The more things change…

…the more they stay the same.

This is why learning history is important. When we learn history — actual history — then we see patterns and themes emerge. We see the same reasoning and logic run through a variety of topics and issues. We see how the same arguments have been going on for a long time.

For example, I’m reading “The Evangelicals” by Frances Fitzgerald. It’s the story/history of the Evangelical movement in America. It’s really quite fascinating. What is most interesting though is reading the arguments that Evangelicals have been making all along.

Part of the Evangelical story is the rise of Fundamentalism. Fundamentalism rises up as a way to combat what was considered modernism at the time. The key battles take place in the 1910’s and 1920’s around the time of World War I. This is when evolution is put on trial, the world has been at war, and the order of things is changing.

Sounds similar to our current time in which we face a pandemic, economic uncertainty, arguments around race, climate issues, and political unhealthy. Things are changing. In both cases, this leaves people without a sense of control over their lives. When the world (and people’s lives) are out of control, many respond in one of two ways — to embrace the uncertainty and know that things are changing and adapt accordingly, or to assert more control. Its of the usually doesn’t end well when we try to assert more control and make reality fit our desire.