|
Editorials Blog Index | SocioSphere™ | MarkFoster.NETwork™
Friday,October 03,2003
Editorials Blog Index | SocioSphere™ | MarkFoster.NETwork™ Friday,October 03,2003 |
Further evidence of the counterfeit spirituality of the Christian right (as if it were really needed): Some of the same folks who have argued that morality matters (as with Bill Clinton) are now calling it a liberal conspiracy to destroy Rush Limbaugh (who may be charged with illegally purchasing pain medications through his secretary) - several saying that Rush will not be ruined by this scandal.- and Arnold Schwarzenegger (who admits to possibly groping women and who has been charged with praising Hitler).
I am so tired of hearing about the war on terror. Hasn't anyone figured it out? The war on terror begins and ends in the White House, at 10 Downing Street, and in Jerusalem; and the axis of evil - the Bush, Blair, and Sharon regimes - must be placed before the war crimes tribunal.
We do indeed need to have a spiritual education in the schools. If we did, people would learn, from an early age, that political conservatism, classical economic liberalism, neoliberalism, neoconservatism, nationalism, racism, etc. are contrary to divine virtues and to the universal spirit of the age.
Sadly, and typical of the lopsided nature of contemporary morality, those who are least virtuous, including those in the Christian right, have championed themselves as the upholders of virtue and godliness.
[The United States] is passing through a crisis which, in its spiritual, moral, social and political aspects, is of extreme seriousness - a seriousness which to a superficial observer is liable to be dangerously underestimated.
The steady and alarming deterioration in the standard of morality ... [is] exemplified ... by political corruption in ever widening and ever higher circles ....
-- Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p.124
and, in a letter dated February 8, 1935, the Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í, wrote through his secretary:
"Religious conservatism, particularly in England, constitutes indeed a serious obstacle which the friends have to meet when spreading the Message, and not until such an obstacle has been completely removed can the Cause effectively spread and establish itself in the West. This religious conservatism is in many respects far more dangerous and more difficult to wipe out than the religious apathy which is so rapidly invading all classes of society."
-- Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community, pp.433-434
So there has been a similar development in the U.S. - the Christian right - which takes positions, and supports political and economic agendas, which it claims are spiritual, ethical, etc. Through spiritualization and transformation, juxtaposed with recent political and other scandals, Americans and others will hopefully reject it.
Despite appearances, this movement, even where its views may occasionally coincide with Bahá'í primary sources, is neither spiritual nor ethical. IMO, its popularity in the U.S. shows how far that country has moved from a *genuine* virtuousness to where so many of its citizens are now willing to accept this unfortunate counterfeit.
Copyright © 2002- Mark A. Foster, Ph.D. All rights reserved.
|
