First, there is the running theme of imbecility. In the book, there is a drug called soma which can be taken to numb the will, depress the mood, and nullify the intellect. Soma is taken in this book in order dull the people. For example a character in the book named Bernard Marx, takes four tablets of soma to pass the time on a long plane journey to the Reservation in New Mexico. When they arrive, Bernard's companion, Lenina, swallows half a gram of soma when she gets bored with the Warden's lecture, "with the result that she could now sit, serenely not listening, thinking of nothing at all". Such a response suggests that her sensibilities are numbed rather than heightened.
Second, there is the fact that Brave New World is a stupid society. Besides some of the driving characters, most people in this novel are “empty headed mental invalids in the grip of terminal mind rot- happy pigs rather than types of unhappy Socrates” (David Pearce on Brave New World). Indeed, there is more, but for the point I want to make, these two themes will suffice.
Brave New World, meet modern Evangelicalism, namely, Southern Baptist, the denomination in which I am a pastor. Strange bedfellows? I think not. The two themes depicted here in Brave New World fit right at home in modern Christianity. Theological stupidity and biblical imbecility are epidemic. We have been lulled to theological indifference by our own soma of anthropocentric, surface sifting bible reading, that true theological depth, understanding, and expression is repressed, even incapacitated at times.
Is there proof of this? Why certainly. Turn on the t.v, search the internet, look on the shelves at the Christian books stores, and listen to most of the modern preaching. Furthermore, ask people mediocre theological questions and elementary bible trivia, and take notice of the “deer in headlight” response or the quoting of good moral values with a made up bible verse attached to them.
Interestingly, surveys from Gallop and Barna show that the level of biblical ignorance among Christians is not that much different then secularized Americans. Albert Mohler points this out in an article here http://www.christianity.com/print/1270946/ .
The mind of the modern Christian is rotting. So many, like Lenina in Brave New World, swallow a soma, so that we can sit, “serenely not listening, thinking of nothing at all.” Many Christians do not want to think deeply about issues, but simply want their denomination to spoon feed them their dogma without ever investigating to see if what they are swallowing is spiritually nutritious or not. Many times denominational dogma and acquired rules are exalted and free thinking outside the box is discouraged because it is considered “dangerous.” Thank God for such heroes as Luther and Calvin who studied scripture, thought deeply, and challenged the dogma of the day. Such a drift from the heart and mind of our founders is to be pitied. We wouldn't have to try and shelter our people if we actually taught them theology and philosophy, and taught them how to evaluate beliefs and arguments. But rather than spend the pain staking hours of training, it is much easier to spout of dogma and attach “because the bible says so!” without every really explaining if the bible really says so or not.
Another interesting point is that in Brave New World, science is used to control the masses. Is there an equivalent in modern Evangelicalism? There is. Young Earth Creationism and certain proponents of it waive their flag, stomp their feet, and throw anathemas on others, dogmatically asserting that theirs is the only biblical view and the only valid science for Christians. The dogma of YEC and certain proponents of the belief waive the banner of orthodoxy and suppress investigation and free thinking because God forbid, millions of years might be right and a certain, rigid, interpretation of scripture might be found lacking. Much of our persecution as Evangelicals is not because of our stance on the gospel, but because of our raving ignorance about not only philosophy and science, but of our own theology.
So, what is the answer? How do we turn the Titanic before it sinks? It is a dual responsibility between the pastors of the church and the individuals of the body. We pastors must train, teach, and expose our people to more than surface material. We must carry them along in the process, guiding them and helping them think through things. Those in the congregation must go deeper in personal study and meditation. It means turning the entertainment off at times; it means stop pursuing comforts and happiness, and think and investigate. Finally, part of training involves creating a hunger in people for deeper things. When pastors and staff hunger after these things, it will spread into the atmosphere of the congregation.
In closing, I thank God, that here at Crosslink, we are making strides in this area, and that we are passionate about seeing people go deeper. Our desire is to develop you, so you can develop others. So, let’s make strides to abandon the Brave New World of Evangelicalism, and bring glory to God by establishing the fact that once again, Christians are deep thinkers.