Jacques Ellul

Jacques Ellul was a French philosopher and critical theorist born in Bordeaux France in 1912. He grew up in poor living conditions, however received a good education in the public schools, entering the University of Bordeaux at age 17. It was during this time that Ellul had an epiphany with God, where he believed he felt His presence, and since declared himself a Christian. Ellul’s other influences growing up were his father, World War II, and especially Karl Marx. Ellul is most famous for publishing thousands of books and articles on technology and propaganda, topics that were both popular in the midst of war. Author’s such as C.S. Lewis, and Aldus Huxley touched on such ideas, because of the fascination over Germany and Socialism. Ellul touched on a number of subjects through his lifetime, including politics, theology, propaganda, and technology. Like most theorists who study Marx, Ellul was very critical of power and institution. Following the second World War, Ellul served as a French Councilman in the government, but quickly resigned realizing he was too critical of the Left as well as the Right. He preferred to take no side, but later developed the ideologies of the Ecumenical movement, defined as seeing the Church as the larger establishment, and how everyone can come to common spiritual terms. Ellul has a very distinct interpretation of Church and State, one he called Christian Anarchism. He believed the two to function separately-Christianity provides the universal laws to which we are morally bound, while government exists to put pressure on these. It is called anarchism because he believes from a Christian perspective that revolution and violence are permitted when government has penetrated the Christian Law. Drawing from Marx, Ellul realized violence is permitted when Christianity is being subordinated. One of Ellul’s biggest criticisms was of technology and how it has replaced the sacredness of God. He believes that human nature concerns itself with development and advancement for humankind, but the dominion over nature has proven to costly. First, he says that rather than controlling technology, it has begun to control us- meaning our lives are shaped by the things we deem helpful or efficient. Efficiency is a big point for Ellul, he believes our concern for efficiency has replaced our need for nature, whereas nature used to dictate life and death and efficiency of technology has replaced that need. As it pertains to Christianity, he believes technology is held on a pedestal as sacred, a spot that religion and the Bible used to hold. He offers the Church lost it’s sacredness to the Bible, because the Bible provided answers and knowledge. Similarly, as science provided answers the Bible did not, people came to believe technology was the sacred gift. Ellul contends that this is the loss of human ethics, that desire has taken form in society as the greatest need. Ellul also touches on propaganda, a subject that was very popular during the World War II era. He draws from his ideologies on politics and government to synthesize a critical view of propaganda. First, he found media to be an extension of technology, a driving force for information and knowledge. Secondly, he believes media cannot exist without influence by others. Interest groups, political parties, government, and personal biases are flushed in the media and inherently manipulate the public. He believes propaganda exists in Western Culture because society has become mass-based rather than individually based. The public can be viewed as a group of common interests and emotions, and the ability to psychologically and socially tap these emotions is the very purpose of media. He specifies the distinctions between political propaganda- manipulation by government for political purposes- and social propaganda- group think approach to fitting into society. He criticizes the establishment for undermining the public’s freedom, but at the same time admits it is also the people’s fault. Ellul is noted for being a very local man, he was born in Bordeaux and died just outside the college. Part of this was a lack of trust of external institutions, and the other because he enjoyed spending his time writing and teaching. His criticism on technology was very current for his time and continues to be analyzed, as technology seems to be an endless exploration.

1) Ellul, Jacques. Propaganda : the formation of men's attitudes. New York: Vintage Books, 1973.

2) Ellul, Jacques. Perspectives on Our Age: Jacques Ellul Speaks on His Life and Work. House Of Anansi, 2004.

3) Hanks, Joyce Main, and Rolf Asal. Jacques Ellul: A comprehensive bibliography. Jai Press, 1984.

4) Ellul, Jacques. The technological society. New York: Vintage Books, 1964.