Re: The St. Benedict Option
[Rod Dreher  03/27 04:03 PM]

Reader Tyler writes:

In response to your question, "What would the St. Benedict option look like today?", I would say that several examples, some of which have been touched upon in the blog, are evidence that this approach has been well underway for some time. Homeschooling. The vibrancy of orthodox Christianity (compared with the vacuity of the mainline Protestant branches). As well as efforts such as Ave Maria University and Ave Maria town, the project of Tom Monahan (who incidentally had to defend to the likes of Katie Couric how it could be possible that a community could be formed where porno, condoms, and abortions were not readily available), in deed this blog itself.

We as a culture must now rely on our creative minorities (the phrase is that of Benedict XVI) to preserve that which is True. From this spark one hopes that future generations can emerge from the cultural catacombs to spread the good news once again to the barbarians. The demographics which appear so bleak for Europe may be the key to the future, as the counter-culture leftists are aging and are not reproducing. The trends can already be seen. For example, it has been my experience that most of the young priests I encounter are far more orthodox then the older generation.

Ultimately, however I do not think that a broad political movement can be created out of those who may be "crunchy" on the left and/or right. The call to live by the measure of the Permanent Things is simply not popular. I therefore fully endorse article 10 of your manifesto, which acknowledges that the culture can not be saved by politics. Each man must decide how am I to live my life and for what purpose. No public policy promulgated by politicians will answer this question.