PolSocPsy of Religion

POLITICAL
SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGY
of
RELIGION:

In Perspective
of Reality

MUSIC: "Election" by: David Rovics http://www.DavidRovics.com

It is important that you understand that much of which I have written and proposed both here and elsewhere comes from some deep conviction within my own individual psyche. I have from my earliest teens often refused to read what others have written with the singular exception of what has been seemingly reported as factual history or commonly recognized as ancient to modern literature which was taken only as an author's response or reaction to his own social, cultural or political milieu of the time in which he lived. I have from the very beginning always attempted to separate what appeared to be fact from obvious fiction. This is most difficult in a world full of various despots all claiming that their take on the world is the only true path to salvation. It is ashamed that so many probably well-intended writers including, those who had originally pined, those who later transcribed from the original, both had most likely taken liberties of changing the original text (the Bible included) and innocently adding their own biased interpretations rather than translations of historical reality thus leaving the subsequent readers hopelessly lost deep within the weird and wonderful quagmire of literary fantasy. The chairman of my doctoral committee expressed to me that he observed me as having the most incredible ability of synthesizing often unrelated material into a singular rational thesis that was greater and more realistic than the sum of its parts. At the age of seventeen when I wrote the following poem I was unaware of it’s deeper meaning. It was my loving mother who had preserved my earlier writings and didn’t return them to me until my early forties. I am eternally grateful for her gift and for her prudent knowledge that these poems would have such a significant meaning as I rightly matured into adulthood with a diverse variety of personal, educational and spiritual experiences that would have surely contributed to an existence where, “life makes philosophers of us all.”

WHY AM I HERE?

I'm not here
To read what others write,
Nor to see
Without some guiding light.

    I'm not here
        To reap what others sow,
    Nor to see
        The arts which others show

        I'm not here
            To learn what has been taught,
        Nor to see
            My life result in naught.

            I'm not here
                To waste my life away,
            Nor to see
                My each and every day.

                But, then why;
                    Why am I here at all?
                May' because
                    I heard my Neighbor call.

March 8, 1960

          Reality never changes over time even though man's perceptions and interpretations of what he deems as reality has undergone sometimes the most bizarre, unexpected and certainly countless changes. We are fortunate that in most every generation there appears to be those few unique and exceptional individuals that are not affected by the mass hysteria brought on by the confusion and often violent rivalry between the numerous and convincing offerings of so many diverse mythologies, as well as by those charismatic and verbose mystics proposing the latest alternative to traditional belief systems. Everyone seemingly agrees to the notion that man has this insatiable need to believe in something that is somehow infinitely greater than his own perceived to be an impoverished spirit; assuming of course, that man's spirit is naturally devoid of any potentially significant substance that just might be worthy of a life full of joy and love. Nearly all religions universally impose the idea of man's innate lowliness and then miraculously propose its own set of unique and exclusive solution for salvation. As Karl Marx, had so profoundly stated, “Religion is the opiate of the people.” In his book, Awareness, Anthony de Mello suggested, “Do you want your drug? Get ready for the hangover.”
          My countless colleagues, all equally in search of the truth, have rightfully identified the flaws and uncovered the countless misgivings of overly righteous despots. I don't wish to be redundant in my own writings and thus will not seek to reinvent the wheel. What I hope to accomplish here is the offering of a simple and concise overview of man's plight and his struggle to understand that is he or she alone, and not some external divine being, universal power or demigod, is the only and truly miraculous pentacle of creation and evolution. How we arrived at this point is not as important as the recognition of our each and every one’s inalienable right to set claim on this extraordinary and most naturally imbued inheritance rightfully set in this Garden of Eden.
          Man should vehemently lay claim to this wonderful and truly available inheritance in much the same manner as he has endlessly sought his civil freedoms. Our claims and achievement of spiritual freedom are often attained by those same drastic costs of sacrifice and the potential loss of life. Strip away our varying and diverse religions, and all of mankind is quite equal in all aspects of his life including that most wonderful capacity to love. It is this ultimate reality, to which this book is lovingly dedicated as an intentionally unscholarly, modest and most probably incomplete guide to understanding just how man has become so hopelessly and spiritually enslaved; “Ye shall know the truth, and that truth shall set you free.” I repeat, “Ye shall know the truth, and that truth shall set you free.”

