111. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CYCLES: ENERGY AND ENTROPY; THE
SPIRIT AND THE FLESH
Cycles ‘r us. There are
many cycles in nature, without which there couldn’t be any life – water cycle,
weather cycles, oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle, nitrogen cycle, etc. These cycles
are related to the flow of gases or liquids, changes of state, or transfer of
heat. They are types of thermodynamic cycles. There are many anatomical
structures in plants and animals that have the design of a circle, sphere, or
coil. Rotation of planets and moons in their orbits are cyclic. Seasons are
cyclic. Moon phases are cyclic. Many insect and other animal life patterns are
cyclic. Hormones go up and down in cyclic fashion. Atomic structure is made up
of electrons traveling in space in special areas of probability that are cyclic
in shape – sphere, ellipse, dumbbell, etc. The smallest cycle on record comes
from string theory. All these cycles operate according to natural law.
The same principles operate both in relatively simple cycles as well as more
complex ones. That is why the observations of the life cycle of a bacterial
colony isolated from an outside source of energy is relevant in principle to
larger, more involved cycles. Cycles of smaller frequencies make up cycles of
larger frequencies which make up still larger and larger cycles. It difficult to conceive that a cycle
of seasons in a year would be composed of millions upon millions of smaller
cycles that all add up in a very precise way and in an integrated pattern, all
under the same laws of nature. Heat transfer – thermodynamics. We get our
outside energy from the sun – heat transfer. There are solar cycles, also.
Thermodynamics. The
concept of cycles takes on a metaphysical character in considering economic
cycles, business cycles, political cycles, social cycles, cycles of dress
style, cycles of moral ethics – all of which are based on human behavior and
attitudes – mainly from brain and mind functions of humans. But all these go
back to the thermodynamics of neurotransmitter chemistry and how humans think
about the environmental cycles they find themselves in. Cycles do not dictate
or control human behavior; humans are in control of their behavior by the
choices they make based on their reaction and thinking about the physical cycles.
Perhaps there should be a book written, The Effect of Thermodynamics on the
Sociopolitical Cycle Named “The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.” The Rise
and Fall of Capitalism. The Rise and Fall of Organized Institutional Religion.
But social cycles involve the thermodynamic principle of entropy and energy
just the same as prevailed over the bacterial culture. Niall Ferguson has
written books on the rise and fall of empires with special emphasis on the West
and present America – Civilization (The West and the Rest), Colossus (The Price
of America’s Empire), and The War of the World (Twentieth-Century Conflict and
the Descent of the West).
Social cycles seem long compared to our life time but not in the span of
civilization .
Some social cycles were mentioned as examples in previous posts – a life cycle,
a church cycle, a business cycle, a population cycle, and the cycle of Noah and
the Great Flood.
In this post we will consider two more sociopolitical cycles – a historical one
from the period of the Judges of Israel described in the Old Testament and a
second one under current public circulation.
[1] The Period of Judges
Joshua led the Israelites into an organized and systematic conquest of the
Promised Land (Judges 1). The people were faithful to God throughout the
lifetime of Joshua and the first generation of elders who outlived him, because
they had seen the great things God had done for Israel (Jdg. 2:7). But then
another generation grew up that did not know God or what He had done for them,
and they began to disobey and to follow idols. Some of the tribes had not
completely driven out all of the inhabitants of Canaan as God had commanded,
and God said because of this disobedience these people and their false gods
would be a constant problem for the Israelites.
After this declaration, the Israelites went through almost 300 years of
sociopolitical cycles with the same repeating pattern – things go well, Israel
gets complacent, Israel disobeys and worships idols, God withdraws protection,
Israelites get overrun by Canaanites, Israel gets oppressed, Israel recognizes
and repents, Israel turns and cries out to God, God hears and raises a judge
who fights the oppressors and delivers Israel, Israel enjoys period of peace,
judge dies, Israel gets disobedient. Leaders between Joshua and Saul (King)
were Othniel (Jdg. 3:9), Ehud (Jdg. 3:15), Shamgar (Jdg. 3:31), Deborah (Jdg.
4:5), Gideon (Jdg. 6:36), Abimelech (Jdg. 9:1), Tola (Jdg. 10.1), Jair (Jdg.
