How The ‘Prayer of The Authentic Self’ Shows The Religion of Our Modern Age - Hope 103.2

How The ‘Prayer of The Authentic Self’ Shows The Religion of Our Modern Age

Christian author Brian Rosner's caricature of the Lord’s Prayer sums up our culture’s obsession with authenticity.

By Akos BaloghFriday 10 Feb 2023FaithReading Time: 3 minutes

How would you define the religion of our modern Secular Age?

While we might not be a “formally” religious culture anymore here in the West, everyone believes in something – about life, meaning and purpose — even the most secular of people.

What, then, does our secular culture believe?

In his latest book, How to Find Yourself – Why Looking Inward is Not the AnswerChristian author and theologian Brian Rosner makes the case that the dominant (informal) belief system in the West is “expressive individualism”.

Rosner defines this as: “the view that you are who you feel yourself to be on the inside and that acting in accordance with this identity constitutes living authentically.”

From here, Rosner asks what would it look like to pray as a secular expressive individualist?

While Christians pray the Lord’s Prayer, what would our secular culture pray?

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Rosner developed the “Prayer of the Authentic Self”, a caricature of the Lord’s Prayer.

I think it sums up our culture’s obsession with authenticity: an obsession that affects even Christians.

Here is Rosner’s prayer:

The Prayer of the Authentic Self

My essence within,
help me to find my authentic self,
my kingdom come,
my will be done,
from birth to seventh heaven.
Give me today my daily spread.
Forgive not my enemies as I suppress those who sin against me.
Lead me not into self-doubt but deliver me from all external authorities.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are mine now and forever.
Amen.

Why this prayer captures the religion of our Secular Age

While the Lord’s Prayer looks up to God, glorifying him and asking him for our needs, the Prayer of the Authentic Self glorifies self and looks inward for meaning, purpose and our needs.

Let’s look more closely at what the Prayer of the Authentic Self is based on (and the “expressive individualism” that undergirds it):

1. It looks inward to find true identity

Only we get to determine who we are. And it’s all based on our inward desires. This is why, for the first time in human history, the phrase “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body” makes sense to our culture and is celebrated by it.

2. Personal happiness is the highest goal

I must not sacrifice for others or some higher goal.

I must satisfy my own needs if I’m to be happy because happiness is the aim of life.

3. Personal desire must not be challenged (especially sexual desires)

My desires are sacrosanct. They must be honoured at all costs.

4. All external authority must be rejected

Nobody gets to tell me how I’m to live my life.

5. The glorification of individual freedom

We attain glory by being free to do what we want to do.

6. The controlling narrative is that of triumphant personal achievement and experience

Our social media feeds are filled with stories of personal triumphs and experiences because these things give modern people meaning.

If you don’t have them, your life is seen to be lacking in meaning.

7. The self-made self looks to others, but only to defeat perceived enemies

We use others to achieve our happiness. And woe to anyone that stands in our way.

8. It looks backward and forward, but only to its kingdom of me

Secular culture is increasingly obsessed with our life stories, which we showcase on social media.

We are the point and the apex of life.

9. It looks forward to the goal of earthly fulfilment and bliss

There is no heaven above or earth beneath: there is only now.

We must make the most of it at all costs.

“You only live once” – YOLO – is the motto of our secular age.

10. It never looks up to God but ignores him (or uses him to find personal meaning and comfort)

If God serves me and my purposes, then he can be part of my life. But submitting to him?

That sounds oppressive, and therefore unthinkable.

Welcome to the religion of our Secular Age.


Article supplied with thanks to Akos Balogh.

About the Author: Akos heads up the External Engagement Team at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia. He has a Masters in Theology and is a trained Combat and Aerospace Engineer.

Feature image: Photo by Miguel Bruna on Unsplash