May
17, 2006, Volume 13 Nr. 44, Issue 212
The Arrogance
of "Enlightenment".
"Spirituality" as
Unconscious Prejudice. Jozef
Hand-Boniakowski
What is it about the liberal mind
that makes it blind to the pluralism that abounds even as
it espouses pluralism itself? What is it about liberals
who subscribe to "spirituality"
that prejudices their mindset toward an ignorance of those amongst
their midst that do not subscribe to such antiquated notions?
Mind you, I am not trying to suppress anyone's
"spirituality", their extra-human belief, nor their
other-worldly
concoctions. I am, however, pointing out that many liberals
who subscribe to a super-naturalist worldview assume that everyone
around them does so as well. They insist on perpetuating the
myth that everyone defines spirituality in their own way. They are
wrong. And, they are insulting when their assumptions prevent them from accommodating
the non-spiritually inclined. They just don't get it.
Liberals can hardly consider
themselves "enlightened" when they assume that
people around them are going to
gladly join in holding hands, praying, chanting, humming a mantra, or
otherwise, teleporting themselves to a different plane or state of
consciousness. It is arrogance to assume that saying a
prayer, even a non-denominational prayer, is acceptable to everyone gathered in a public venue?
Such arrogance is a violation of personal space, a subterfuge
of friendship, and a mockery of camaraderie. It is maneuvering
"spirituality" onto others whether they want it or not.
Imagine a public where the people gathered were instructed to "Please holds hands
and bow our heads as we read an atheist poem for world peace". An uproar would surely follow.
And yet, when someone says, "Let us hold hands" or
"Let let us
pray (or meditate)", those that do not pray or meditate are
suppose to go along with it,
acquiescing through the polite silence of their non-confrontation.
I will not bow my head. A
similar arrogance on a national level forces us, whether we believe in god or
not, to carry green bills in our wallets that say, "In God we trust". I am grateful
for checkbooks and debit cards that spare me from the
"spiritual" and religious conformity imposed by the United
States Federal Reserve. Likewise, I prefer being spared
from the "spirituality" of liberals and Nuagers.
It is not the atheist that foists their
non-beliefs on others. Quite the contrary, it is the believer, regardless of
the belief, that foists their belief on those who
do not believe. This is fascism, an American form of national socialism. A
significant aspect of this Americanism dictates what people are to believe,
how they are to behave, and what they are to accept. This Americanism is so
insidious that
liberals subscribe to it without being aware of it. Americanism
unfailingly assumes that everyone believe in a higher power or
energy, that everyone comport with the figments of some "spiritual" imagination.
It is difficult letting go
of childhood illusions. There are many people, however, who
have. They deserve to be free from the imposition of the
fairy tales they left behind. They do not need new fairy tales
imposed upon them either.
The Machinations of Americanism
High school graduations offer a good
example of the machinations of Americanism. Most graduations
implement a
benediction. The more supposedly self-aware graduation
ceremonies begin with an interfaith prayer where it is assumed, if
not expected, that everyone in attendance participate.
Most people bow their heads in complacent obedience. No one is
spared from the imposition of petitioning some extra-earthly
force. This deo-fascism projects a hostility toward the non-believer and
non-spiritualist. How dare anyone assume the acceptance of
such hocus pocus on anybody? On everybody? Liberals are not immune from
these tendencies. Quite the contrary. Liberals while fostering
pluralistic tolerance toward other and multiple belief systems
neglect the sensibilities of the non-believers in their midst.
Why would non-believers matter anyway? Albert Weisbold, in "Class Struggle"
(Volume 5, Number 3, 1935) wrote,
By means of Deism, American Fascism
can unify all the groups within the country and the nations
outside of it. With Deism as its religion and pragmatism as its
method, American Fascism can be inspired to lead the world.
Liberals are not interested in pursuing a class conscious analysis of why
they think and behave the way they do in matters
"spiritual". There is little
interest in investigating the underlying corporate business
machinations responsible for the wholesale selling of "spirituality" as
a commodity. Nor is there much interest in examining the self
as being a "spirituality" consumer and agent
proliferating the dominant "spiritual" corporate paradigm. Neither do
liberals suspect
that this dominant paradigm is oppression. Leading people in prayer
while having them holding hands and/or bowing their heads
assuming everyone subscribes to such cult behavior is coercion.
For the most part, people do not have the audacity to challenge this
imposition. But, they should. This deist imperative is a means of controlling people.