10:3), Jephthah (Jdg. 11:11), Isban (Jdg. 12:8), Elon (Jdg. 12:11)), Abdon
(Jdg. 12:13), Samson (Jdg. 16:30), Eli (1 Sam. 4:18), and Samuel (1 Sam. 7:15).
Typical phrases during these cycles were “the Israelites once again did evil in
the eyes of the Lord;” “the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, so He ……….
;” “…and they were subject to ….. for …. Years;” “and Israel cried out to the
Lord who raised another deliverer…..;” “and there was peace in the land for ….
years;” “again Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”
Similar cycles persisted throughout the period of
kings and captivity.
[2] The “Tytler Cycle”
Another example of a sociopolitical cycle with many similarities to a bacterial
life cycle is the so-called “Tytler
Cycle.” This is the subject of a lot of semi-correct/semi-hoax emails that
are used to promote a particular political position under the misname “Tyler
Cycle.” Tytler was a real person and he said some real things that are interesting,
but the shape of the story has morphed, particularly in the last 12 or so
years.
Alexander Fraser Tytler (1747-1813) was a Scottish lawyer, historian, writer,
and Professor of Universal History and Greek and Roman Antiquities at the
University of Edinburgh. Tytler was very critical of democracy as a workable
political philosophy, not necessarily because the method couldn’t work, but
because it would always be corrupted by people who would make it fail. He said
the Athenian democracy worked only for upper classes who were in control and
could exercise corruption and plunder the public money. He said that a
democracy “never did, and never could exist” because man maintains a self
interest and love of power characteristics of “inferior animals.”
Tytler believed that democratic forms of government such as those of Greece and Rome have a natural evolution from initial virtue toward eventual corruption and decline. In Greece, for example, Tytler argues that "the patriotic spirit and love of ingenious freedom ... became gradually corrupted as the nation advanced in power and splendor." Tytler goes on to generalize: "Patriotism always exists in the greatest degree in rude nations, and in an early period of society. Like all other affections and passions, it operates with the greatest force where it meets with the greatest difficulties ... but in a state of ease and safety, as if wanting its appropriate nourishment, it languishes and decays." ... "It is a law of nature to which no experience has ever furnished an exception, that the rising grander and opulence of a nation must be balanced by the decline of its heroic virtues.
About 200 years later, Tytler was “helped” to express these views
a little more “modernly” in the 1970’s by people taking other quotes from 20-30
years before and forming a summary quote and a diagram of a cycle.
A democracy
is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of
government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters
discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.
From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise
the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every
democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always
followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest
civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During
those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following
sequence:
The
diagram below is commonly known as the "Tytler Cycle" or the
"Fatal Sequence." The first known, and apparently original,
publication was in a 1943 speech "Industrial Management in a Republic” by
H. W. Prentis, president of the Armstrong Cork Company and former president of
the National Association of Manufacturers.
Since 2000, the cycle diagram and the editorialized Tytler “quotes” have
been posted and emailed in criticism of the person who happened to be President
at that particular time.
Although the cycle diagram and the quotes do not seem to be of genuine verbatim
Tytler authorship, the more recent creations do capture the gist of Tytler’s
view of the eventual fate of a democracy being related to the moral failings of
a human society. Humans begin to impose their basic competitive, selfish, and
greedy nature on the structure of the government, and they devise methods of
control and corruption to get their way and to get an advantage of power over
others. Tytler’s reference to the “law of nature” that a nation’s opulence and
prosperity is inversely related to its moral and ethical structure is a
description identical with what we are calling social, political, or ethical
entropy. That which is isolated (left to itself) will degenerate and decay.
If Tytler’s statement that "It is a law of nature to which no experience
has ever furnished an exception” applies to social entropy, then an eventual
corruption and decay within society is inevitable, if the society is left to
itself without any spiritual or moral power source outside the isolated system.
Things left to themselves naturally run down.
The purpose of showing Tytler’s cycle is not to discuss the politics of a
democracy. There are several points that can be made from the cycles
representing changes in society – (1) relationship between cycle
characteristics and an energy/entropy cycle, (2) comparison of the progression
of behavior in the cycle with the works of the flesh and the works of the
Spirit listed in scripture, and (3) comparison between the sociopolitical cycle
and the life cycle of a bacterial colony.
Effects of energy vs. entropy on a society.
