A Chronic Moral Dilemma: Religion and Our Own Conscience, Part 3
Interpretation and Hypocrisy
Religion has made hypocrites out of people with sincere motives—those who sought no contradictions—a tragic result for an honest effort. There are two ways to see everything, and the anti-organic, anti-rational, anti-human choice is the evil choice. There is less and less need for martyrdom as a society grows more civil. As martyrdom is their symbol, to keep religion alive, they have to make sure society doesn’t grow more civil. As Jesus indicated, we can choose the nature of Biblical interpretation ourselves. Those who negate the path to life are the true hypocrites.
Between Spirit Murderer and Self-made man, both seek to claim virtue, but use religion in very different ways. The loafers quote scripture that justifies stagnation and damns their betters, such as “The meek shall inherit the Earth”, “Pride for wealth is the ultimate evil,” and, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” In Biblical times, men got rich only by over-taxation and plunder, so pride for wealth would have been one step above pride for murder. But shame doesn’t apply to wealth earned in a free country where exchange is voluntary—pride does. In response, the productive quote scripture that justifies their effort and absolves their guilt. For example: “Lord, thou deliveredst to me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents besides them. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” —Matthew 25:23. Another servant buried his. He is told to give his money to the industrious servant and is condemned, “cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” —Matthew 25:30. The lethargic strike back with more scripture, “…he that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” —Matthew 23:12. Still, this could mean damnation of a Spirit Murderer’s social facade and approval of Self-made man’s non-esteem seeking, wholesome encounters with others. A sanction of rational self-interest and capitalist freedom can be found in “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own?” —Matthew 20:15. Did Jesus tell us to violate our minds? “Blessed are those who believe without seeing” could be interpreted as blind faith, or as a sanction of abstraction. Moral validation of our senses can be found in “…blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” —Matthew 13:16. The talent story sanctions the proper value hierarchy of Man, as does the following: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” —1st Corinthians 14:40.
There is a whole different way to interpret The Bible if you love being alive. Both sides seek moral cover that reflects their ends, but one needs cover and one doesn’t. One is a fear-ridden, parasitical slacker whose guilt is valid, while the other’s guilt is contrived. The full context of most Bible stories promotes mutual respect, civility, and hard work, dissolving the intention of a Spirit Murderer’s malicious snippets. With the process of cognition known, it is clear what they are doing. Your own conscience must decide which pattern to follow.
Regardless of a person’s argument, you can feel who intends to leave you with less. When interpretation must be pitted against objectivity, one side intends to preserve predatory slaughter as an alternative to civility. If any natural part of your body or mind is negated, run. It is all there for a reason, and that reason exposes their moral corruption. You can also feel who is interested in your well-being. He brings you new knowledge to contemplate; he doesn’t try to commandeer your will or shut you down. Self-made men don’t teach “Believe me or else,” they teach “See for yourself.” Philosophically, I can see the grid system of my work charted out into the future. I can see it superimposed over the past, and how and where the Bible lessons fit. There is a sanction of life and rationality to be found at different cognitive levels of its contexts. I can see its long-term intention to integrate moral knowledge, where most present interpretation lends itself to disintegration. Learn the grid and the narrow path is no longer so.