Many great political thinkers through the centuries in various cultures have recognized that if man is to really understand his personal relationship to others he must have an allegiance beyond ego. We are all born with ego; some of us control it and others don’t, depending on our priorities, values, and commitments. I do not believe that this nation or any other can sever its roots from what I call “things of the spirit” and remain strong.
– Mark O. Hatfield, Former Republican Governor and U.S. Senator, Oregon.
Mark Hatfield’s prominence was two generations ago, but several days ago I reflected back as I read this exchange:
Kristen Soltis Anderson:
“Americans are less likely to have a lot of close friends these days. And their friend groups are likely to be made up of mostly those who agree with them on politics.”
David French: “This is one of the most fundamental and important challenges of our time. There are a lot of cultural wounds that deep friendship can heal.”
Anderson is a pollster and commentator and French, an Iraq war veteran, Senior editor of The Dispatch.
In 2022 we are a legalistic society. Polls are conducted to gauge our attitudes and intentions about people whose principal job is to make laws. So here we are once again debating about which gun laws are needed to reduce mass shootings. While I understand the necessity of what we are doing, I am pessimistic. We should be more alarmed by the culture and less expectant about the efficacy of laws and associated bureaucracies.
In my youth I now realize that I was brainwashed. “Under God” was a part of my almost daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. And there was a Boy Scout pledge. Plus, on most Sundays I started the day going to Sunday School until, if I recall, sometime in my teens. This was a national, not regional, pattern. The core message: strive to lead a virtuous life.
Virtues today are often defined by grievance—you do not respect me, we need to use the law to make sure you do. In a more spiritual culture grievances would be many fewer. The spiritual dimension would caution the ego. When the ego is unmoored watch out.
Today, society’s pulse is often measured by polls. Do you favor the President? Which political party are you most likely to support? Which candidate? Which position on this or that policy? And, on and on.
I wonder how the public would respond to a poll on spiritual attitudes. Would taking our spiritual pulse remind us of its importance? Could we sweep in houses of worship in such a way that persons of the cloth might sense a deeper calling?
So here are some questions. Do you encounter a force in your life that you would define as spiritual? If so, what effect, if any, does it have in your relationships? Actions?
Perhaps trying to identify cause and effect the pollster might probe further. Do you do anything to nurture your spiritual side? What has the most influence? Do you make use of what is called social media to connect spiritually? Is a house of worship important in your spiritual life?
Now this line of questioning is going to make the naysayers very uncomfortable. Those who only believe in the material, what you can feel and touch or prove scientifically, well they are not going to like the suggestion that there is an important dimension they can’t see under a microscope.
Most of us grew up when standing and singing The Star-Spangled Banner was not questioned. Most of us grew up when those responding to a spiritual calling and wearing a clerical collar were not suspect. Indeed, the breaking of vows has assaulted the spiritual. Preachers becoming politicians in the pulpit or sexual predators in their lives have done immeasurable harm to the spiritual. When those who should be examples turn out to be the opposite, faith is assaulted. Ego unmoored.
It is also crucial that we understand the many faces of spiritual influence. In the United States we are more likely to be in touch with the insistence in Judaism and Christianity, but “love thy neighbor” is universal. Take a look at Hinduism or Islam or Buddhism or others.
And we should also understand that “hate” and its animation is not a local but is a global problem. This is an excerpt from the Toronto Star on hate in Canada: “A growing list of convicted or accused killers have been steeped in an online ecosystem of hate that is transcending national borders, eluding law enforcement and inciting a brand of terrorism experts say is spreading and mutating.”
Regardless of the existence or not of the spiritual, we should not kid ourselves into thinking that there is some mix of laws that will rescue our society from violent death. We will try to find the mix; and should. But if we really want to make long-lasting progress, we should work on the foundation of humanity—a true counter-revolution.
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
Charles E. Valier says
Loss of spirituality in society is like untethering an anchor. It leaves us adrift. Yet few people want to discuss it. Thanks Al.
Henry Herr says
I feel spirituality becomes muddled in relation to politics. I am a firm believer in God and strive to have all my actions reflect that. I’m lucky enough that my Church respects that everyone is a child of God and we are all sinners. My Church strives for everyone to work towards being a better people, rather than blame others for problems within the country.
A problem arises, however, when large churches or places of worship attempt to dictate policy and politics. I find that many have been turned off from any sense of spirituality when they hear, for instance, a church denying worship due to a political opinion, ex. Nancy Pelosi.
Furthermore, I believe that a great part of this country is the separation of Church and State. Our politics should better the people, not due to one’s religion.
I’m not sure if we as a country are in a place to reflect on the damage misguided spirituality has caused. A place of worship creating an us vs them situation causes great harm to the community. But I hope, eventually, if a firmer boundary is created with the Separation of Church and State, people will be able to separate religion and politics. They will look to a spiritual place because that’s what they want, not flee from it from the words that have been spoken.
I’m not sure but I pray about it. Hopefully hatred and vitriol will be redirected to love and community. We’ll have to see.
P.S. I am a Christian but always hope everyone is able to find their own spirituality. I hope my words don’t come across to preachy.
William Dalton says
I recently saw a comment on Facebook stating that the person was spiritual while being an atheist by simply being a good person in contrast to being a bad person. I responded by suggesting it would be easier to be truly spiritual by being a follower of Christ accepting his grace and forgiveness of sins. In my way of thinking one has to believe in a greater force setting the standards for spirituality and in my life that force is Jesus Christ. I am not capable of being the judge of my activities as being good or bad as the true judging standard has been set for me by the teachings of Christ. If I measure up to those teachings I become spiritual. If I fall short or become a bad person he forgives me and I get a clean slate to do better. You might guess the response I got from my posting. I didn’t know what an atheist was and of course they could be good persons without a standard imposed by religion. True, but I still think it becomes easier by being a believer with objective standards.
Linda Houchens says
Interesting article. In response to the question about whether we may may do anything to nurture our spiritual side I say a resounding yes! I cherish my daily communion with a God who is more real to me than the air I breathe. I connect with Him through prayer and the Bible, my road map and gps which provides daily peace, comfort, wisdom, guidance, and direction for my life.
Howard Snyder says
The ego is our false self concerned only with me, me, me and success in the outside world. The true self is born of the Spirit within us concerned with the “Other” meaning God, neighbor as broadly defined as possible, and strangers.
The “Other” Life can be defined as: pay attention, be astonished and tell about it, as Mary Oliver, the poet, has written. The invitations by the Spirit inside you can so completely change your way of life that the emphasis on “me”begins to recede. As that happens, one grows spiritually and the trust that comes with that change frees one to go with the flow…like a river…falling away from many of the rules that maintain the status quo demanded by the world.
You become more flexible, more free more willing to move to help the Other, leaving (trusting) the “me” to the power of the Spirit.
Peace and hope,