This is Holy Week in the Catholic and Christian Religions.
It is Passover week in Judaism.
Just a few weeks ago, I was in the presence of someone who
questioned my or anyone else’s “organized” religion as “believing in THAT fable…” Of
course, he is a “Progressive” – just an old-fashioned liberal who believes in
the power of humans, science and government.
My answer was – “So which “fable” is less believable? One where a man claims
he’s God, and then rises from the dead to prove it – or the one where every societal problem can be cured by claiming other people’s
money – and then hiring legions of people, most otherwise un-hirable anywhere
else – to solve them all?”
He didn’t know what I was talking
about. So, I wanted to write this to partially explain.
Think about this. In
Jesus’ case, what is undisputed is that people willingly died defending the
belief that he rose from the dead and was God. From St Peter to St Paul to
this modern era, people have been “making
sacrifices.” Of the Apostles – those who actually knew Jesus when he was
alive – other than Judas - who is said
to have killed himself, only John did not die a violent, martyr’s death… Think
about that – if 12 guys in a bar made up this “fable” – does the “joke” go far
enough for them to die defending it? I doubt it. Jews have been following and referencing
the 10 commandments for over 5,000 years. Many have died due to their religion
– certainly the Holocaust is recent proof of that, but it has been happening
for literally thousands of years. The Jewish people followed the
post-commandments Moses to another country and this exodus took a generation to
complete. Were they fools or was there something there? I don’t think people then were fools either.
We can argue about facts, history, miracles, the burning bush, Star of
Bethlehem, Sermon on the Mount – or whatever, what is not in dispute is
that people believed so totally that many gave their lives for that belief.
The point we’ve now arrived at is that
slowly, inexorably, half of Americans have become people who now believe
religion is for the stupid and only increased government can achieve “justice.” This post purports
to elaborate on that –
however first, by way
of background and perspective.
I was born and raised Catholic. Until graduate school, I was
educated exclusively in private Catholic institutions. Until graduate school, I
never attended a public school.
Today, I don’t consider myself a terribly devout Catholic –
let me explain. I am not filled with guilt if I miss mass on a Sunday –
although I do try to attend most weeks. I like going to the earliest mass – as
I prefer silent prayer as opposed to watching other people sing… I don’t tithe.
I give – I consider it generously, I don’t know if the church does or not – but believe it is giving, not
forced “mandates” that determine what I contribute on any
particular day. Despite these things, I have never doubted the existence of
God, the afterlife or the idea that people are generally good. I don’t believe in abortion – or alternatively,
don’t consider myself a “social conservative” in the way the media seems to
view this label. My problem with this is secular government’s involvement, either
positively or negatively. I don’t view government as the arbiter of
personal or societal morality. Frankly, these are the people who struggle to pick up
garbage – why would I entrust my
personal beliefs to some lawyers somewhere? Why would anyone?
So given this perspective, rightly or wrongly, I believe
that many Americans, perhaps as much as half, now view religion as outmoded or
restrictive, but government replaces it as the arbiter of all things. And this
is no accident. It is the result of a 100-year intellectual war and a warped
educational system which does anything to downplay or even deny that America is
a system based on Judeo-Christian ethics – and that origin is what made it
great.
From a purely cynical view, historically, you could say that
governments that embraced religion, especially a “state sponsored” one have generally
liked the idea that religious mores kept people in line. People did not
kill each other (in most cases), steal, and carry on with other men’s’ wives because
their religions told them that there was reward if they did not do these things
– and eternal punishment if they did… So the people kept themselves and
their own behaviors within what became social mores. Today, ask someone what
they fear most – going to hell or going to prison… I bet the answer would
surprise you.
But in America, the religious are commonly referred to as
dumb, as rednecks – as these folks who follow “charismatic’s” seem to be
centered in the South – why even our
President referred to them as “bitter, clinging to their guns and their
religion.” That is a very telling statement as it
indicates a mentality that views religion and the resulting morality as passé,
something of the past – outmoded – and these people are backwards because they
still believe that stuff while the rest of us smarter types have long moved on… In America today, it seems that freedom of religion means – the freedom
NOT to believe, and in fact, to bash organized religion. Has anyone
been bashed harder than Catholics by the US media? From repeated stories about
Catholic priests as child molesters… there have obviously been these fiends
masquerading as men of religion, but that does that paint all priests
with that brush? You know, our local paper here has published at least five
stories since the beginning of the year about female sports coaches at the high
school level who have molested their players / students… Is there a general
consensus that all female coaches and phys ed teachers are perverts? Not one
that I have heard of… The problem is that priests have the audacity to question
our behavior and tell us we should strive to do better, to sometimes deny our
personal desires for long term good. How dare they? Who are
they? Yet, President Obama and other politicians tell us to do “better” – put
taxes on what they consider bad behavior (everything from Pepsi to making too
much money) – and talk about social justice – yet few question, “who is he?”
