Rev. Erudite Redneck, B.S., B.S., M.A., M.Div.

That makes me think of what one of my fav German profs said in a class years ago: it can never and will never go back to pre-literate, because pre-literate (pre-printing press and pre-glasses that became catalysts for wide-spread literacy)
meant deep knowledge in reading symbols and images - the medieval illiterate folk read their cathedral walls filled with statues and imagery like we read books today. In that way they were highly educated, and we still stand to learn from them.

I agree with her that that is missing today: the 15 minute information fixes and flickering images lead to wide-spread lack of concentration, boredom and a constant need for quick visual/mental fixes. It's milk, and what's missing is the substantial sustenance that can see connections.

And yes! Take it from a passionate philologist - learn language: any language, but in depth, because it isn't until you study a language in depth, that it connects to everything else: history, the sciences, the humanities, the social sciences, you, me and everyone on this planet.
 

Last time I looked-- on your, and every blog I encounter, as a matter of fact --the internet is chock full of language, subtitles on video; just about every video I see, in fact, has some written language incorporated within it. Written language is here to stay, and the ability to write and read it is as well. We have long since abandoned 'Oral History' as a primary source of knowledge.
 

There certainly seems to have been a rise in non-textual visual symbols that corresponds with all the image-based media (tv, film, video blogs, etc.), but I don't see text going anywhere. Just look at the huge number of text-based blogs out there, and all of us typing away in the comments.

I'm inclined to see languages changing at a more rapid pace as visual symbols assist communication across linguistic boundaries. "Post-literate" to me does not imply a lack of text, but the meshing of text and image. Although a written language changes more slowly than a spoken one, it does still change. Grammar moves, words are borrowed, and pronunciation shifts. And we've already introduced non-alphanumeric symbols to our written texts in the form of emoticons. It's only a matter of time before they make the leap into formal textual communication.

Because of changes in the language we already need historical analysis in order to get at what the founders intended when they wrote the Constitution, and it's only been a few hundred years. The English of the year 1000 is incomprehensible to us now, and known only to specialists. Just so will today's English eventually be relegated to the halls of academe. But text will continue to be a medium for both storage and communication of ideas for a long time to come.
 

A subject near and dear to my heart. American are becoming secondary oral learners (that is they can read and write but prefer to get information through video and audio means).

The issue is not the disappearance of the "literalness" (of which I do not have too much a problem) of the Bible but how will the Bible be told and transmitted in a primary and secondary oral cultures. I'll let you know if I learn anything about this.
 

Good points, all. I didn't mean to suggest that the use of text would disappear, but that it might become 1., relegated mostly elites, who had control of it in the first place, or 2., a second fiddle to some as-yet undeveloped Internet-based universal language comprised mostly of images; maybe these computer screens are the cave walls of our time. ?

Ironically, I am now off to go to three separate OKC library branches to get books I need for some work -- but I dound out which branches had 'em on this here 'puter!
 

Of course using the computer to access library catalogues and bibliographies is a great improvement to the old days - I remember having to look for journal articles in the catacombs of the U of Heidelberg 20 years ago (it was painful), when now I can order books and articles from libraries all over the world while sitting at home, and only have to make one trip to the U library to pick them up.

Try writing something half-way intelligent using information from the internet alone however, and no one will be able to take you seriously, your credibility will suffer.

Nothing beats the written, edited, researched and proven text for authority. The process toward publishing is so important, and we all rely on that work done by writers and editors.

Try looking up who said "murder your darlings" (in the context of creative writing)on the internet and you'll find all sorts of non-researched references to Mark Twain, Faulkner and others, without anyone having done serious research on that subject - when in fact the source lies elsewhere: it's not dependable because there is no accountability.
 

I'm reading a book that attributes the rise of monotheism to use of the alphabet.

Before the alphabet we saw things in images. With the feminine side of our brain. After the alphabet we saw things linearly with the male agreesive side of the brain.

ABC's caused Monotheism.

http://www.amazon.com/Alphabet-Versus-Goddess-Conflict-Between/dp/0140196013
 

Just thought I would let you know that I have nominated you for a Blogger's Choice Award for Best Religion Blog. Check out the site, get a little widget, and call in all those votes, man.
 

Literacy leads to monotheism. Veddy interesting.

Religion blog? Hoot. :-)
 

Geoffrey, I can't find myself on the awards site.

"I can't find myself."

:-)

Anyway, long day, so tired my eyes are crossed. But if you can hep, I'd 'preciate it.
 

Yeah, apparently I can't spell. I've corrected my mistake, so you should be able to find yourself now.