Living Through . . .
“In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.”
Baba Dioum, Senegalese (Gratefulness.org)
When I visit a congregation I often read the prayer list first. The list is dominated by many, many living through serious health issues. There is the nod to those serving in the military and their families; and prayer for local, state, and federal representatives in government. Rarely, are their mentions of government workers that serve no matter the party in power. Many congregations are thriving and even in those there is no plain mention of the current context in which religious and non-religious people are living through. And what is that? Hold on and live through anxiety and conflict brought on by uncontrollable change. This change is devolving American culture into political crime families supported by their version the facts and truth which is blessed by their religious imperialism of choice. The fear of Y2K kept it from happening at the turn of the century, but that fear of global technological catastrophe only postponed what we are living through. All around the planet, authoritarian leaders provide the group to blame for (you fill in the blank) and how those persons, fellow citizens or not, need to be isolated, abused, cast out, and roundly defeated. People of all colors and creeds have this in common: anger, fear, and hate. Scarcity, real and perceived, has eclipsed love as a common human experience. “Don’t tread on me”, but I’ll tread on you to get my way, which is absolutely the only right way. It appears that no amount of education can change a person once operating out of anger, fear, and hate.
White Nationalism, some Christian and some political, has returned from hibernation in our melting pot turned mulligan stew American way of life. And like the current President of these United States, it appears that Americans can only find unity or happiness or fulfillment fighting with an “other” or an “enemy.” The current version of the Grand Ole Party, with the help of Democrats, has used ‘divide and conquer’ with such precision that the United States of America has undergone a metamorphosis into a loose union of States that look more like the Nation States of Europe rather than, “Out of many, one.” The current President embraced the soft systemic racism of whites whose job loss and anxiety is real, and blessed the idea “I may be poor or middle class, but at least I’m not . . .” which polite culture (now derided as political correctness) had at least shamed in muffled whisper.
So, when I visit congregations I’m aware that this is what religious and non-religious people are living through. And that “cultural anxiety” is in the pews and effecting how people deal with one another in good times and hard times. Even evangelical brands of Christian witness are experiencing what mainline denominations are dealing with: are you on my side or not? Like walking grief, we are living through it. I’m not sure you can do much more, but be aware of it and try to be self differentiated. At some point, people of good will, will, gain the public eye, ear, and successfully lead.
My Monday Reading . . .
How a WWII-era forger saved lives, one fake document at a time
Anderson Cooper, 60 Minutes
This one quote shows what angry white guys mean when they talk about government overreach
David Roberts, Vox.com
Is $100,000 middle class in America?
Heather Long, Washington Post
College Advice I Wish I’d Taken
Susan Shapiro, The New York Times
John Boehner Unchained
Tim Alberta, Politico Magazine