Cynicism is good. Being a cynic is not.
At least, that’s the distinction I’ve made. Is it idealistic? Probably. One can cultivate pessimism only so long before becoming a professional misfit. Nevertheless, in a world full of blind men, it’s hard not to feel like a social reject. Especially when I can see what’s coming.
Onward.
All cynics are cynical. But being cynical does not necessarily make one a cynic. I mean, just because I don’t believe “the good life” is really possible, doesn’t make me a defeatist. It’s true, since I gave up hope, I feel a lot better. But if your parachute is faulty, why not cut yourself loose and enjoy the freefall? (C’mon. This is basic postmodern ethics, folks.)
But I digress.
Being cynical and being a cynic are two different things. The former is an attitude or POV, the latter is a condition. It’s a tightrope, but it’s one we must walk.
Just look at Jesus.
The Bible says Christ did not “entrust Himself to any man, for He knew what was in man” (Jn. 2;24). In this, we concur. So was Christ a cynic? No. He was a realist, that’s all. He saw us for what we are. He knew that men were effectively screwed up and kept Himself at arms length.
Yet, while He proclaimed that “the flesh profits nothing” (Jn. 6:63), that the religious establishment were “broods of vipers” (Matt. 23:33), that His temple had become “a den of thieves” (Matt. 21:13), and that the road to destruction was broad and many would find it (Matt. 7:13), He was still able to say:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Take heart? How un-cynic-like
Because we live in a fallen world populated by sinners and charlatans, a certain degree of cynicism, skepticism, disillusionment, and distrust seems healthy, even necessary. The problem is when cynicism is pervasive and predominant, overrides grace and charity, becomes a way of life. And causes me to “lose heart.”
Quite a tightrope, isn’t it?
OK, maybe I am trying to talk myself into this. Either way, I don’t expect this post to be much read. People are generally looking for light, fluffy fare which nurtures their naivete. So if you’ve read this far, welcome to the curmudgeon’s club.
Just a bit of advice from one who’s visited: It’s stuffy in here.
I’m with you. It’s one thing to be a cynic professionally, but quite another to question things going on around me. This is a good and necessary thing.
I told my husband about your book- The Resurrection, and he’s excited about it too. Still not sure which genre the Lord will settle me into, but this does sound like a very possible route. Thanks for sharing on Novel Rocket.
God bless!
Karen
I agree that there’s a line among cynicism, realism, and defeatism. You can be a realist without being defeatist.
• Being a cynic is assuming that other drivers around you aren’t paying attention.
• Being a realist is assuming responsibility for avoiding what accidents you can, because not everybody is paying attention.
• Being defeatist is assuming that you’re going to get in a wreck anyway, so why bother trying to avoid them?
At least, that’s how I think of it.
That’s a great way to describe it Carradee. I like it. I also remembered this verse:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
Bah! Humbug!
(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
PS–I agree with ya.
Mike, I’m not sure if it’s cynicism, experience gained over more decades on this earth than I like to count, or an innate belief that TANSTAFL (there ain’t no such thing as free lunch), but I find that my attitude is much as you describe as I struggle with the changes in the world I see each day.
Cynicism equates with realism more often than not. I’m such an optimist I still think John McCain has a shot at president, the realist in me knows better. On the other hand, a cynic has been beaten down so many times they no longer think that the opposite has a chance of occurring. I think they all have blood type B negative, too.
Cynics enlarge their own rites of right to self-regard by forcing acquiescence in their subjects. No greater is the cynic who successfully shuts up criticism due him.
You just explained to me how I can be a realist and an idealist at the same time (which I am).
Any Christian is technically a realist and an idealist. We are realists in that we know we are fallen. We are idealists in that we strive and press on for the goal.
Fie on thee, silly heart. Aroint thee! I am not at all hungry for that “which nurtures (my) naivete.” Neither am I zealous to bark at transgressors.
I’m seeking positive, substantive solutions.
Like Dr. Horrible said. “The world is mess, and I just need to… rule it.”
I tend to think of this tightrope you identify as the narrow way Christ mentioned. Yes, it’s a narrow way because no one comes to the Father but through Jesus. But it is narrow too because the resulting world view gives us this line leading through so many apparent dichotomies.
We are to be as wise as serpents but as innocent as doves, for example. We are to lose our lives to save them, be first by being last, love our enemies and do good to those who do us wrong.
Is it cynicism or is it faith? Faith that stuff that looks one way to me is actually something different because God says so. I can look at the tree and say, Wow, the fruit looks good, but no I’m not eating because God has said not to.
Cynical? Some might think so. The idealist might say, What looks good is good and God surely didn’t mean you’d actually die! The cynic might say, I’ll probably die anyway. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if there are other trees in this garden just as dangerous. Why didn’t God warn me about them? Probably because He planned to bring me down all along.
OK, lots of speculation there, but I think living in the tension of the two positions you paint gives us the balance we need — and I suppose the balance keeps us on the tightrope. 😉
Becky
My dad is forever quoting Oscar Wilde at me: “The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Yup, pretty much.
I therefore thank God for giving me hope through faith. I thank God that I have a sense of humor, and I thank God for my children because they help tether me to earth. Otherwise, I’d get lost in my curmudgeonly mind.
Funny how the word has changed, though. A Cynic was originally “one of a sect of Greek philosophers, 4th century b.c., who advocated the doctrines that virtue is the only good, that the essence of virtue is self-control, and that surrender to any external influence is beneath human dignity.” (Dictionary.com) 🙂
Because we live in a fallen world populated by sinners and charlatans, a certain degree of cynicism, skepticism, disillusionment, and distrust seems healthy, even necessary. The problem is when cynicism is pervasive and predominant, overrides grace and charity, becomes a way of life. And causes me to “lose heart.”
Wow…what a beautiful way of describing the necessary balancing act.
Dr. Martin Seligman, one of the world’s foremost researchers on the topic of Optimism, often emphasizes in his writings that there are times when cold realism is more important than an idealistic perspective. Positivity has a number of proven benefits, but when it’s unbalanced it can lead to more harm than good.
Lemme try:
A cynic is a person, cross-related to a critic, who LIVES “in cynicism” or to be Seussish, “in cyn”.
Cynicism is an attitude, cross-related to altitude which can go up or down depending on the speed a person is traveling through life. Someone who is cynical LIVES cyclically rather than as a permanent resident “in cynicism”.
As The Brain said, “…try to take over the world!”