Bob Goudzwaard and Craig Bartholomew’s book, “Beyond the Modern Age: An Archaeology of Contemporary Culture” (2017), offers a critique of modernity and its prevailing cultural narratives, proposing alternative pathways for moving beyond its limitations. The authors explore the deep crises of modernity—including economic, ecological, and spiritual issues—and suggest that meaningful alternatives require a fundamental shift in worldview.
Here are the key ideas from their work:
1. Critique of Modernity
Goudzwaard and Bartholomew identify modernity’s limitations and crises, rooted in its foundational assumptions:
• Anthropocentrism and Secularization:
• Modernity prioritizes human autonomy, often severing connections to the divine and the transcendent. This has led to a desacralized worldview, where meaning is derived solely from human achievement or material progress.
• Economic and Technological Reductionism:
• The authors critique the modern obsession with economic growth, consumerism, and technological advancement, which often come at the expense of ecological sustainability, social well-being, and spiritual depth.
• Fragmentation and Individualism:
• Modernity’s emphasis on individualism leads to social fragmentation and a lack of communal and relational grounding.
• Linear Progress and Utopianism:
• The belief in unending progress through science, technology, and reason creates a utopian vision that ignores the limits of human and natural systems, leading to ecological degradation and existential crises.
2. Diagnosis of the Current Crisis
The authors argue that modernity has reached a point of crisis, as evidenced by:
• Ecological Breakdown:
• Climate change, resource depletion, and environmental destruction result from modernity’s exploitative relationship with nature.
• Economic Inequality:
• The global economic system generates wealth for some while deepening poverty and inequality for others.
• Spiritual Emptiness:
• Secular modernity often leads to existential alienation, as individuals struggle to find purpose in a materialistic, disenchanted world.
• Cultural Polarization:
• Ideological and cultural fragmentation exacerbates tensions within societies, undermining the possibility of cooperative solutions to shared problems.
3. The Need for a Worldview Shift
Goudzwaard and Bartholomew propose that the way forward requires a radical transformation in worldview:
• Rejecting Modern Myths:
• Modernity’s myths of limitless growth, human autonomy, and technological salvation must be replaced with a more holistic and realistic vision of human flourishing.
• A Return to Transcendence:
• The authors emphasize the importance of reconnecting with a transcendent source of meaning and purpose, which modernity has largely abandoned.
• Interdependence and Relationality:
• A new worldview must embrace relationality—between humans, communities, and the natural world—recognizing that true flourishing depends on mutual care and responsibility.
4. Alternative Pathways Beyond Modernity
The authors identify alternative paradigms that can guide societies beyond the modern age:
A. Stewardship and Sustainability:
• Rejecting consumerism and the exploitation of nature, they advocate for a sustainable approach to the environment based on stewardship and care.
B. Economy of Enough:
• Moving away from the modern obsession with economic growth, they propose an “economy of enough,” which prioritizes human and ecological well-being over profit.
C. Community and Solidarity:
• The authors emphasize the restoration of community and solidarity, encouraging local, cooperative initiatives as a counterbalance to individualism and globalization.
D. Faith and Spiritual Renewal:
• A renewed openness to the spiritual dimension of life, particularly grounded in a Christian worldview, offers a way to address the spiritual emptiness of modernity.
5. Faith as a Transformative Force
Goudzwaard and Bartholomew approach their critique from a Christian perspective, grounding their vision of renewal in:
• The Biblical Narrative:
• They call for a recovery of biblical themes like creation, stewardship, justice, and shalom (peace, wholeness) to inform new ways of living.
• Ethics of Responsibility:
• Faith requires humility, gratitude, and a commitment to serving others and caring for creation.
• Hope and Redemption:
• The authors maintain a hopeful outlook, emphasizing that transformation is possible through the restoration of a moral and spiritual foundation.
6. Practical Implications
The vision presented by Goudzwaard and Bartholomew is not merely theoretical but has real-world applications:
• Political Action:
• Governments and institutions should prioritize policies that promote sustainability, equity, and community well-being over unchecked growth or technological dominance.
• Personal and Communal Practices:
• Individuals and communities can adopt lifestyles of simplicity, solidarity, and ecological responsibility, reflecting the “economy of enough.”
• Global Cooperation:
• Addressing crises like climate change and inequality requires a collective, global effort rooted in shared values of justice and care.
Conclusion: A Call for Transformative Change
In Beyond the Modern Age, Goudzwaard and Bartholomew argue that the crises of modernity—ecological, economic, cultural, and spiritual—are symptoms of a deeper worldview problem. They call for a return to transcendence, community, and stewardship, offering an alternative vision grounded in relationality, sustainability, and faith. By moving beyond the myths of modernity, they believe societies can rediscover pathways to genuine human flourishing and ecological harmony.
