I love to learn new words. So when the term zeitgeist cropped up in a recent news story I immediately sought to find the meaning. Dictionary.com defines zeitgeist as a German noun that means the spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time. Google has adopted the word to title it’s ongoing charting of the search patterns of internet users around the world. Each calendar year produces the “Year End Google Zeitgeist” which, according to Google spokespeople, speaks to our collective consciousness. After reviewing the list I would suggest it reflects our collective cultural unconsciousness. I am not sure whether to laugh or cry or alternate the two responses.
If I hired the guy who does the movie trailers my thoughts would be something like this…(dramatic music)…
In a world full of suffering, genocide, hunger, loneliness, broken families, spiritual longing, and fear…millions of cyber warriors search for answers to save the planet. Nothing could ever prepare you for what these tattered legions decided was the most important search topic of this year.
Paris Hilton!
Pardon the gap. I had to take a moment to take a knee and catch my breath. Paris Hilton was, inexplicably, number one for the most typed in search item on Google news. That was the stunning revelation for me. I would have thought that Paris Hilton searches would happen at the regular site and more serious inquiries would occupy the news site. Wrong.
Here are the top 10 news searches of 2006.
1. paris hilton
2. orlando bloom
3. cancer
4. podcasting
5. hurricane katrina
6. bankruptcy
7. martina hingis
8. autism
9. 2006 nfl draft
10. celebrity big brother 2006
A few serious concerns managed to work their way onto the list. Cancer concerns edged out Martina Hingis but could not pass Orlando Bloom. Autism searches were slightly more prevalent than people seeking NFL draft info. I don’t want to make this part of my grumpy old man series from earlier this year but I have to admit this list is a little depressing. Perhaps the bleakness of the news drives people to escapist entertainment. But I keep coming back to one huge concern.
Paris Hilton?
I know that millions of people search for more important info than the list detailed above on Google and other internet search engines. I regularly get comments from readers who “googled” certain terms and they find my website. So I don’t want to overreact to this list. But Paris Hilton?
Here is my hope and prayer for 2007. I don’t expect that any of these searches will be number one in the next zeitgeist list. But I do hope that millions will take the time to search for topics like these…
10. How can I find significance?
9. How can I find joy and contentment?
8. What happens after I die?
7. What really matters in this life?
6. How can I make a difference?
5. How can I find strength to endure trials?
4. Can faith help my family?
3. Is the Bible relevant today?
2. Who is Jesus Christ?
1. What does that mean to me?
Even the men who followed Jesus for His three years of ministry had to answer many of the questions above. Jesus asked numbers one and two directly in this account from the Gospel of Matthew.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
Then he asked them,
And that is the question that all of us must answer. If I could give you any gift this Christmas I would love to give you the ability to consider the claims of Christ without the bias and baggage of bad experiences. There are people who have damaged the cause of Christ because of their false teachings, sin, and ungodly behavior. People have been deeply wounded by people who loudly lift the banner of Christ. I can not deny that fact. But that does not change the fact that I must answer this question.
“Who do you say I am?”
Peter responded to the question.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”
I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. I believe that Jesus became flesh and came to earth on this event that most of us call Christmas. I know that belief has changed my life. I encourage you to consider the question. A relationship with Jesus is worth the search.
Johan
I think that deep down, many people simply don’t want to know about the pressing issues of the world, and the pain of its inhabitants.
Look at the ignorance and ambivalence regarding the Darfur situation.
It is simply easier and less depressing to lose yourself in the latest inane celebrity gossip, than to try and wrap your head around what suffering and injustice there is in this world – then try to figure out what needs to be done to handle it.
Fobhead
"Zeitgeist" doesn’t quite flow like "gravitas" did a couple years ago, but I share many of your thoughts…
Shundah!
Shawn - Ohio
Patricia,
That is a pretty sad poem. The question of "why?" is one that always seems so close, but just out of reach of understanding. 🙁
Joy,
Thanks for the comments and discussion.
My pops is a pastor of a bible-believing church. My mom is a Sunday school teacher and gives bible studies. I was on the bible-quiz team and attended several seminars, camps, and even considered "the ministry". While I don’t claim to know everything there is to know about biblical teachings, I’m fairly confident that I know a little bit. I’m a little like Mark Twain in this regard: "It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."
Is it possible that Mark’s writing didn’t mention the "miracle birth" because the Romans already had Mithra as part of Zoroastrianism? A religion dating some 500+ years BC which included: virgin birth on 25th Dec, having 12 disciples, rose from dead after 3 days. Maybe the Romans wouldn’t have found that information compelling? I guess I could concede that it’s possible.