As a generalization, society behaviors that are on the right side of the
cycle diagram resemble those described as “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5) or
characteristics of the “new self controlled by the Spirit” (Eph. 4). Those
behaviors on the left side of the cycle resemble descriptions of the “works of
the flesh” or the deeds of “the old man of sin.” Works of the flesh are
associated with increasing social entropy, while fruit of the Spirit is
associated with a supply of energy from outside the system.
In addition, there are similarities between the progression of the
Tytler (or a similar) cycle and the life cycle of a bacterial colony. Both
situations have essentially the same cycle characteristics when operating in a
system isolated from an outside energy source. To survive, the bacterial colony
needs the intervention of an outside source of superior intelligence and
supernatural energy; and the colony of human society needs the same. Otherwise
they both develop into the death phase of accumulation of entropy – one is
chemical entropy and the other more of a social or spiritual entropy.
But the need for an outside energy source is
one of the parallels from the laws operating in physical realm and the
spiritual realm. God has revealed how He operates in both realms, but it takes
both physical and spiritual discernment to see the relationship.
1 Cor, 2:12 We have not
received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may
understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words
taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing
spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not
accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to
him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
If any should be able to see these relationships between the
physical and spiritual realms it would be Christians. How are we doing with
that? Are we too busy protecting our private interpretation from scientific contamination
to see the truth? Are people too busy trying to find fault with those people
who believe in something supernatural? What about if the truth is in both and
incomplete in either one by itself? Both sides of the argument are blinded to anything but
their view and cannot see the value of the other side. If a blind man leads
himself, he may fall into a pit. “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall
into a pit.” Matt 15:14)
What about a society that became so successful and resource-rich that it began
to credit itself for the accomplishments rather than an “outside source of
energy” -- God? What if this “great society” even began to redefine the past to
make history in education more consistent with present human
self-glorification? What if this society began to reinterpret not only history,
but also the law, so that the separation of church and state should become not
a protection of religion but a separation and isolation of religion as a
clearer target for discrimination? What, if through political, academic, and
legal means, the role or meaning of God were removed from public places -- such
as in courthouses, parks, and schools -- and this action was favorably
portrayed by the media as smart and good? If the outside source of energy for
society is removed, what is left to take over? Entropy. The snowball gets
larger as society continues to do it to itself.
1 Cor. 1:17 For
Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of
human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the
wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will
frustrate.”
20 Where is the wise
man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God
made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the
world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the
foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Some observations from the above verses – God’s
wisdom and ways are not the same as what humans considered wisdom in their own
eyes. Power is represented in the cross of Christ, which is nonsense to those
whose understanding is limited by physical thermodynamic laws. These people have chosen to
not avail themselves of the power of God that transcends the laws of the
physical universe. They ridicule it. Yet, because of their chosen isolation,
they are perishing. But they are not aware of it, because they are too “wise.”
“Perishing” is in the present tense, not future, as in eternal judgment. Why do
natural things “perish” in a system of thermodynamic isolation? They are
subject to the destiny of natural entropy. The cycle of human effort, wisdom,
and entropy will continue to play out over and over, just as in the past.
One might ask, “If we have the sun as an outside energy source for the earth,
then we are not thermodynamically isolated. We have the sun; why do we need the
Son? In the following passages Jesus differentiates between those things that
are of this earth, and subject to entropy, and those things which are outside
of the physical reaches of natural law.
Matt 4:4 Jesus
answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word
that comes from the mouth of God.
Deut. 8:3 …man
does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of
God.
Matt. 6:19 Do not store
up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and
steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Show me the sermon. All of this discussion about isolated physical
system subject to entropy and supernatural spiritual power which is not subject
to natural law are based on the scripture and include examples of
sociopolitical cycles that seemed to follow these rules. Everything fits into a
nice package of presentation, but by itself it doesn’t mean anything. It’s all
theoretical until somebody or some group demonstrates that it is true. “Let’s
see your power. Let’s see you be different and have different outcomes than everyone
else. Let’s see you rise above entropy. Let’s see you make this real by living
it out in front of everyone to see. Let’s see if you believe your own message.”
