Towards the Great Peace

Name: Towards the Great Peace
Author: Ralph Adams Cram

"Towards the Great Peace" by Ralph Adams Cram critiques the failures of modern civilization following World War I, emphasizing the disillusionment with democracy, science, and materialism. Cram argues that the war revealed the inadequacies of societal structures built on these foundations, leading to a moral and spiritual crisis. He traces the decline of individual character and the rise of a disenchanted society, suggesting that the roots of contemporary issues lie in the abandonment of Christian values and the rise of a mechanistic worldview. Cram posits that the historical transition from a hierarchical, Christian society to one dominated by industrialism and democracy has resulted in a loss of moral clarity and purpose. He identifies the emergence of a submerged proletariat and a non-producing bourgeoisie as key factors in societal degradation. The author calls for a return to a sacramental philosophy that recognizes the interdependence of matter and spirit, advocating for a new societal framework that integrates spiritual values into the fabric of daily life. The text outlines a vision for regeneration through a reformed philosophy and social organization, emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility and the need for a vital religion to guide societal progress. Cram concludes that the future is not predetermined; it can either lead to further decline or a renaissance of old ideals, depending on humanity's choices.

By Ralph Adams Cram · First published 1917 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Speculative Fiction · 8 chapters · 73,092 words

First lines

For two thousand years Christianity has been an operative force in the world; for more than a century democracy has been the controlling influence in the public affairs of Europe and the Americas; for two generations education, free, general and comprehensive, has been the rule in the West. Wealth incomparable, scientific achievements unexampled in their number and magnitude, facile means of swift intercommunication between peoples, have all worked together towards an earthly realization of the early nineteenth-century dream of proximate and unescapable millennium. With the opening of the second decade of the twentieth century it seemed that the stage was set for the last act in an unquestioned evolutionary drama. Man was master of all things, and the failures of the past were obliterated by the glory of the imminent event.

What this Textopian page supports

Towards the Great Peace is listed on Textopian as an essay by Ralph Adams Cram, dated 1917 CE.

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Work type: Essay
Author: Ralph Adams Cram
Date: 1917 CE
Language: English
Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Speculative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Length: 73,092 words
Structure: 8 chapters, 386 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Confusing

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Similar titles

Genres

Philosophical Fiction — The book explores deep themes of peace and human existence, characteristic of philosophical inquiry.
Social Commentary — It addresses societal issues and the quest for peace, reflecting on human behavior and societal structures.
Speculative Fiction — The narrative may involve imaginative concepts about future societies and ideals of peace.
Historical Fiction — If set in a specific historical context, it may reflect on past events influencing the pursuit of peace.