Religion manifests itself in what the Protestants call,
“good works.” That is – “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Good works, by
definition are active. You could certainly say that our “progressive”
government “moves forward” by mandating those good works – and hiring civil employees
to make sure they get done… The people that support this with their money and
their vote appear to like their good works passive –
done
at a distance, preferably by someone else. But “I” (the political
leader) take satisfaction in knowing I did “the hard work” – you know, talking to people, making sure we
mandate things to look out for the unwashed… After all, the government is
all powerful – it can move heaven and earth to make its version of social
justice happen… or is that God? And the best part is – unlike religion,
with government, you don’t have to wait until you die to get your reward… If
you think this is going too far, remember the famous youtube videos last year
around the inauguration? Those little grade school students singing songs about
Barack Obama? Would those same kids be taught religious hymns in the same
classroom? Nope. Of course not.
In New Jersey, more and more funding for the public school
infrastructure has driven property taxes to the point where even people who
would choose to – cannot afford their taxes plus private school tuition's. Only
the very wealthy can afford private schools now. The
government through its never-ending tax power and its hired “experts” now
controls education in NJ, and in fact, the US. In the recent health care
legislation – there was a part of the law that allowed the government to
provide all student loans… Meaning only THEY will decide who gets money for
college and who doesn’t… And they said religion was too powerful? Yes – there seems to be an inverse relationship
between how much government power exists in a society and how much personal
religion exists. Since 1930, in the US, the scales are severely tipped to
Government.
I mentioned tithing before – I personally don’t do it.
However I actually do – to the secular god – it’s called taxes… Try
not paying them – and see what happens. It is the secular version of hell. Reward
versus punishment. Sound familiar? And a fixed percentage of your
income which goes to “god.” Familiar – taxes or tithing?
Active versus passive good works? Not to get “southern” on
you here, but think about some of the bible “stories” we all grew up with.
Moses had to carry the commandments down Mount Sinai to the people (twice) –
God didn’t “zap” them down there. Moses had to make the effort. Jesus told the
cripple – “get up and walk.” Not here, let me pick you up. He told people to
“go and sin no more…” Not – and we’ll get this group together
who will check in on you and make sure you never sin… No – there was
something asked – time and effort – that bespoke the power and responsibility
of the individual. “Give to Caesar what
is Caesar’s, and to God what is Gods…” I
would think this means that they are not the same? And again – giving is an
active word, not a passive one.
Sometimes these things develop an inertia all their own.
They happen without anyone really noticing. In our world, “branding” is
everything. Our parents and teachers create our sensitivities when we are young
and the information we let in – either changes or reinforce them. Media. Media
creates branding. When a government can control education AND the media, do we
wonder how these changes happen? Branding religion in society? Well, Catholics (anti-abortion) and
Orthodox Jews – bad… People who worship – nature… Good. Cool. So…“new age.”
Any religion carries humility. By believing in a higher
authority, inherently you understand that there are things greater and more
powerful than yourself. It creates humility in leaders like Washington,
Jefferson, Lincoln and all the others the US has been blessed with. The oath of
the presidency ends with the new president saying, “So help me God…” I would
assume that means that – I can’t do it myself… It seems like this is some of
what is missing. Instead of respect for these moral traditions – and for that
matter – tradition and the US Constitution, we have an, “elections have
consequences” mentality now. What “I” want is more important than all that
stuff. And “I” am powerful and can get it. And I should get it – because I know
better than you. Sound humble? I didn’t think so. When the TV commentator is
dismissive in words and facial expressions of tea party’s, or expressed
opinions not of the “more government is good” variety, is that humble? To me,
it seems awfully superior…and isn’t that what progressivism is all about? To
allow the superior to make the tough decisions for those who can’t. The trick
to staying in power is convincing more and more people that they can’t.
So, why this post – probably the longest ever on this Blog –
during Holy Week?
These are observations that have occurred to me over time.
Little things here and there. I wanted to try to knit them all together in my
own mind. From a political perspective, here is the payoff. Remember the Soviet
Union? Of course we all do. It outlawed religion. China – under Chairman Mao –
yes – banned organized religion. How
well did religion do in Nazi German under Hitler? Not too well. Because in
totalitarian government, there is no law but Caesars, meaning there is no room
for God or even any reasonable facsimile. The government and the ruler IS the
law.
In that situation, then, how do you keep the rabble in line?
Well, in the three historical examples I just cited, it was through force,
intimidation, active police and military.
The conclusion I come to is – don’t fall for incrementalism.
Regardless of the pace of “change” and “moving forward”, it is still change to
more central planning, more government –
meaning fewer freedoms, forced morals, forced behavior – and a society with
traditions and ethics far different from the one we inherited. Think about it.
Do we really want that?
Brian