However, I do not quite understand how the other books could have been written for the Jews, especially, "in Jesus’ day" because most of the books were written anywhere from 20-115 years after Jesus’ supposed death. Also, the Jews don’t believe Jesus to be the Messiah, and their argument is compelling including laws, traditions, the Talmud, mistranslations, etc.
Maybe someday my mind will be changed [back?] to believing, but my studies have yet to persuade me … yet. 🙂
-Shawn
Joy
Shawn….you have to realize who the books of the Bible were written to and the reason….Matthew was written for the Jews to present Jesus as the Messiah and Mark was written for the Romans and the other books of the New Testament were all written to different people for different reasons…that is why some things are or are not mentioned in all the books…they all represent Jesus in a different light. Paul speaks and teaches of the dispensation of God’s grace while the other books are written primarily for the Jews in Jesus day. I suggest that you get a really good Bible Commentary (Thru the Bible Study with Vernon McGee) as this will help you understand all the books….there is no other book on the face of this earth that is greater and flows so well once you understand. I really do pray for you that you will understand the Bible……God’s Holy Word…The only Truth…. 🙂
Patricia
This is a poem written by an online friend named Natti. Though she is not a Christian, I think she hits it right on the target when it comes to what kinds of things people SHOULD be thinking about (not to be depressed, but to take ACTION against these evils that are occuring in our world).
<u>The Truth of the World-Why?</u>
They walk along without a care,
Oblivious to all the suffering there.
The child starving, without a home
The orphan crying, all alone.
The girl in the alley earning her way,
Degrading herself to survive the day.
The boy with scars decorating him,
Trying to dull all the pain within.
A teen in her room, afraid of all men,
Terrified of being abused again.
The guy standing behind the crowd,
Head filled with depressions cloud.
The children too scared to dare cry out,
When mommy begins to thrash about.
The 6 month old ‘fell down the stairs’
The one whos parent swore she cares.
Keep walking past without a glance,
Not seeing this may be the childs last chance
Before they’re pushed to their limits and die,
All the time wondering only one thing… Why?
Although those questions that you posed are good, I think it should also contain questions that point about concern for other people also. Questions like:
1. How can I do my part to help people who are suffering?
2.How can we reach people for the gospel? (goal for Christians to do)
3.How can we be active advocates (not the picketing type, but the active types)in stopping such evils as abortion, child abuse, and murder?
4.) How can I love better so that others can experience love and joy?
5.) What can I do to donate my time and energy to things that really matter , rather than fleeting subjects…uh…like..Paris Hilton’s acting and "singing" career?
Shawn - Ohio
Can’t not say something…This may be a little long…sorry up front…
Upon reading your post, immediately a movie, or rather a scene in a movie, sprang to mind. Indulge me if you will …
Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee: I think I’m entitled to them.
Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee: I want the truth!
Jessep: You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives…You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use ’em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a d*&! what you think you’re entitled to!
Kaffee: Did you order the code red?
Jessep: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.
Kaffee: Did you order the code red?
Jessep: You’re gd%$^! right I did!!
(Pardon my rated G editing.)
Sadly missing from both lists (sorry, hope this isn’t too harsh) is TRUTH. Is truth so grotesque that we don’t want to talk of it? Are we that scared of what is true and want only "answers"? Are we out to confirm ours, or other’s conclusions of what their presupposed "answers" are?
Can we not "handle the truth"? Not THE Truth, but truth, where ever that may lead.
If we lived in Iran, and had this conversation, the list would be the same in spirit, only different names/ideas; Bible would be Qur’an, Jesus would be The Prophet Muhammad. If we were born in Israel, Jesus might only be mentioned as a rabbi or teacher. To me, this screams of something not quite right. I would get 3 different "answers" depending on WHERE I asked the question.
The bible, within itself, has these items that explode with questions that SHOULD require truth be pursued. ie. Paul mentions nothing of the birth of Jesus being "miraculous". John says nothing of a miracle birth.
Mark, one of the first written, has no story of Jesus’ birth, or even about Joseph. And since John was written after Mark, it would stand to reason that John would know and mention the virgin birth in his gospel, wouldn’t it?
Baby Jesus, in a stable, surrounded by animals. This is true, right? There is no stable/barn in the story. There is no animals in the story. Please read Luke and Matthew (the only 2 books that describe the birth) and see.
Is it only AN answer that we want, or is it truth?
-Shawn