Modernity 

The reduction of the Creation to scientific realism in Galilean physics, Cartesian dualism, and the empiricism of Bacon and Locke reduced and de-meaned the Creation and the creatures in it as part of a project to “conquer” it technologically, scientifically, and industrially. Subdue it, not in the sense of the Bible, in which Man was to act as a good steward of a world that the Creator made, sustained, and indeed loved – it is God’s world, not ours; we were allowed to use it in stewardship but conquer, enslave, and subdue it to increase our power and further our independence from nature and God. We were never intended by the Creator to have such power, and seeking it reveals the hidden meaning of the “apple” in the Garden. Perhaps a more appropriate symbol is the ring of power in Tolkien’s writings. It expresses a pure will to dominate nature and all living things to magnify the power of the one who wields it. One may desire such power to do good – as Galileo, Descartes, and Bacon all wanted –  but in the end it will betray anyone to evil.

    

    Now I realize that part of the charm of what we call “modernity” – the regime of science, technology, and capitalism; modernism in art and philosophy – was that by eliminating meaning and value from their world version, their construct of nature and human nature, they also protected themselves from a Church gone mad. By seemingly leaving metaphysics, morals, and theology to the Church, they sought to protect themselves from Bruno’s fate (the stake). But the seeds they planted destroyed the worldview of the Church, both the good and the bad. The Catholic Church has been fighting a rearguard action against modernity ever since its defeat in the 18^th century. Yes, they now do not challenge the findings of science. They have sought to challenge the metaphysics and moral theories of modernity (all of them) – I confess to sharing that project. But the corruption of the Church made modernity possible in significant ways.