That our particular outlook or view of the world is greatly influenced by the era in which we live—what is often called “the spirit of the times”—is self-evident. Yet, throughout history, failure to notice this obvious truth has been the cause of much human misery. When some new worldview offering itself as the provider of all meaning and purpose in life comes to prominence, the false confidence it engenders invariably leads to tragedy.  Perhaps in no other time has this been as obvious as it was in the twentieth century. In the first half of that century the twin evils…