The Religion of Wokeism:   From a conservative Christian perspective, the as “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)” can be seen as woefully deficient because it frames the term in a way that prioritizes secular, progressive concerns over biblical principles and eternal truths.   An analysis of the Merriam-Webster definition of "woke:"   First, the definition emphasizes "racial and social justice" as the central focus, which conservative Christians might argue reflects a worldview rooted in human-centered ideology rather than God-centered theology. Scripture, they would say, calls believers to prioritize justice as defined by God—grounded in righteousness, personal responsibility, and reconciliation through Christ (Micah 6:8, Romans 3:26)—not as redefined by contemporary social movements. The "woke" lens, in their view, often elevates group identity and systemic grievances over individual sin and redemption, which are the heart of the Christian gospel.   Second, the phrase "important facts and issues" leaves out any mention of spiritual realities—sin, salvation, or the Kingdom of God—which a conservative Christian would consider the most important facts of all. By focusing solely on temporal societal issues, the definition risks reducing human purpose to activism rather than worship and obedience to God. Jesus Himself said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), suggesting a hierarchy of priorities that transcends earthly justice campaigns.   Third, the term "actively attentive" implies a call to action that aligns with progressive activism—protests, policy advocacy, or cultural critique—rather than the transformative inner work of faith, prayer, and discipleship that conservative Christians often emphasize. They might argue that true awareness comes from being "awake" to God’s truth (Ephesians 5:14), not to a shifting slate of political causes.   Finally, many conservative Christians see "woke" ideology as inherently divisive, clashing with the biblical call to unity in Christ (Galatians 3:28). They contend that the dictionary’s framing endorses a mindset that fuels resentment and victimhood rather than forgiveness and grace, which are central to Christian teaching.   In short, from this perspective, the definition isn’t just incomplete—it’s a symptom of a broader cultural drift away from God’s design, dressing up ideological trends as moral imperatives while ignoring the deeper spiritual battle at play.   Are you Woke? What does this mean?   Wokeism, a modern sociopolitical ideology, emphasizes identity politics, systemic oppression, and social justice through a lens of progressive activism. While its proponents argue it seeks equity and liberation, a conservative biblical-theological perspective reveals fundamental incompatibilities with scriptural principles. Below is a rebuttal grounded in key biblical themes: human nature, sin, salvation, and God’s design for justice and society.   First, Wokeism’s anthropology—its view of humanity—clashes with the Bible’s teaching. Scripture declares that all people are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), equal in dignity and worth, yet universally fallen due to sin (Romans 3:23). Wokeism, however, categorizes individuals primarily by group identity—race, gender, or class—assigning moral value based on perceived oppression or privilege. This contradicts the biblical truth that our core identity is not in earthly distinctions but in our relation to God. Galatians 3:28 states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The gospel unifies across human divisions, while Wokeism amplifies them, fostering resentment rather than reconciliation.   Second, Wokeism misunderstands sin and guilt. The Bible frames sin as an individual and cosmic problem—rebellion against God (Isaiah 53:6)—for which all are accountable. Woke ideology, by contrast, often attributes guilt collectively based on historical actions of one’s group (e.g., “white privilege” or “systemic racism”). This concept of inherited, unearned guilt contradicts Ezekiel 18:20: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the father’s iniquity.” While Scripture acknowledges corporate consequences of sin (e.g., Exodus 20:5), it rejects the idea that individuals bear personal culpability for others’ actions absent repentance or restitution, which Wokeism rarely emphasizes.   Third, Wokeism offers a false salvation. The Bible teaches that redemption comes solely through Christ’s atoning work (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9), transforming individuals and, through them, society. Wokeism, however, proposes secular salvation through activism, reparations, or dismantling systems deemed oppressive. This mirrors the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)—a human attempt to achieve utopia apart from God. Scripture warns against such self-reliance: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). True justice flows from hearts aligned with God, not from endless deconstruction.   