Generation Gap

I heard the story that Socrates told about the young generation of his time: they spent much time before mirrors to enhance their appearance; they didn’t respect elders, and so on. But such frustration with the next generation by the older generation is as old as the world. This story repeats in almost every generation. I heard the same from my parents when we were young, and now we do the same to the younger generation.

However, there is also a truth in this phenomenon. The older generation does not accuse the younger generation merely for the sake of accusing. As the values of each generation evolve, the older generation often feels that the younger generation’s pursuit of individual pleasure comes at the expense of what is more important in life—cultivating relationships, both with God and with fellow human beings. This frustration is not limited to oral statements; we hear the same sentiment echoed in texts both ancient and modern.

For example, Vyasa, after completing the great epic Mahabharata, lamented:

“With my arms raised I am shouting, but nobody listens to me: when both wealth and pleasure can be had from dharma, why do people not follow it?”
(Swargohana-parva, 5.62)

Similarly, it is commonly attributed to Ramalinga Vallalar that he said:

“கடை விரித்தேன் கோள்வார் இல்லை கட்டிவிட்டோன்” (I opened my shop, but there are no buyers; therefore, I closed it).

This line reflects Vallalar’s profound frustration and sorrow about people’s lack of receptiveness to the spiritual truths and compassion he shared. It is a metaphor for his spiritual offerings, emphasizing his selfless work for the betterment of humanity and his dismay at its neglect. However, it must be acknowledged that there is no direct reference to this line in Vallalar’s writings, though it is widely attributed to him.

When I read the following account about Origen (185–253 C.E.), I thought: this remains true across all eras:

But Origen was not just a theologian. Above all, he was a teacher of the Bible, with a pastor’s heart. The pastoral challenges he faced sound remarkably to those facing pastors in the twenty-first century. Immersed in a culture more interested in undemanding pantheism than rigorous discipleship, many Christians gave scant attention to their own religion, were more concerned with pleasure and commerce, and even when in church wanted to be titillated with amusing stories rathe than difficult strictures from the Scriptures. Listen to an excerpt from one of Origen’s sermons:

The Lord has entrusted me with the task of giving his household their allowance of food [Bible teaching] at the appointed time [Lk 12:42]. … But how can I? Where and when can I find a time when you will listen to me? The greater part of your time, nearly all of it in fact, you spend on mundane things, in the market-place or the shops; some of you are busy in the country, others wrapped up in litigation. Nobody, or hardly anybody, bothers about God’s Word…. But why complain about those who are not here? Even those who are, those of you who have come to church, are paying no attention. You can take an interest in tales that have become worn out through repetition, but you turn your backs on God’s Word and the reading of Holy Scripture. [Homilies on Genesis 10:1; cited in Jean Danielou, Origen, trans. Walter Mitchell (New York: Sheed & Ward, 1955), p. 42]

Origen complained that some stood in the corner of church and gabbed while the Bible was being read or preached. He lamented that although he urged the young men to study the Bible, he had wasted his time. “None” seemed to take his suggestion. [Gerald R. McDermott. God’s Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2007, p. 137]

If Origen were alive today, he might have added: “You are not even chatting with others but scrolling your mobile at lightning speed, not even pausing to watch meaningful messages.” Is this a generation gap or a reality of every generation?

DB

Gurukulam, 24-1-2025