New Writing Blog: Stealth Idolatry in Religion

When we examine what is being done today to divide the country between true believers and others, we must be deeply concerned about the uses and abuses of faith.

I do not believe that the Ultimate Power in the universe, of whatever name, intended us humans to use faith concepts to divide, to stereotype, to blame, to conquer, or even as is happening at this moment, to kill other innocent persons.

We are approaching, if we have not already passed it, a critical time in human history. Shall we move together to create a better world, more conducive to human aspiration, or shall we use our belief systems of whatever shade as justification for our motives that divide and conquer.

Sincerity is no excuse. Much evil, even murder and torture of all kinds, have been done by those who believed themselves to be sincerely right with God. Sincerity can be a cover, a mask, a way of hiding from ourselves, a way of refusing to be critically aware of our good intentions.

A critical need, it seems to me, is the need to reflect on the many ways faith and religious enthusiam can be employed to create distance and elevate one's own priorities. Long ago, Ronald Knox wrote a book on Enthusiasm. He clearly distinquished the perverse use of religious enthusiasm while affirming the need for enthusiasm for spiritual renewal. I do not know if a copy of this book can be found.

But we must begin. A good beginning today is better than a perfect beginning tomorrow. I have much writing already on the subject, which can be gathered here. I am establishing a new blog: A Stealth Idolatry in Religion, for this collation.
Address is http://stealthidolatry.blogspot.com
Please visit and leave your comments.
Paschal
May 15, 2005.