The third misconception alive and well in our world today is laissez faire economics. Adam Smith warned us in Wealth of Nations to beware of capitalists behind closed doors. He knew their base inclination was to take advantage of the powerless for their own greed and wealth accumulation. Grounded in the religion of his day, Smith recognized the benefits of sound, altruistic economics, but he also was aware of human nature left to its own devices and lacking moral foundation.
I was sadly overwhelmed during this past election to witness the agressive, open expression of selfish, self-centered political philosophy and the blatant disregard for the health and welfare of this nation by the Republican platform and its spokesmen-----and one of them a Bishop in his church. The anger, hatred, lies, and yes, racism, has continued unabated. Just look at the increase in the sale of firearms this Black Friday over last year. The Internet is full of claims of voter fraud (never mind what the Republican party did in Pennsylvania and Georgia to try to deny voting privileges to minorities!). The Birther lies continue. So let's just ignore the mindless, ignorant foghorn--Fox--of the Republican party. But all of this was supposed to be offering a "new" vision of prosperity based on "free" unbridled business initiative. If government does not protect us with its power, since who among us can stand up to Exxon Mobile?, fracking is going to destroy our air and water and future generations--if there are any--will pay the price in poor health while the few and favored reap the rewards for themselves. All in the name of laissez faire economics.
I digress. Is communism the answer? Of course not! But somewhere between heartless, impersonal government and heartless, selfconsumed capitalism there has to be an answer that requires from everyone according to their ability and to everyone according to their needs. This is fair! This is necessary! We must NOT settle for less!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Second greatest misconception
I am going to leave the history of the development and implementation of the idea of private property to others and only address the philosophical and moral foundations for such a principle.
How can anyone own this earth? How can anyone assume private control and use of the land? How can anyone own the air we breathe? Just one example: how could the king of England assume to own the land across "the pond" and give it (or use thereof) to a privileged few----when there were already human beings here using and sharing that land?
We come into this world with no choice or volition or action of our own. We bring absolutely nothing into this world with us. And we will take absolutely nothing from this world when we die. It is total arrogance to assume that it is our "right" to take, to use, to hoard, to refuse to share, to deny responsibility to give and help. There is a dearth of humility in denying that life is a shared experience from beginning to end and thinking that we are self-sufficient.
If I have not lost you already, let me quickly add and try to balance what I am trying to say. I am not denying or discouraging the use of individual talents and the appropriate rewarding of personal achievement. I am not arguing for faceless equality (although I would not rule this out IF everyone accepted their responsibility---but let's not be too naive) but for equitable distribution. It has been said by someone more eloquent than I, "from each according to their means and to each according to their needs."
It is a question of where we begin. Do we start with egotistical, self absorbed individualism OR do we begin with a recognition of and commitment to love and care of the "other?" Each has far reaching implications for social, economic, legal, and spiritual living. The soul of a nation is seen in the degree to which it takes care of the weakest within it. The soul of a person is seen in the degree to which they live in service to others.
How can anyone own this earth? How can anyone assume private control and use of the land? How can anyone own the air we breathe? Just one example: how could the king of England assume to own the land across "the pond" and give it (or use thereof) to a privileged few----when there were already human beings here using and sharing that land?
We come into this world with no choice or volition or action of our own. We bring absolutely nothing into this world with us. And we will take absolutely nothing from this world when we die. It is total arrogance to assume that it is our "right" to take, to use, to hoard, to refuse to share, to deny responsibility to give and help. There is a dearth of humility in denying that life is a shared experience from beginning to end and thinking that we are self-sufficient.
If I have not lost you already, let me quickly add and try to balance what I am trying to say. I am not denying or discouraging the use of individual talents and the appropriate rewarding of personal achievement. I am not arguing for faceless equality (although I would not rule this out IF everyone accepted their responsibility---but let's not be too naive) but for equitable distribution. It has been said by someone more eloquent than I, "from each according to their means and to each according to their needs."
It is a question of where we begin. Do we start with egotistical, self absorbed individualism OR do we begin with a recognition of and commitment to love and care of the "other?" Each has far reaching implications for social, economic, legal, and spiritual living. The soul of a nation is seen in the degree to which it takes care of the weakest within it. The soul of a person is seen in the degree to which they live in service to others.
Hopefully of interest
Email: hallittleton@gmail.com
Website: www.haroldlittleton.com
Recent book: Jesus: A Would Be King available through www.Amazon.com
Speaking engagement:
FCCChurch in Hendersonville, NC
December 16 at 9:30 am
Subject: Mary Magdalene, the "Other Woman"
Website: www.haroldlittleton.com
Recent book: Jesus: A Would Be King available through www.Amazon.com
Speaking engagement:
FCCChurch in Hendersonville, NC
December 16 at 9:30 am
Subject: Mary Magdalene, the "Other Woman"
Monday, November 5, 2012
Body and Soul? Metaphysical dualism
One of the three biggest lies (or misconceptions, depending on who promotes it and why) ever perpetrated on humankind is the idea that body and soul are separate "realities," and that the metaphysical half of the equation is the "real" reality while the physical half is temporary, inferior, and less significant. This has tremendous consequences for psychology and physics, but I will leave that to those more qualified than I to address. I will limit my remarks today to religion.
The insistance on this dualism has led to religious authoritarianism on the one hand and avoidance of social ethics on the other. Hierarchical religious authorities have claimed control over our "eternal souls" and literally tried to scare the hell out of people while controlling their lives and resources. They have minimized the importance of this life, this world, and our responsibility for creation and one another while claiming that the only important reality is the life to come, life after death. They have advocated an ethic of individualism and personal morality and denied the shared joy of community and responsibility that is our true nature.
"Soul" is only a description of a characteristic or function of who we are. It has no independent existence apart from the total entity that is us. The ancient Hebrews had admirable insight when they wrote in Genesis that "God" breathed into the shaped "form" and man became nephesh, living soul. They knew that we are a whole and as such we came from, share in, and return to the oneness that is. If you asked me to describe or define "God," which I can not begin to do, I would only begin by saying that God is one, the oneness of all, and that it is a great mystery that we are in the oneness.
So what does this suggest for us? Humility. Refusal to be dogmatic. Silence. I stand in awe and yearn to love and be loved.
Oh, the other two lies are the right to private property and capitalism as the only legitimate economic system for human progress.
The insistance on this dualism has led to religious authoritarianism on the one hand and avoidance of social ethics on the other. Hierarchical religious authorities have claimed control over our "eternal souls" and literally tried to scare the hell out of people while controlling their lives and resources. They have minimized the importance of this life, this world, and our responsibility for creation and one another while claiming that the only important reality is the life to come, life after death. They have advocated an ethic of individualism and personal morality and denied the shared joy of community and responsibility that is our true nature.
"Soul" is only a description of a characteristic or function of who we are. It has no independent existence apart from the total entity that is us. The ancient Hebrews had admirable insight when they wrote in Genesis that "God" breathed into the shaped "form" and man became nephesh, living soul. They knew that we are a whole and as such we came from, share in, and return to the oneness that is. If you asked me to describe or define "God," which I can not begin to do, I would only begin by saying that God is one, the oneness of all, and that it is a great mystery that we are in the oneness.
So what does this suggest for us? Humility. Refusal to be dogmatic. Silence. I stand in awe and yearn to love and be loved.
Oh, the other two lies are the right to private property and capitalism as the only legitimate economic system for human progress.
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