YOUTH AND MODERNISM

CATHOLIC YOUTHS IN THE MODERN WORLD: A WAY TOWARDS MODERNITY OR MODERNISM? BY REV FR PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR

     Modernity and modernism are easily confused by us in words and deeds in place of dynamism. Dynamic environment breeds enlightenment. This enlightenment is holistic and integral. It starts from conception and have its processional train as thus: birth, family, church, school and society. Each of these processional trains has a great job or role to play in the enlightenment of a person. Enlightenment as a concept is very broad and comprehensive. The enlightenment is very much appreciated as an entity of psychosomatic being. This goes in to reveal the fact that man is a composite being of matter and form, of spirit, soul and body. These components of man indeed needed a “mature care and concern” from the moment of conception, so that when he sees himself in the world, will be able to cope with the environments in a most positive way. Ipso facto, dynamism in and as an enlightenment ought to take its root from the source of enlightenment which is Jesus Christ himself, for he said: EGO VIA, EGO VERA, EGO VITA (I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE).

     Jesus Christ as the way needed to be communicated in a most respected and adorable way. By this communication old things will be renewed in Christ and modernity will play an important role in us as an individual and as a society. Charity begins a home. Every home is a church and a school, if this first church and school lacks the basic communication techniques, the effect of malformation and mal-information is greatly experienced in the society in the most negative form.

     The truth is always the same; there is no change or blending of the truth to favour some group or who seem to be indifferent in the reality and existence of truth. If the case of truth is touched with impunity in all ramifications the result is always misinformation and obstinate way of living and doing things to suit our selfish desires. This many a time is confused and called enlightenment instead of modernism, which is very far from the truth and situation of the time (sitz in leben).

     Life in Christ is true life and life outside Christ is decay of spiritual and moral enlightenment, which may also be termed as modernism in the contemporary time. In this modernism we tend to imitate and behave in an apparent way that which is unchristian and unbecoming of a youth. The things we say or do and the way we carry about those things with the mind that we are in contemporary time and ought to behave as such needed a special attention. Contemporary thoughts are not thoughts outside the commandments of God or thoughts that degrade human person or integrity, but it supposes to be that which brings dynamism in its totality. All things being equal, life in Christ has no alternative except living as Christians as Christ wished us to be. 

     The world is incomplete if it lacks enlightened youths. Therefore, dynamism is very important to keep the ball rolling for a good end and a good world indeed. We owe God, good conduct and good learning so that modernization will always be of positive end to enhance our spiritual and moral enlightenment towards the Eternal Good. Technology, globalization, computerization, satellite world, etc are all results of scientific enlightenment and progress in a dynamic way. If we channel these dynamisms into a world that lacks spiritual and moral education, the result is a total doom and neglect of the Eternal Science or Omniscient God. This easily brings to limelight that modernism tends to take the upper hand in the execution of enlightenment which supposed to dispel the darkness in the world in which we live.

     As youths in what way are we preparing to hand over or drop a legacy that generations yet unborn will profit through our endeavours here and now? If we hand over declined or debased spiritual and moral legacy, this means that we have failed in imbibing the good things and enlightenment which was handed over to us by our parents. Therefore, prosperity will not forgive us of our ingratitude and shameful history created as a result of our quest for modernism instead of true enlightenment in the modern world and time. Let us call to mind our carelessness, shortcomings, irregularities, obstinacy, spiritual and moral neglects in quest for autonomy which has no base in God. Being conscious of the fact that Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life, as youths we shall always preoccupy our minds in this jet and computer age with the biblical citation: “How can the young people keep their lives pure? With all my heart I try to serve you; keep me from disobeying your commandments. I keep your law in my heart, so that I will not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your ways. I will repeat aloud all the laws you have given. I delight in following your commands more than in having great wealth. I study your instructions; I examine your teachings. I take pleasure in your laws; your commands I will not forget” Ps. 119: 9-16.

     For us youths we ought to be conscious of this fact, to avoid diminishing ourselves as a face-book or with life full of negative “ism”, thereby rolling in culpable ignorance of our time in the upholding of modernism. Therefore, let us be conscious of these questions:

1. What is our society turning to be with regard to modernism?
2. What actually good have we imbibed from our colonial masters?
3. Are we becoming more European than the Europeans?
4. What actually is the definition or description of civilization?
5. What are the criteria of modernity?
6. What do we mean by recreation?
7. What exactly is leisure for us youths?
8. Do we stand strong-headed with the slogan “if you cannot beat them join them”?
9. Where is our original moral value kept?
10. What positive influence of the Europeans is predominate in our beings?
11. Where are we channeling our ingenuity?
12. What actually is our Christian heritage?
13. What are the precious moral treasure of our families and the church that we are projecting?
14. What is actually “natural and proper” to us as youths?
15. How do we identify a proper Christian youth, in our country or elsewhere?
16. What are the lasting legacies which generation yet unborn will be proud to know about us?
17. Which set, tribe, clan, town, place or village in Nigeria still upholds the traditional or customary heritage of a proper Christian?
18. What has enlightenment contributed to us as a cultural heritage?
19. Is Western education actually a credit to our moral values?
20. Has religion done any thing positive to our Christian values?

     Let us meditate over these and pass judgment as individuals and as a group regarding ourselves as youths in the modern world and our acceptance towards modernity or modernism. Let this biblical passage of Qolohet (Ecclesiastes) be our vademecum; “Young people, enjoy your youths. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to do, and follow your heart’s desire. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do” Qoholet 11:9.

     Therefore, all should be involved in all sincerity for curbing off evil in the world of modernism for there is a geometric progression and I suppose a stitch in time saves nine.
Things, human inventions and thoughts can as well be redirected for good but if we continue to blame everybody nothing will be done to correct the injury. The society is bad everybody tend to say, but what actually is this wrong and who are those perpetuating it? There is need for “youth crusade and reformation”. The basic natural training and societal influence have a lot to do with regard to modernization. The family is the first school and the first church; we ought to play our parts well as youths in the family that the society with modernity may delete in our mind this wrong concept called modernism. Man is man and his existence is meaningful because of good morality. Christian spirit is needed by all for there to be progress.

     Granted that destiny is different according to individuals, each person ought to put up his or her best in any worthy venture for an up-keep. Another issue which we should fight as individual youths is of outfit and “fashion”. Is it humanly dignified to go about naked or half-naked in the name of outfit or fashion? I think it is a personal and first rape of oneself, by wearing such aggressive dresses moving around in the name of modernism, though man ought to control himself. This boils down to the fact of discipline, for discipline is the bedrock of character formation. Civilization or enlightenment is never nudity or lack of self control. The problem is “sui generis” of accepting what ought to be. Let all hands be on desk. I, as a youth ought to implore sanity in my whole self and ideologies. When all these are put into practice I suppose, the famous Igbo song: “AGAM ABU IHE CHINEKE SI NAM GA ABU”, will be meaningful and realistic if we actually add in the song: “MA MUNWA KWERE”. Hence, it will help and propel us into putting in our best in all things be it academics, trading, working, moral living or spiritual growth.

REV FR PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR (OKIGWE DIOCESE) on 29 September 2010 Feast of Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael wrote from Rome where he is presently on study leave.