Stereotypes - I mean valid ones, which spontaneously stereotypes tend to be - are useful; indeed they are essential to social functioning in this-world.
Of course in the modern West, several key stereotypes have been inverted; and this is a significant cause of societal dysfunction, and (sooner or later) collapse.
because of this inversion; reactionaries have been re-affirming the old and functional stereotypes, easily proving by observations that their (on average) validity, usefulness, etc. etc.
But the radicals do have a point, and the reactionaries are missing it!
All stereotyping - even when statistically valid and even when the stereotype is overall a positive contribution to worldly functioning and happiness - is an evil.
This evil is not abolished by the harsh fact that stereotyping is a necessary evil.
We are, and we know (in our hearts) that we are, each unique individuals - not representative members of a class: not even of the best kind of class.
Therefore when reactionaries, and Christians, talk stereotypically; this is often experienced (to some significant degree) as an external oppression.
Such a stereotypical categorization of our uniqueness Will Be dysphoric - an adverse inner state experienced in the form of negative emotions such as anxiety over social ostracism, depressive misery, anger, resentment, self-assertion - and guilt...
For instance; an inner perceived (or feared) failure to live up to a dominant or preferred stereotype, and to continue to live up to it year after year - is, maybe, the commonest cause of chronic and pervasive guilt.
Also, an inner reluctance to conform to the imposed stereotype is probably a major cause of demotivation. As when, at a mass level, people are neither inspired nor energized by any of their actual and possible choice of life stereotypes - and therefore cannot find any strong and sustainable motivation to participate socially - or even to stay alive.
Even those few individuals who are currently healthy, energetic and conforming enough to be (or, at least, to advertise themselves as being!) exemplars of an approved stereotype; are very obviously insecure. They are always seeking (because needing) repeated affirmations, reassurances, and approval from others. And living in (denied) fear of their hypocrisies, exaggerations and lies being exposed; or that they cannot sustain this endless necessity of proving themselves.
(But there I am: stereotyping yet again! It just can't be avoided!!)
So; on the one hand it is true that (real, valid) stereotypes are necessary to our own lives and to societal functioning - we simply cannot do without them.
But on the other hand; stereotypes are ultimately always false, therefore evil; and those who argue for their reality and their imposition - even when the stereotype being proposed is net-good, usually personally positive, socially desirable etc... will be experienced as oppressive and dishonest.
This is one deep and ineradicable reason why there is considerable resistance to those (and I have surely been among them!) who try to rehabilitate valid and necessary stereotypes on the modern West; I mean such distinctions as those relating to sex, race, religion, political affiliations; intelligence and personality differences; and the various ideal "models" of being A Good Christian that are integral to many churches.
All such stereotypes may indeed be valid and necessary; but if so they are necessary evils; and we cannot be made to believe that these stereotypes are fundamental goods; how much less that they are the highest ideals.
We cannot be convinced and motivated when people say that some version of categorical and stereotyped reality is what we ought to be aiming for: the best that we can hope for.
If Christians cannot offer something more and better than the prospect of eternal perfect membership of some stereotyped category of type of person and God-approved behaviour - then Heaven will continue to fail to inspire.
In other words; the Christian "picture" of Heaven - first for ourselves, imaginatively; and then as described to others - absolutely needs to be one that eschews stereotyping, and is instead rooted-in the individuality and uniqueness of all persons.
So I guess there won’t be rules in heaven? Just autonomous creative beings living and acting entirely from love. I think that would work. Sounds nice.
ReplyDeleteWhy is guilt perceived as such a paramount ill, though? It seems to me that the crises of both Luther and Nietzsche came from this preoccupation with guilt and the desire to escape it. Luther was happy to throw off centuries of doctrine and of spiritual heritage to escape his guilt; Nietzsche wanted to throw off morality and even the idea of humanity itself. And of course there was the sixties generation trying to escape from the guilt of sexual repression, quickly followed by the yuppies throwing off the guilt of material success. In every case the loss seems to outweigh the gain.
ReplyDeletePersonally I am in love with stereotypes, except for those which are clearly vicious (and even those sometimes have a redeeming side). Obviously there is a perpetual dance between the stereotype and the reality; but that is part of the poetry of life. In my view. Even words are stereotypes; every cow is different, every circle is different.
In my own personal history I suffered a lot of anguish out of fear that I conformed to a "nerd" stereotype and I feel strongly, even traumatically, about that. So I understand that stereotypes can be oppressive. But on the whole, I think they bring much more joy and meaning than anguish.
@colin - Yes. I think Jesus is saying exactly this in the IV Gospel.
ReplyDelete@Mal - I agree and tried to say that there are pros as well as cons in stereotypes; but also that they do not work as an ideal. In this world we must make the best of things. But we can imagine better - and that is what Jesus made possible, but his Kingdom is not of this world.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about guilt is that it can be a terrible thing to experience in the long term - furthermore induced guilt is quite easily done by those with power, often used to manipulate people (including to do evil) and to oppress people.
I agree that this suffering does not justify doing bad stuff in the attempt to escape guilt - but it does show that guilt is a powerful cause of misery.
In sum, feeling guilty may be a vital part of learning, a kind of feedback - but guilt may be spurious, and triggered by innocent or good actions; and there must be an end to it if eternal life is to be bearable.