Henri Reynard Speaks Out

Nation Watch -- May 14, 2005

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Well the next few days are supposed to make or break the Congress as a means of staying the hand of the Imperial Executive. At least it is expected that it will if the fight over the filibuster lives up to its prepress briefings. The millions of words spoken in its defense and against its principal value recently were supposed to prepare us for this battle. I would think that debate on limiting debate would naturally be unlimited. That would make the most sense in a sometimes senseless world.

Of course, in this nation at this time anything that slows down the "Progress" toward a more "Christian" country is seen as a betrayal of principles. From the Democrats who are rushing to embrace theology, "Christians Only Theology, of course." To the Republicans who want the principles of Christianity embraced by all of our judges or else. The Christians among us are supposed to profess the strange belief that this is a valid requirement for a judgeship regardless of what the rule of law actually requires. This is a fragrant attempt to discriminate further against any other religion in the only places where it matters, the courts and the budgets. It also discriminates against many Christians.

It reeks to high heaven that so many people in our legislative and executive branches are rushing to embrace the faith of their fathers in such unchristian causes. Causes like the anti-gay crusades and the anti-poor philosophy of "Social Darwinism cast an effluvium over our state and federal capitols.

It is a scent that is thick enough to cut with Occams Razor if you dare to question it at all. The plain and simple truth is that it has become universally seen as an advantage and is quickly becoming perceived as a necessity, for political figures to be seen as devout believers. It matters not at all how unchristian their behavior is in other matters.

In the eternal search for political advantage no one can easily resist the siren call of easily won blocks of votes. Never mind oaths of office and laws that do not support the stances these new found holy citizens take on many issues. It is better to burn and burn in the search for votes than to wind up on the scrap heap of the political afterlife.

Of course finding God in your votes on major issues means never having to say you're sorry on breaches of other common values. Principles like following ethics rules in raising money are passé. Guides for behavior such as not working against the interests of, or enjoying a privileged life at the expense of, your taxpayer's interests do not matter. They can be dispensed with or, if breached visibly enough, easily forgiven.

That ethical flexibility can only be allowed if faith in God falls trippingly enough from your lips. Preserving the integrity of the Constitution is no longer required and neither conservative principles nor liberal principles matter anymore. Only political stances in service to the Lord are good enough to justify holding high office.

I have news for some of you, Christ is alive and well in the hearts of many who despise the easy Christianity of unethical and immoral leaders. There is little universal in the Christian Churches of our nation. Little, that is, except a faithful belief that human life is sacred and abuse of others is forbidden to all who would follow Christ's teachings.

Exploiting those two powerful beliefs without honoring them in your actions has often been tried by a lot of politicians in our nation's past. Sometimes it succeeds in the short term as a tactic for cynical and dishonest leaders. Those who embrace the lord in public and betray his words in their hearts know who they are. Usually that tactic is not successful for long.

I wonder how the current crop of devout believers will be viewed in fifty years. I suspect that if they are remembered at all it will be as aberrant ideologues. Those who rant in public in support of the most unchristian laws and stances on the lives of some of their constituents usually lose in the end. That will only be true if mainstream Christian beliefs that respect honor and integrity survive. Examples in history abound including the Grand Inquisition which is decried everywhere today.

Universal Christian philosophy and doctrine disappeared in a welter of disgust at Catholic corruption in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. The rise of Protestantism changed the face of Europe. It was one of the great changes in political and social philosophy that gave support to the rise of the British Empire and the birth of our nation. Those births were prominent among other imperial creations owing their rise to a more open view of what Christianity required than is being proposed today.

It is interesting how far some of the churches that owe their existence to the success of the Protestant Reformation have moved toward Catholic doctrines on life and birth control. It seems as if the ecumenical movement has successfully co-opted the vast ferment of ideas that came out of Protestantism as our nation was being born. I find it hard to believe that Catholicism will prevail once again in all Christian circles. It is surely too steeped in the misogynistic myths of Medieval Europe's past to succeed in a Democratic nation. Or is it?

Of course, if we have to choose between Democracy and politically active Christianity our choice is still in doubt today. We have chosen Empire recently here over Democracy. But that choice may still be repudiated by a rising generation of disenfranchised young people. They are already being handed the bill for our generation's imperial excesses in Vietnam and Iraq. That is not to mention our lavish medical care costs and a unique retirement plan marked by no savings in the accounts of the baby boom.

Don't be too surprised if some mainstream Catholic leaders and Protestant Theologians stop contemplating their navels and raise an outcry soon. The hijacking of the Protestant movement and liberal thought means the return to top down hierarchy in Christian faiths if it prevails. The Pope and his Cardinals may like that idea but some other members of their faith will not. The marginal lives lived by millions of Catholics worldwide will not be improved by a return to the world where dominance by the powerful extends to their souls.

It matters very much what we believe without ever questioning the people who teach us to believe it. Ignorance has an awful price, as does power too concentrated to be used wisely. Popes like other leaders are only human despite doctrines they pass out denying that rather obvious fact. Their humanity has been the source of some human decency and considerable evil over the last two thousand years. Humans are like that despite the best of training programs to keep them on the straight and narrow path to good.

Meanwhile my birds are tuning up for their choral presentation of this morning. My cat has nine tenths of the chair and is pushing for total control. I wonder if she could become a pope what her doctrines about birds would be like? Quite possibly they would require giving up flight as a tool of the devil. Birds of course are cursed by their birth in that case as are those of us who think for ourselves in a world dominated by religious leaders. God bless and keep you all safe today, Popes and non-Christians too, his mercy is not constrained by your beliefs.