US adults took an average of 10.5 trips to the library in
2019. We went to a movie at a movie theater 5.3 times, which came in second
place among our cultural activities, according to Gallup.
We might assume that the difference is because of movie home
streaming services, but books are more available through iPads and other
devices than ever before. Perhaps Americans want to experience the ambiance of
a library; but seeing a movie in a theater is an experience you can’t fully
replicate at home, either.
It turns out, people between the ages of eighteen and twenty-nine visit the library much more than other groups. That seems like good news for the future of books and libraries.
However, Gallup says this is probably because people in college frequent the library to study. Countering this good news, people between the ages of eighteen and twenty-nine also visit casinos the most.
All this to say, explaining the culture is complex. Few
trends have single causes. Few facts have single sources.
We can see why postmodern people claim that all truth is
personal and subjective. But such a claim is inherently contradictory
(“there is no such thing as absolute truth and I’m absolutely sure of
it”). And it belies a larger issue at work here.
Just because something is complex doesn’t make it
subjective. I would guess that the functions of your car’s engine are more
complicated than you could easily comprehend. (I stopped working on my own car
when I sold my 1965 Mustang many years ago.) The fact that I don’t understand
how my laptop works doesn’t mean that computer engineers share my confusion.
Living in a complex world actually requires more
foundational commitments, not fewer.
Our counterintuitive culture and biblical truth
When I try to navigate the traffic challenges of Dallas, I
accept the guidance of Google Maps at face value, knowing that their analytics
know more than I do about upcoming traffic and the fastest…
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