Nihilism, as this writer understands it, is simply giving up on critical thought, meaning, purpose, or any activity that hasn’t a discernible paycheck or minimally the thrill of retribution on the backend of the effort. Nihilism is apparently making a comeback in our culture. That should come as no surprise to any of us given the current national leadership. Nihilism, ironically is a form of absolute belief in nothing: a low rent system of belief that apparently can be strengthened on a hammock on the edge of sleep and simmering rage. No wonder nihilists are often opposed to being ‘woke’ (whatever that means); a state the requires being conscious, awake and alive. 

David Brooks recently wrote an article for the New York Times entitled: The Rise of Right-Wing Nihilism.  His article describes the rise of nihilism in the US. He quotes this new culture’s “pervasive demonization and fearmongering, with leaders feeling no need to negotiate with the other side, just decimate it. For the left side of the political spectrum it is good to remember the ineffectiveness of the short 1% occupy movement. For the right wing it is best to hold in mind the utter, tragic, consequences of Timmothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma bombing. Belief sets the stage for the articulation of purpose, value, and truth just beyond the edge of certainty, while taking into account the inevitable mystery of human subjectivity. Good decisions are inextricably intertwined with the hard effort of aligning purpose, value, truth and community with the rippling consequences of every step we take. Nihilism simply divorces itself from consequence. The “True Believer” is a cover for nihilism. Truth runs with the times and can’t be freeze dried in political prattle. 

A modest proposal for good

If you are discouraged, confused, feeling betrayed and retreating, it is time to get off the hammock, out of bed, and back into the fray. Belief, commitment, and reading consequences are the choices you must make when the certainty runs out. The need to decisively act is immediate. Belief does not require a theology to support it although theology can often support or counter belief. There probably are no actual nihilists in this world, only people who choose when faced with the courageous requirements of belief’s uncertainties to shirk the reality only to blindly worship from the hammock of life in that backwater church called “Not Believing in Anything”. Hold on to your particular soul and decide in respect for your sense of good. The Good Decision as a Project is meant to be an act of meta-belief and courage inspired from within; from your own unique personal and spiritual authority, and designed deliberately for the good of you, your nation’s communities, and democracies value’s in the struggle for equality and value. That just might be good.