Chuck Colson writes eloquently (via email) of the need to break "the Spiral of Silence." Christians and social conservatives need to speak up. Read on... (Bolding is Colson's)
German sociologist Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann coined the phrase "the Spiral of Silence" after witnessing Hitler and his ilk intimidate citizens until they were afraid to speak out against the most horrible evils imaginable: the mass slaughter of human beings.
Noelle-Neumann said that a society falls into this fearful state, the Spiral of Silence, when it allows a tiny majority of the population to control the conversation. Most people are by nature reluctant to go against the tide of public opinion. Others are frightened, so the majority is silenced.
Have we succumbed to the Spiral of Silence? Have we remained silent while our culture is hijacked by philosophies hostile to God's created order?
Sadly, we too often have. In fact, Christians have been cowed into silence over our most fundamental issues! Proponents of traditional marriage, religious freedom, and the sanctity of human life are labeled "ignorant," "bigoted," "out-of-touch," and "intolerant."
Yet 40 percent of Americans identify themselves as born again. How are Christian values in retreat? Why are we allowing a handful of angry voices to control the public conversation?
What frustrates me the most is that in any rational examination of the issues, the biblical worldview triumphs. It makes more sense for society, for example, to build healthy marriages than to allow them to be destroyed. The real problem I see is our failure to speak out against the lies, against injustice, and present our case in a winsome way. I think if we will do this, we will begin to break the Spiral of Silence, and the cultural debate will begin to shift. This is what we are called to do, and I believe it is our most urgent task.
Our Culture Is Being Hijacked . . . Will You Speak Out?
The Christian Worldview is under attack from every angle. A few but loud voices have convinced us that we are “out of the mainstream” for holding to our Judeo-Christian values. These voices have framed the debate on marriage, life, and religious freedom while Christians remain silent for fear of being labeled “bigots” or “intolerant.” This fear to speak out against the perceived societal norm is called “the Spiral of Silence.”
The secularists of today have advanced the idea that those who disagree with them are in the minority. But this simply is not true. With 40 percent of Americans identifying themselves as born again, we at The Colson Center know that the “silent majority” would forcefully speak out against the post-Christian attitudes if provided with the proper resources.
That is why the ministry of The Colson Center is so important.
We are here to provide you with hundreds of resources so that you can convincingly argue for Christian values. Right now we are offering The Manhattan Declaration to help you stand up, speak out, and break “the Spiral of Silence.”
The Manhattan Declaration describes, with no apology, the biblical posture on three areas of attack on our worldview: the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, and religious freedom. With this resource, you will become better equipped to defend your beliefs and present your case winsomely.
We cannot allow a few loud alternative voices to put Christians in retreat. Now is the time to courageously speak up on cultural issues and defend truth in every area of life. The Manhattan Declaration will be the perfect resource to help you do just that.
Get your copy today!