Ideas That Matter: The New Atlantis



Image source: Amazon.com

For a brief spell I allowed myself to be swept up into Dan Brown’s fascinating portrayal of the American democracy as he wove the tale of The Lost Symbol. Drawing from the intriguing worlds of secret societies, the CIA, and the history of America’s founding ideals, Brown transports the reader from the rabid incivilities of modern day politics with its harsh social and economic realities into a world where time has largely filtered out the same current that might have played out in such a momentous time.  Brown delivers his signature style of driving, gripping suspense amidst intimate details of art, architecture, history, and symbolism.

Washington Monument, DC

Perhaps what I appreciated most about reading The Lost Symbol was the demystifying of the occult, and symbolism in a way that connected the dots bringing the origins of sacred literature, the Ancient Mysteries, and science to its progenitors in the world of alchemy and philosophy. This is not to say that conspiratorial minds may make less controversy about symbolism in our currency and constitution. Rather, my hope is that it illuminates and inspires a fresh wave of faith and hope in the ideals of the Great American Project—the New Atlantis—a vision founded on ideals of intellectualism, freedom, and science.

Also notable, in cameo appearance, Brown showcases the strengths and advantages of technological innovations in computer science, defense systems, and the emergent field of noetic science. This seemed to indirectly underscore the prophet Ecclesiates’ exhortation, “There is nothing new under the sun…” in the way modern security protocol intersects the secret passages and symbolic art & architecture of the nation’s capitol. Or, as a colleague shared recently, “The more you know the more human we become. Also the more we know, the more we realize we do not know and the more open we are to learning, and the more tolerant we are of others…keep learning” (LDR).