly destroy the ground which we walk on. When it crumbles apart, we risk falling deep into the pit of despair. Thus, St. Isidore of Seville warns us:

The proud are always taking up cause against the good ones; when prosperity shines on them, boastfully they glory in their own merits, and then they draw away from the afflictions of the good and just; but when adversities come upon them, they are turned quickly to blasphemy by the weakness of their spirit.[6]

When, thanks to wounded pride, we fall into the deep pit of despair, when we see the world and all that we thought we have accomplished, break apart, we will be tempted to strike out against others in anger. God himself will likely face our ire because we will blame him for our fall. But we must avoid do this. We must recognize our own responsibility for what we experience. We must recognize that if we cut apart the common humanity and try to be abstract individuals, we will never be able to attain the peace and satisfaction we want. Pride tells us we can cut off such relationships, rise up as individuals, and find our own godlike status all by ourselves. It lies to us, telling us we can be like god all by ourselves. Nonetheless, it is a lie which is based upon a distortion of the truth, for humanity is called to be deified, but it is called to be deified in the restored unity established by the God-man. We are called to rise up together – and to experience the glory of God together. Is this not the what we learn through communion? (cf. 1 Cor. 10:17).

The great secret of the Christian faith is the secret of the Church, the secret of the unity of humanity. Humanity is one. What is restored within that humanity becomes one within itself, as the Church, while it remains connected with the whole of humanity, working to bring the rest of humanity into the Church. And is that not what we are told will happen in the eschaton, when all shall be made one as it is handed over to the Father?

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. “For God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “All things are put in subjection under him,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one (1Cor. 15:20-28 RSV).

Let us, therefore, come together to pray that the Lord’s will be done, on earth as in heaven, that is, for the two to become one. Then the proper realization of the oneness of creation with God can be realized. Then God will indeed be everything to everyone as everyone one will one together with God.

[1] S.L. Frank, The Spiritual Foundations of Society. Trans. Boris Jakim (Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 1987), 54.

[2] S.L. Frank, The Spiritual Foundations of Society, 53-4.

[3] Vladimir Soloviev, “On the Christian State and Society” in Politics, Law & Morality. Essays by V. S. Soloviev. Trans. Vladimir Wozniuk (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000), 21.

[4] St. Hildegard of Bingen, “Letter 343” in The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen. Volume III. Trans. Joseph L Baird and Radd K Ehrman (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), 134.

[5] St. Basil the Great, “Letter 97: To the Senate of Tyana” in St. Basil: Letters. Volume 1 (1-185). Trans. Agnes Clark Way (New York: Fathers of the Church, 1951), 215.

[6] St. Isidore of Seville, Sententiae. Trans. Thomas L. Knoebel (New York: Newman Press, 2018),210.

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

Previous Post

May 24, 2020

Ambiguity, Truth, and the Council of Nicea

Next Post

May 28, 2020 Fake And Real Virtue

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz