May the Fourth be with you!
Today, “Star Wars” fans from all over the world are celebrating their passion for the multi-billion-dollar science fiction franchise created by George Lucas 46 years ago.
On the surface, Star Wars Day may seem to be little more than a pseudo-holiday at the intersection of geek culture, viral social media trends and corporate marketing. However, its growing popularity reflects something deeper about the human need for meaning in our so-called secular age.
In Ernest Becker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “The Denial of Death,” the American anthropologist wrote, “Society itself is a codified hero system, which means that society everywhere is a living myth of the significance of human life, a defiant creation of meaning.”
All cultures everywhere create myths to codify their ideals around heroism, bravery, virtue, sacrifice and social wellbeing, from the 43,900-year-old cave painting of a hunter-hero in Sulawesi, Indonesia, to modern-day space operas like “Star Wars.” These guiding stories serve a crucial function in both the individual and group quest for meaning by providing imaginative models of the real social world and portraying heroic characters that possess many ideal virtues.
Continue reading at The Hill.
Clay Routledge, PhD, is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Archbridge Institute, where he also leads the institute’s Human Flourishing Lab. As a thought leader in existential psychology and human motivation, Clay translates research into practical insights that help people reach their full potential, build meaningful lives, and advance human progress and flourishing. Dr. Routledge received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is co-editor of Profectus Magazine, an online publication dedicated to human progress and flourishing. He writes the weekly newsletter "Flourishing Friday."
Paul Anleitner is a religion and culture fellow at the Archbridge Institute. As a cultural theologian, his work focuses on the role of culture and story in our human quest for meaning. His unique interdisciplinary approach integrates theology, philosophy, and science to help individuals and institutions navigate cultural shifts and address perennial religious longings. He holds an M.A. in Christian Thought from Bethel Seminary. Paul hosts Goodmakers, a podcast featuring long-form conversations with leading thinkers and builders dedicated to the shared mission of cultural renewal. He publishes a weekly newsletter on Substack called Reading the Zeitgeist1.
Culture of Flourishing
May the Fourth be with you!
Today, “Star Wars” fans from all over the world are celebrating their passion for the multi-billion-dollar science fiction franchise created by George Lucas 46 years ago.
On the surface, Star Wars Day may seem to be little more than a pseudo-holiday at the intersection of geek culture, viral social media trends and corporate marketing. However, its growing popularity reflects something deeper about the human need for meaning in our so-called secular age.
In Ernest Becker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “The Denial of Death,” the American anthropologist wrote, “Society itself is a codified hero system, which means that society everywhere is a living myth of the significance of human life, a defiant creation of meaning.”
All cultures everywhere create myths to codify their ideals around heroism, bravery, virtue, sacrifice and social wellbeing, from the 43,900-year-old cave painting of a hunter-hero in Sulawesi, Indonesia, to modern-day space operas like “Star Wars.” These guiding stories serve a crucial function in both the individual and group quest for meaning by providing imaginative models of the real social world and portraying heroic characters that possess many ideal virtues.
Continue reading at The Hill.
Clay Routledge
Clay Routledge, PhD, is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Archbridge Institute, where he also leads the institute’s Human Flourishing Lab. As a thought leader in existential psychology and human motivation, Clay translates research into practical insights that help people reach their full potential, build meaningful lives, and advance human progress and flourishing. Dr. Routledge received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is co-editor of Profectus Magazine, an online publication dedicated to human progress and flourishing. He writes the weekly newsletter "Flourishing Friday."
Paul Anleitner
Paul Anleitner is a religion and culture fellow at the Archbridge Institute. As a cultural theologian, his work focuses on the role of culture and story in our human quest for meaning. His unique interdisciplinary approach integrates theology, philosophy, and science to help individuals and institutions navigate cultural shifts and address perennial religious longings. He holds an M.A. in Christian Thought from Bethel Seminary. Paul hosts Goodmakers, a podcast featuring long-form conversations with leading thinkers and builders dedicated to the shared mission of cultural renewal. He publishes a weekly newsletter on Substack called Reading the Zeitgeist1.
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