The Myth of Modern Man

A specter is haunting the theological world. It is the ghost of Modern Man. Twenty years ago I attended a conference of theologians at Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, at which Modern Man was assiduously invoked and celebrated. With awful daring I asked one of his devotees how many modern men there actually were. “What?” he cried. “In a percentage?” I was pretty sharply given to understand that Modern Man merely is. He exists de fide.

Ten years ago I was asked by the lively and progressive Vicar of M (or N) if I could devise a Myth for Modern Man such as might go down well in south London. Unfortunately, Modern Man as preached in Nijmegen had no need of myths and, in any case, I couldn’t see why a vicar needed a myth surplus to what he had already. All the same, I recommended him to a Freudian friend of mine, assuming that when it came to myths a Freudian would have much more to offer than I could muster. I don’t know what happened then, except that the vicar got promoted.

DM

About the Author

David Martin

Featured Tags

A specter is haunting the theological world. It is the ghost of Modern Man. Twenty years ago I attended a conference of theologians at Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, at which Modern Man was assiduously invoked and celebrated. With awful daring I asked one of his devotees how many modern men there actually were. “What?” he cried. “In a percentage?” I was pretty sharply given to understand that Modern Man merely is. He exists de fide.

Ten years ago I was asked by the lively and progressive Vicar of M (or N) if I could devise a Myth for Modern Man such as might go down well in south London. Unfortunately, Modern Man as preached in Nijmegen had no need of myths and, in any case, I couldn’t see why a vicar needed a myth surplus to what he had already. All the same, I recommended him to a Freudian friend of mine, assuming that when it came to myths a Freudian would have much more to offer than I could muster. I don’t know what happened then, except that the vicar got promoted.