Some philosophy

The Age We Live In
Philosophical Musings by Daniel G. Jennings
The age we live in is an unusual one, it is an era of decadence and corruption, of violence and of weakness. It is also an age of individuality and diversity, as well as an era of profound social, political, technological, social and economic upheaval, progress and change.
Politically the striving in our era as in all eras of profound change is for stability. In the Democratic countries the political desire seems to be for a sort of watered down Caesarism. We see this in Britain where Tony Blair has been elected PM, an unprecedented three times and in Italy where Mr. Berlusconi has served for over ten years. In the United States where term limits prevents such seemingly endless periods of office for the President, our current president is the son of a former president and the top contender for the 2008 race is the wife of an ex President. Most of our Senators and Congressmen are long serving, the average incumbent Congressman is more likely to be hit by lightning than he is to loose reelection.
The reason for this is a desire for stability, the vast majority of individuals are content with their lot in life and have no desire for change, no matter how much they claim to want change. The demand on all sides for political stability, that is why mediocrity is the norm in politics and true ability is hounded out. Politicians who promise continued stability are rewarded, those who seem threatening loose their popularity.
Demands for reform are still heard but no real reforms are carried out. Nor is there any real action from government except in desperation. Government is larger than ever yet it seems to do less than ever before. We have a large military machine, yet the popular demand is for no war or conflict. Schools are bigger than ever before but education has become meaningless and ineffective.
No real change can be made because that would upset the status quo. Liberals, progressives, conservatives no wants any real change. Conservatives have no desire for smaller government, liberals for new social programs. President Bush learned he can do nothing to reform social security just as President Clinton learned his ambitious national healthcare proposal was impossible.
Much of the hysteria against President Bush has been based on his radical actions in particular the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He upset the status quo and took radical action, politicians aren’t supposed to do that. We want Chamberlain, not Churchill, we want a friendly man who will tell us that everything will be all right if we just steer the course and muddle through.
We see this in other areas as well, for example we see a great deal of desire for military glory and its ugly stepchild imperial glory. Yet we see no stomach for war, lots of people wave flags and put support our troops stickers on their bumpers. Few men volunteer for military service. A few casualties on the battlefields of Iraq and the Bring the Troops Home Now signs go up.
Or in entertainment, truly groundbreaking new entertainments are ignored while rehashes of tired old themes are honored. On a more personal level there is gay rights, Hollywood and the news media are engaging in an orgy of celebration of “gay culture” which is largely their creation. They are showing their tolerance by making films about gay cowboys in the closet and writing articles about Spongebob’s popularity among gay men. Meanwhile the rise of China, a super power that will change the political, cultural and economic face of the world is ignored.
In terms of religion we see lots of talk about spirituality which is an attempt to have religious belief without any of the hard work or sacrifice demanded by true religion. In a related development we see a great rise in superstition which is a sort of watered down religion.
Superstition is after all based on faith but it makes no moral demands upon believers. Religion generally demands ethical discipline and sacrifice of some sort. Superstition demands only belief one simply has to believe in it.
Never before in history has superstition been more popular or more diverse. We have alternative medicine which is simply folk medicine disguised as science, scientific superstition in superstition is disguised as science for example ghost detection. Belief in UFOs and alien abductions. The Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot. ESP and the paranormal in general. All manner of pseudo scientists present scientific evidence for such nonsense. There is also the New Age which is superstition disguised as spirituality.
Then there are all the political superstitions around these days such as folk Marxism. Real political commitment demands conviction and evidence. Political superstition simply involves prejudice and simple choices. The president is a crook, government doesn’t work, big business is evil, etc.
We even have religious superstitions, never have there been more Virgin Mary sightings. There is all the end of the world nonsense based upon the book of Revelation and the Bible. The renewed popularity of the devil and Demons. Even belief in witches, witchcraft and black magic has been renewed. Modern people now live in fear of Satan and witches. Creationism is another example of a religious superstition, if science doesn’t support your faith ignore it.
Superstition is popular because it is reassuring yet exciting, it is interesting but makes no real demands upon you. When you believe in UFOs or crystals you don’t need to stop drinking or supporting the war and the death penalty or to do anything for the poor. A real church might demand you change your behavior towards such things.
Superstition is faith for faith’s sake, faith without commitment or sacrifice, or ethics. Superstition is religion lite, there is no wonder superstition is so popular in our age. Just as modern politics are politics lite, call the president a jerk but don’t worry about any real political changes.
So what will be the next step that’s hard to say but historically superstition has always led to religious revival and fanaticism. Politically, I suppose we’ll see some efforts to institutionalize Caesarism, powerful leaders who exist to defend the comfortable existence of the many. No values, no ideology, just defend the status quo and those who profit from it at all costs. Such are the politics of a decadent and superstitious age. The politics of Imperial Rome or 1930s Britain, the politics of an empire at the apex of its power that is in fear of decline.