Who are we talking to? The church. When the church lives in Holy Spirit power
and demonstrates the outside energy of God to overcome entropy in the world as
Jesus did and when the world can see the difference between the physical and
the spiritual, all of these scriptures and interpretations fall into place. If
there is little/no difference between the church and the world, if the values
of the world invade the church with postmodern humanism, if the church shows
nothing more than what the world can see in itself, then all these scriptures
and interpretations about supernatural power can RIP. “If they don’t make any
difference in your life, why should I think it would make a dime’s worth of
difference in mine?”
Any signs of entropy?
The “I’m against that” theology. Christians have established a greater
reputation in the world for what they are “against” than for demonstrating the
love of Jesus Christ and what difference that makes in overcoming entropy.
Christians are known more for being against science, against genetic research,
against environmental protection, against discovery, against abortion, against
“alternate lifestyles,” against miracles today, against, against, against.
“Well, Jesus was against some things.” Yes, but that wasn’t what He was known
for and that is not what He prayed for in John 17 --that His followers would be
known for their love, peace and unity in the body of Christ. If the church were
known are for something that is working so well that it is obvious to everyone
(like righteousness, truth, love, peace, unity, and joy), we wouldn’t have to
be “against” so many things. In fact, we would be so busy doing what glorifies
Jesus that we wouldn’t have time to concentrate on the “Ministry of What We Are
Against.” Instead of wearing the letters “WWAA,” Christians could place more
meaning behind “WWJD.”
There are a number of sinful behaviors that are contrary to scripture that the
church is (or has been) “against.” But, instead of “speaking the truth in love”
(a sign of maturity of the church Eph 4:15), the church comes out “against”
certain things, and the church opens itself up to attacks of hypocrisy and
intolerance. These are not true but are responses back to the rather judgmental
approach that the church has taken. So, what is the church doing? Instead of
renewing its approach to conform to the love of Jesus, the church begins to
tolerate the sin -- and not only tolerate the sin in the church, but adopt it
as such in their doctrine and appoint those with that behavior to the ministry
and “clergy.”
Instead of changing from preaching to the world in an unloving way to a more
Christ-like approach, the church responds to charges of being judgmental by slowly adopting what the world does. That’s not
the reason to leave behind a condemning attitude – the reason is that Jesus
didn’t condemn (John 8:11, 15; 12:47), and not because the church negotiates the scripture and
takes on the world’s behavioral standard. Has this increased the respect of the world for the church? How many has this approach brought into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?
Postmodern humanism has been seeping into the church. Now much of the
institutionalized church is opening the door and inviting the human value system
to come in so it can be made the standard operating procedure instead of the
scripture. What was considered bad behavior becomes more acceptable. More
people do it; it becomes the norm. This is like replacing the power of the Holy
Spirit with natural entropy.
Irresponsible use of freedom. Freedom
is based on responsible behavior in the use of the freedom. A small fraction of
those with bad behavior take advantage of the freedom of everyone else by their selfish
immorality. This corruption gets laws passed that place restrictions on the
freedom of the entire group (think airport security), or sometimes the freedom may be cancelled altogether. The old law
pointed out sin, and that made everyone want to sin or see how close they could
get to it. More laws define the limit of behavior, so people push to see what
they can get away with, whether it is the athlete trying to get an illegal move
past a referee, a person buying booze and cigarettes with food stamps, or a
misrepresentation of a product to get more sales. More bad behavior gives more
laws which give more bad behavior of a higher sophistication and technology (think identity theft). This is
moral entropy. As bad behavior continues, its effects accumulate. It is not
self-correcting. The effects of bad behavior in a society build up like DDT in
the liver.
Prov. 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
NOTE:
This post (#111) is the first in a series of posts about spiritual entropy in behavior, society, and the church. If anyone wants to read more, these posts have been collected together here:
- Spiritual Thermodynamics and Overcoming Entropy
(None of the blogs, except for 111, are published independently)
- [111] SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CYCLES: ENERGY AND ENTROPY; THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH
[112] WILL WE FIND ENERGY OR ENTROPY ON OUR “ROAD TO EMMAUS?”
[114] A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF PHYSICAL THERMODYNAMICS TO APPLY TO PRINCIPLES IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM
[115] THE LAW OF PHYSICAL ENTROPY AND THE LAW OF SPIRITUAL REGENERATION - The Christian’s view of thermodynamics
[117] INNER LIGHT, OVERCOMING ENTROPY, CRACKED CLAY POTS, AND BAND-AIDS
