Advent, Camus, and London Calling

Camus defines revolt as a defiant, persistent affirmation of meaning and value in the face of absurdity, suffering, and catastrophe. Revolt is not a passive resignation but an active, conscious resistance to despair.

Revolt in the Face of Catastrophe

The Season of Advent reminds us of the moments when the “foundations are shaken”—such as the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70, 9/11, the pandemic, and so on—events that echo the absurd, destabilizing crises Camus described. These are moments when life feels unintelligible, and the natural response might be despair or resignation.

Camus’ idea of revolt calls us to reject nihilism in these moments. Instead of passively accepting chaos or trying to impose an artificial meaning (as Josephus did with his judgment theology), revolt insists on continuing to seek justice, hope, and purpose. Hope in God’s unrelenting faithfulness—can be seen as an expression of spiritual revolt: a refusal to let catastrophe define the ultimate reality.

Similarly, “London Calling” embodies the spirit of revolt. The song does not ignore or minimize the crises it describes; it faces them head-on, naming them with clarity and urgency. Yet, in its defiant energy and driving rhythm, it implicitly asks, “What can we do?” This question mirrors Camus’ assertion that revolt must involve action—a refusal to accept absurdity passively.

Revolt and Human Responsibility

Human responsibility is Camus’ vision of revolt. He rejects the idea of waiting passively for divine intervention or apocalyptic resolution and emphasizes the need for human action to confront injustice and suffering. Human evil comprises human choices, and we must live ethically and courageously in the here and now.

For Camus, revolt does not mean achieving ultimate answers but committing to the ongoing struggle for truth, justice, and meaning. This is reflected in Advent's call to ethical living and “London Calling”’s critique of complacency. The song’s apocalyptic imagery warns that ignoring human responsibility risks being overwhelmed by the consequences of our inaction.

Imagination as a Form of Revolt

The Advent theme—living God’s future today—is in harmony with Camus’ emphasis on the role of imagination in revolt. Camus believed that the human capacity to imagine new possibilities is central to resisting despair. In the language of Daniel and the “Son of Man” sayings,  we are to imagine and live in the redemptive reality of God’s kingdom, even when the world seems irredeemable.

For Camus, this imaginative act is a form of rebellion against absurdity: we create meaning not by denying suffering but by responding to it with creativity and integrity. In this way, the Advent call to “live God’s future today” is a profoundly revolutionary act, a refusal to be defined by the brokenness of the present.

Hope, Defiance, and Advent as Revolt

Advent itself is an act of revolt. Preparing for Christ's coming, trusting in God’s promise of redemption, and living ethically in the present are all ways of saying “no” to despair and “yes” to hope, even in the face of unthinkable crises.

• "Revolt" is seen in the choice of those who trust that God will not abandon history, even after Jerusalem’s destruction or other catastrophic events. Living as though the kingdom of God is already here is an ethical challenge.

• In “London Calling,” revolt is found in The Clash’s defiance against societal and environmental decay. The song does not offer easy answers, but its urgency and energy refuse to accept complacency.

• In Camus’ philosophy, revolt is the continuous, deliberate choice to affirm meaning and value, even when the absurd threatens to overwhelm.

Living Advent as Revolt

Advent,  Camus’ philosophy, and “London Calling” converge on the question, " How shall we live in the face of chaos?"

• Revolt as Faith: Trusting in God’s ultimate redemption is an act of spiritual defiance against despair, much like the trust embodied in Jeremiah’s prophecy: “Surely the day is coming…”

• Revolt as Responsibility: Advent and Camus's ethical heart is taking ownership of our choices, recognizing our capacity for good and evil, and living ethically now.

• Revolt as Imagination: To live God’s future today, to envision redemption even in a broken world, is a profoundly revolutionary act—one that The Clash’s music, the Advent message, and Camus’ philosophy all call us to embrace.

In this light, the Advent season becomes a time of waiting and active, hopeful rebellion against all that seeks to diminish life, hope, and love. It is the ultimate revolt: proclaiming that God's kingdom is coming even when the world is drowning, and we are called to live in it now.

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