human being, in his younger years at least, can dream of anfull life without a fairly concrete vision of what he wants tonbecome, to achieve, to represent, and of the world he wantsnto inhabit. No nation can organically survive withoutnenvisioning a specific role, a real task, an honorable mission.nWhat will we in the Western world do when democracyncomes to an end? When people realize that the answers tonthe momentous problems facing them no longer can benobjectively and satisfactorily explained by television? Whennthey reach the conclusion that their “leaders” are asnconfused as they themselves? When they find out thatndemocracy is dominated by a Gresham’s Law? (Are we notnall “elitists”? Don’t we, if gravely ill and able to afford it, callnfor the very best physician and not for the most popular?)nA sudden end of democracy? The Middle Ages werencharacterized by an absolute contempt for an ignorant,nstupid, lazy, and immoral clergy—a situation taken forngranted and contemplated with complete equanimity evennby pious souls. This went on for centuries, until one nicenday Martin Luther banged on the table, shouted his protest,nand the Catholic Church lost all its northern domainsn(which were only partly recovered by the Counter-Reformationnbased on the Council of Trent). Only now we shouldnexpect not another Luther but another Hitler.nQuite a number of American conservatives are “populists”nand believe in the superiority of intuition over thenignorance that characterizes so many people in the media,nthe administration, and at Ivy League universities. Modernnindustry and science, as well as the rapid shrinking of thenglobe, render rank amateurism in government not onlynobsolete, but a deadly threat. Thus technocracy and realnexpertise become more and more inevitable. Even RousseaunTake a Fascinating JourneynInto the Heart of America’snReligious SpiritnYou are invited to take a look at America’s most influential journal devotednto the vital relationship between religion and public affairs.nHere’s your opportunity to join the exceptional men and women who arenparticipating in one of the most critical debates raging in America… thendebate over the role of religion in today’s society and our public life. Like nonother reading experience you’ve ever encountered, THIS WORLD: A JournalnOf Religion and Public Life is an intriguing, revealing journey into the heartnof America’s religious spirit!nBut don’t just take our word for it. See for yourself by trying-THIS WORLDnon an introductory, trial basis.nOrder Now and Save $5.00nMail this coupon and open a full-year’s introductory subscription of fournquarterly issues for only $ 15. That’s $5 off the basic subscription rate — whichnis just like getting one, huge, 150-page insight-packed issue absolutely Sree!nWhat’s more, if you are not completely satisfied with THIS WORLD, younmay cancel for a full, prompt refund on all unmailed copies.nDon’t delay. To receive your first issue as quickly as possible, send yourncoupon in today!n(one of the fathers of modern democracy) admitted in anlucid moment that to make democracy work properly,npeople ought to be gods.nWhat we need for the entire Western world is an ideologynand a utopia, a vision for a possible good and right order fornthe requirements of our age, one that is based on eternalntruths and values, recognizing the uniqueness of everynhuman being — in other words, freedom. This implies, oncenagain, minimal government of the highest quality actingnwith authority.nIt is hard to envisage how such an organic ideology andnUtopia could exist without a religious foundation. It shouldnnot be a mere manifestation of human “constructivism” (tonuse Hayek’s word). An intercontinental ideology ought to benneither a mere umbrella for rainy days, nor a straitjacket.nThere must be guaranteed liberties for the nonconformists,ncoupled with genuine freedom of expression—without,nhowever, privileges for select groups; this would be anprescription for long-term ruin.nAt present, unfortunately, we are facing The Enemy innutter nakedness. If we are to be spared a global war, we willnhave to resist intellectually, spiritually, and “sensitively.”nThe life-and-death struggle in this case will be betweennideologies and Utopias. This is not an attractive prospect fornan anti-ideological and anti-intellectual America, but sometimesnwe have to go against our own grain. Let us adopt thenoptimism of D.H. Lawrence, who told us: “Democracy isnthe utter hardening of the old skin, the old form, the oldnpsyche. It hardens till it is tight and fixed and inorganic.nThen it must burst, like a chrysalis shell. And out must comenthe soft grub, or the soft damp butterfly, of the American-atlast.”nLet us make an effort to prove him right.nnnr’n—^nTRs^^nA Journal of Religion and Public LifenThe 1988 Erasmus LecturenSOLLKITUDO REISOCIALIS-A SYMFOSIUMnli. EBfiriaiibUiw rmrLin^nlll.TlHllrtlHrB^CKBKIkiB Gm^mtutnIMhulaikiDny ttlb’.tiiUltfinIHIIIi THEBOOKSHELf O OnINTRODUCTORY SAVINGS OFFERn^>^A I Open my introductory trialn• Y t a ! subscription to THIS WORLDn(four quarterly issues) for only $15-1 save $5noff ttie basic subscription rate. If I am notncompletely satisfied, I may cancel for a full,nprompt refund on all unmailed copies.nn Payment enclosed D Please bill me.nCITY STATE ZIPnMall to: THIS WORLD, P.O. Box 448, Mt. Morris, IL 61054 T882nDECEMBER 1988123n