Such control if far from being the behavior of the
"enlightened". Rather, it is unenlightenment as
it negates neutrality in favor of a preferential bias. Those
on the "spiritual" journey continue swimming as fish in the ocean
in search of water ignorant of their own swimming. Why should
participation in public events require even a tacit
approval of "god
nature"? And why should there be an
expectation of silence from those coerced by "god nature"
assumptions? Commanded acquiescence vis-à-vis silence is the
perpetuation of "spiritual"
oppression. It is time to speak out. Religions
have used fear well over the centuries to control populations.
Fear turns people to
metaphysics and mysticism. And fear of being ostracized is
powerful. When we publicly are expected to bow our heads, pray, meditate,
participate in Buddhist chant, or otherwise defer to a higher power,
it all amounts to the same thing, coercion.
There is reason why those seeking
control and power consider true education and knowledge the enemy,
for free thought, both analytical and logical, with reasoning and
open mindedness, invariably leads to questioning of authority, to
dissent, protest and debate of myths, beliefs and propaganda, and
to thinking outside the box that has for millennia shackled the
human mind, rendering us unable to see truth, reality and the
possibilities of our own free thoughts and capabilities.
(The Poisoning of the Well, Manuel Valenzuela, Information
Clearing House, 01/19/06).
Valenzuela makes the point that
"in human misery religion finds a nest". Liberals
may argue that their metaphysical beliefs are areligious and do not
perpetuate human misery. This is wishful thinking. Mel
Seesholtz, Ph.D., ("When the 'light' in 'Enlightenment' goes
out", OnlineJournal, Nov 30, 2005) writes,
The Enlightenment illuminated the
difference between the supernatural and the natural, between
metaphysics and physics, between the irrational bigotry that
underwrites religious dogma and the rational, civil
responsibilities of secular governments. It showed the way out of
the theocratic Dark Ages. The Enlightenment celebrated humanity
and the essence of being human, rather than condemning them. It
celebrated the human mind and its intellect, rather than damning
them.
Seesholtz's references the
Enlightenment (with a capital "E") of the Middle Ages which brought humanity a few good
solid steps out of ignorance. He is not referring to the "enlightenment" of
present day liberals whose archaic thinking predates the
Enlightenment of the Middle Ages.
Seesholtz sees the American Republic as "a product of the
Enlightenment" that is,
...devolving and embracing the
same "Christian roots" that fed the theocracies of the
Dark Ages, when science was heretical and equal access to
and treatment for all under the law was a ridiculous idea widely
acknowledged as an immoral perversion of "God's law," as
that law was interpreted and espoused by religious leaders in
privileged political positions.
Many liberals are unknowingly agents of
this devolution having abandoned the belief that human reason can
overcome the idiocy of superstition and the loopy lunacy of
other-worldliness. God, god-nature, or whatever, is no more on
their side, than it is on the side of conservatives and
fundamentalists. The anti-intellectualism of both have much in
common. Both are equally dangerous, especially during these dangerous
times where fear has been elevated to an art form. Both sets
of devolutionists are antithetical to freedom and
democracy. It is important to
emphasize that in this discussion, no-one is attempting to stifle
anyone's personal "spiritual" inclinations. But when
those inclinations become publicly intrusive and obtrusive, a line is crossed
that requires attention and redress. If those with a
naturalist world view do not provide this redress then nothing will
change and marginalization will continue. Today,
Only atheists (and adherents of
some non-abrahamic religions such as Wicca) can be openly
subjected to prejudiceness, discrimination and marginalization without consequences. (How to make a difference, ActiveAtheism.net).
This marginalization will only end
when people with a naturalist world view maintain vigilance and
point it out whenever they come across it. Liberals need to
hear it the most. It's time to let them know and point out the
unconscious prejudice of their "spirituality".
Until the theist walked up to me
with a god-claim in his hand, I was simply minding my own business
and living my life as a regular human. Theism is their
business, not mine! Thus, I am an atheist only in response
to their being theists. Were it not for the god claims, there
would be no atheism. In this sense, I am still a regular
human -- even in the face of several dozen god-claims each week. --
Cliff Walker (Positive Atheism magazine, Dec 14, 2001)
Jozef Hand-Boniakowski is
co-editor and co-publisher of Metaphoria
along with his life partner and wife, JeanneE. He is 30-year
veteran retired teacher and a member of Veterans For Peace.
His writings have appeared in Metaphoria,
After Downing Street,
Buzzflash, Counterpunch,
Thomas Paine's
Corner, Rense.com, Omni
Center, Rutland Herald,
Times Argus, and others.
© 2006
Jozef
Hand-Boniakowski |