World Crisis
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the sense of crisis became widespread. The outbreak of World War I crowned this mood, which was experienced as the bankruptcy of civilization. Humanity was lost, and humanism had failed. Contemporary crisis literature and artistic movements (such as Symbolists and Futurists) reflect this sentiment. Spengler's book The Decline of the West widely reinforced this perception.
The sense of crisis became the central existential problem. Its characteristics include the previously familiar world appearing unfamiliar to people. Objects and things seemed to change, leaving individuals confused and uncertain. People could no longer perceive the facts and ideas of the world as solid. Reality was no longer a support or foundation, and established axioms had become relativized (see Einstein). Humanity seemed to have fallen into the sway of superhuman demons.
Explanations for the Crisis:
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Loss of Balance: The equilibrium between humanity and nature was disrupted; humanity elevated itself above nature and denied its natural essence. By doing so, people isolated themselves from the universe and narrowed the boundaries of their own existence. Consequently, they could only think in terms of historical time and space, losing the opportunity to understand the essence of the world and the purpose of both the world and their own existence.
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Irreligion: This signifies the denial of God. With this came the loss of a unified worldview and the profound spiritual perspective of Christianity. Understanding the world through religion is not merely an alternative but a deeper, more profoundly grounded intellectual experience: metaphysical knowledge is deeper than empirical knowledge. The absence of a transcendent connection leads to a flattening of life and inner impoverishment. The modern crisis is ultimately a religious crisis; everything else is a consequence of this. Modern man lacks supernatural engagement, has no universal attitude, and is no longer a cosmic being but rather an empirical, humanistic one. No longer is God the measure of all things; instead, man has taken that place. Modern man suffers from transcendental blindness. The cosmic man perceives beautiful order in the world, while the humanistic man sees chaos.
The Loss of Cosmic Connection:
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The God-King was a universal, cosmic being — the sun, the giver of life — representing the supernatural. He was the rule and the measure, guiding law, economy, and art. During the process of humanization, this kingship was replaced by the dominance of the priesthood, then the nobility, the bourgeoisie, and eventually the proletariat. The noble, higher being was ousted from governance. The lower order rose to power; this process of humanization is seen as the cause of destruction. The divine religion became a human religion, heaven became earthly, and the sacred became social.
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In Greek history, man was proclaimed the measure of all things, elevated to the level of the god-man.
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This process culminated in the humanization movement between the 14th and 18th centuries (humanism, enlightenment).
The Way Out of the Crisis:
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A new worldview is necessary, one that eliminates extreme individualism, which rejects all norms. The narrow limits of the individual can only be overcome within a religious community.
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The ultimate intensification of the crisis is the beginning of the solution: one must reach complete denial — nihilism, catharsis, and rebellion against man — which can bring about purification and a great reversal. This is a religious catharsis: humanity and the world are born anew.
Veszprémi Lilla