Finally, Wokeism’s vision of justice deviates from God’s. Biblical justice is rooted in God’s character—righteous, impartial, and merciful (Deuteronomy 32:4; Micah 6:8). It seeks restoration, not retribution, as seen in Christ’s command to love enemies (Matthew 5:44). Woke justice, however, often demands punitive measures against perceived oppressors, prioritizing power redistribution over reconciliation. This breeds division, contradicting the biblical call to “seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:11). Moreover, Wokeism’s relativism—where truth bends to lived experience—undermines the absolute authority of God’s Word (John 17:17).   In summary, Wokeism offers a counterfeit gospel: it redefines identity apart from God, misdiagnoses sin, pursues salvation through human effort, and distorts justice into vengeance. A conservative biblical theology rejects this framework, holding fast to the sufficiency of Scripture and the transformative power of Christ. True liberation comes not through ideology, but through the cross—where all are made equal, forgiven, and called to live under God’s reign.   Definitions:   In academic terms, "wokeism" lacks a singular, universally accepted definition, as its meaning shifts depending on the ideological lens through which it is viewed. Below, I present two distinct definitions rooted in the perspectives requested: first, from the framework of woke social justice, and second, from conservative biblical scholarship.   From the perspective of woke social justice, wokeism can be understood as an ideological and cultural framework centered on heightened awareness of systemic injustices embedded within societal structures, particularly those perpetuating oppression based on race, gender, sexuality, and class. It emphasizes intersectionality—the interconnected nature of these identity-based oppressions—and calls for active resistance against hegemonic power dynamics, often through deconstructing traditional norms, advocating for equity over equality, and amplifying marginalized voices. Proponents position wokeism as a moral imperative to dismantle patriarchal, colonial, and capitalist systems, viewing it as a progressive evolution of ethical consciousness informed by critical theory, postcolonial studies, and feminist scholarship.   Conversely, conservative biblical scholarship defines wokeism as a secular, postmodern ideology that conflicts with traditional Christian orthodoxy and biblical authority. It is critiqued as a worldview that prioritizes subjective human experience and identity politics over divine revelation, universal truth, and moral absolutes as articulated in Scripture. Scholars in this tradition argue that wokeism replaces the biblical narrative of sin and redemption with a socio-political framework of oppressors and oppressed, undermining individual responsibility and the centrality of faith in Christ. They often characterize it as a form of cultural Marxism or a quasi-religious movement that elevates temporal justice above eternal salvation, citing passages like Galatians 3:28 ("There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus") to assert unity in Christ over identity divisions.   Some Relevant Comments:\   1st quote   Elon Musk @elonmusk This is what I mean by the woke mind virus. The more I learn, the more insidious and deadly it appears.   Maybe the biggest existential danger to humanity is having it programmed into the AI, as is the case for every AI besides @Grok. Even for Grok, it’s tough to remove, because there is so much woke content on the internet.   For example, when other AIs were asked whether global thermonuclear war or misgendering was worse, they picked the latter. The existential problem with that extrapolation is that a super powerful AI could decide that the only 100% certain way to stop misgendering is to kill all humans.   2/26/2025 on X   2nd quote    ELON: THE WOKE MIND VIRUS IS CREATING AN ARTIFICIAL MENTAL CIVIL WAR    “To summarize the woke mind virus, it consists of creating very, very divisive identity politics.    It actually amplifies racism, it amplifies sexism and all the -isms, while claiming to do the opposite.    It actually divides people and makes them hate each other, and it makes people hate themselves.    It's also anti-meritocratic, it's not merit-based.    You want to have people succeed based on how hard they work and their talents, not who they are, whether they're a man, woman, what race or gender.    It's an artificial mental civil war that is created.  And let me tell you, it's no fun.    Woke mind virus and fun are incompatible.  There's no fun in that, no joy.    The woke mind virus is all about condemning people instead of celebrating people.    When in the work, it just doesn't celebrate.    It's all about condemning and being divisive.    I think it's just evil.”    Source: Atreju, Italy, December 2023   A Confessional Statement:   The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel https://statementonsocialjustice.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/SSJG-FINAL.pdf   The above study was Groked, under the direction of Jack Kettler, and perfected using Grammarly AI.   “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)   Mr. Kettler is an author who has previously published articles in the Chalcedon Report and Contra Mundum. He and his wife, Marea, are active Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church members. Mr. Kettler’s extensive work includes 18 books defending the Reformed Faith, which are available for order online at Amazon