Words Mean Things: How the word “Wholesome” is being changed
I was blessed to have grown up in a wholesome atmosphere with a great family – Mom, Dad and my brother. Life was fairly simple; we played outside without worries of drive-by shootings, went to church on Sundays, and had lots of friends at school, where we learned how to read, write, spell, and do math.
When I say the word “wholesome” or “wholesomeness”, what comes to your mind? If you’re like me, it brings an image of a person who is healthy in body and spirit, and is moral in his/her behavior.
Miriam Webster’s Dictionary defines it this way: (1) promoting health or well-being of mind or spirit; (2) promoting health of body; (3) sound in body, mind, or morals; (4) having the simple health or vigor of normal domesticity; (5) prudent.
According to Dictionary.com, “wholesome” means: (1) conducive to moral or general well-being; salutary; beneficial: wholesome recreation; wholesome environment; (2) conducive to bodily health; healthful; salubrious: wholesome food; wholesome air; wholesome exercise; (3) suggestive of physical or moral health, especially in appearance; (4) healthy or sound.
Perhaps a good Scripture that would describe the word is found in Titus 2:7: Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.
There are many Scriptures that refer to purity in following God’s Word, that would be considered in ordinary terms to be an understanding of “wholesome”. I Timothy 6:3 (NLT) says it this way: “Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.”
II Timothy 4:3 goes on to say: “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.”
As with many words we understand one way, the word “wholesome” is in the process of being changed as to its meaning. Sometimes for political reasons, other times to diminish a positive image of a moral, and/or religious lifestyle, it’s a movement that has taken place over the past few years to help change the narrative in our society.
Here’s an example: In a recent article in vox.com , “Wholesomeness once meant sexual chastity. Now it’s progressive — and fashionable.” The article explains that wholesomeness – the way most of us understand it – is shorthand for the so-called “alt right“.
The article begins by explaining the new meaning of “wholesome” by using an ad:
“This is wholesome,” proclaimed a Honey Maid ad in 2014.
“In an idyllic montage, the camera pans over a white family with two dads, a black family with a military father, a tattooed white family playing punk rock together. A soothing male voice declares Honey Maid the brand of “everyday wholesome snacks, for every wholesome family.
“No matter how things change, what makes us wholesome never will,” the announcer says.”
The article goes on to state: “Wholesomeness as we’re using it now means friends supporting friends. It means valuing kindness. It means not judging simple pleasures. And while just a few short years ago, wholesomeness might have suggested a regressive nostalgia for the 1950s, today’s wholesomeness is determinedly progressive. If we’re going to have wholesome family values, the thinking seems to be, they’re damn well going to be diverse and multicultural wholesome family values.”
The articles goes on to explain why the word had to change its meaning:
“By the late ’00s, the left was pushing back vigorously against the evangelical right’s love of all that was pure and wholesome. In 2009, Jessica Valenti published The Purity Myth, arguing that American culture’s obsession with virginity was harming girls. Jezebel created a “purity” category that chronicled the purity ring movement’s worst offenses (sample entry: “The Purity Bear Will Cockblock You Until You’re Married”); those stories go back to 2008.
“Pure” and “wholesome” felt stale, and the words were used to neg. Pure as in puritanical. Wholesome as in bland. Nothing a teenager would want to self-identify as.”
As with many words and actions today, the Saul Alinsky’s “Rule for Radicals” comes into with attacking with words (ad hominem attacks – attacking the person rather than an argument).
The term “alt right” has come to mean (thanks to progressives),” characterized by an embrace of fascism, white supremacy, and misogyny, veiled by a screen of ironic memes and “do it for the lulz” troll humor…. By 2016, the alt-right had become a major part of Donald Trump’s base.”
The definition of “alt right”, according to Miriam Webster Dictionary is: a right-wing, primarily online political movement or grouping based in the U.S. whose members reject mainstream conservative politics and espouse extremist beliefs and policies typically centered on ideas of white nationalism. Here is where the political aspect enters the scene: If a person supports Trump, then they are “probably” “alt-right”. It’s a tactic used to silence mainstream individuals who don’t want to be “branded” (called names).
It’s interesting and educating to follow the many words that have been changed in meaning right under our noses. While engaging in conversation, we understand a word to mean one thing, and those who would change our way of life from a moral, Godly one to something else entirely, means something entirely different. It’s doublespeak – and something we should all be aware of as society changes from what it used to be – one with families, church, and love – a “wholesome” one – to something drastically different in nature – and not for the better.
Watch for more “Words Mean Things” writings coming soon.