          There have certainly been countless academic studies that have seriously dealt with the sociology and psychology of religions and with too few exceptions rarely with the political implications. These admittedly sincere researchers in most all cases were most probably biased and/or blinded to what should have been the full and impartial truth and/or reality simply because he or she had a specific religious upbringing that would have understandably and certainly colored any of these fine researchers’ otherwise unbiased results. I had once worked at the University of New Mexico as a psychotherapist, and every day I would pass a large billboard on Interstate 40 on my return to my home (San Damiano) in Cedar Crest that repeatedly presented a deadly chill to my psyche. Its poignant message most paradoxically advertised the availability of "Christian Counseling," and for the majority of us who were possibly so blindly steeped in the most popular mythologies of Christianity, the 'counseling' might have been of some remote benefit. But the hidden truth of the matter is that the counseling would have, without any reasonable doubt, been most specifically and naturally based on the common tenets of 'Christian' beliefs and moralities, which for the most part, wouldn't have permitted those most desperate individuals to find any real relief, say in the matter of a failed relationship where the accepted Christian morality clearly dictates the inherent sinfulness of any form of divorce. Another good example can be easily expressed in just one morally-laden word; abortion. Sigmund Freud, in one of his treatises on society, expressed that, "the worst thing that ever happened to Western civilization was the advent of Christianity." This statement was not intended as an indictment of the teachings of Jesus, but most specifically directed at the observed and too often oppressive state of the Christian religion itself. Let me be very expressively clear as to the reasons for my supporting what Freud had so authoritatively and knowingly expressed and exactly what I also find to be the underlying and most pathetic and paradoxical truth. So dismally contradictory are the commonly held tenants of most Christian religions to the simple and yet profound wisdom expressed by Jesus himself. So far as what was directly attributed to Jesus of Nazareth, his teachings in their entirety appear to be very sound and realistically plausible for any individual of any religion. The problem clearly lies within those man-made mostly Western institutions that purport to be in Biblical concert with this truly spiritual man from Galilee, but have, with no respect for Jesus, added their own secular socio-political tenets that simply fail to fully recognize the individual as having any divine potential without the direct and exclusive intervention of the Christian church's own elected priest-hood, sacraments and empty promises of salvation; this too, can be expressed very succinctly in just two damning words, "original sin."
           I have no idea whether the words of Pope Innocents III were actually ever expressed as a matter of historical fact as was so dramatically depicted in Franco Zeffirelli's movie, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, but these profoundly and insightful words stood out as the most reflective statement of religious reality: "In our obsession with original sin, we too often overlook original innocence." Had the Catholic Church actually adopted that profound concept of original innocence over that of the supposedly innate and mortal sinfulness of man, there would have been no need for the conception of a religious institution that promises, above all else, "salvation" to anyone that totally accepts its doctrine without challenge or exception. So, mankind appears to be decisively damned to a contrived belief system that often dominates the entirety of his or hers existence as well as authoritatively rules both their actions and too often influences the totality of their often delicate psychological well being. Any given individual is not at all at fault for this damning dilemma that they suffer as a result of living in a socio-political environment that is too often dominated by the moral authority of some imposing and self-righteous religion. America had attempted to solve this rather ubiquitous social and political dilemma by introducing the conceptual separation of church and state, but obviously failed by permitting the Christian agenda to unduly dominate the creation of what should be only civil laws that too sadly are wrongfully and intentionally imbued with the added burden of moral/church imperatives. "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's," There should exist absolutely NO moral authority in any truly equally just and fair government, particularly any said government that purports individual freedoms.   We need to understand just why so many, often the majority of sincere and prudent individuals so blindly and devotedly adhere so often to these most damning, pejorative, imaginative and totally unsubstantiated theologies (mythologies!) that prevents any of them from fully enjoying that deserved existence based on Jefferson’s most descriptive words of, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." The overwhelming statistics on divorce, depression, suicide, drug abuse and alcoholism as well as other social, psychological and physical symptoms is just the tip of the ominous iceberg in detecting and identifying a seriously fatal lacking in one’s self-respect and loving one's self in a manner that would more likely reflect the simple tenets of a healthy and joyful life. Of course, attacking this problem at its damning core will necessarily require the serious and objective scrutiny of religions with a totally unbiased and objective view that is founded on reality and not some contrived mythology that almost universally demands unconditional obedience; spiritual slavery.
             It is not the purpose of this forth treatise to present an alternative or answer to what I perceive as a fatal destiny should mankind elect to remain on this road paved with such flawed and deceptive mythological stumbling stepping-stones. I only wish to purvey/summarize/synthesize those observable and usual conflicting, political, sociological, and psychological circumstances that gave rise to and most probably explain our state of such diversified spiritual insanity. That answer and/or solution is forthcoming in the final two volumes that are to follow this present treatise. What I most sincerely hope to accomplish with this presentation is to offer a simply and concise review of that body of knowledge that appears to be based more on observable reality than the result of recorded oral mythologies. My literary style may be criticized as being unscholarly, which is intentional so that it may be appreciated by and simply be more understandable to the academically unschooled minds of those many who are most affected and/or infected by those overly-persistent despots who routinely profit both personally and materially from the telling and repeating a multitude of untruths.
             I would hope that you will understand that I embrace a Gandhi-like ‘passive résistance’ intellectual stance in sharing what I have synthesized from years of study and introspective discovery. Therefore, I do not look for nor entertain argument or scholarly retort; you are equally free to hold on to and publish any of those often comforting beliefs that purport to offer a safe harbor from the horrors of this world. I would personally hope that you are happy where you are! There will no doubt be a multitude of those who will feel it to be their duty, even at the direction of their gods, to brand me with a multitude of heretical names, each proclaiming that their own particular brand of theology is totally unique and reins supreme above all others. Keep in mind that this same diverse group of righteous religions has historically opposed each other with their often tyrannical idealized beliefs even to the point of imposing death to those ‘heretics’ that failed to adopt their theology. I don’t wish to become just another victim to the point of death before I have had a chance to simply say to those who still hunger for the truth, “There is indeed a viable and joyful alternative!”

INTRODUCTION / PREFACE
To the Book

CHAPTER ONE
The Etiology

CHAPTER TWO
Mankind's Dilemma

CHAPTER THREE
Political Tragedy

CHAPTER FOUR
Spiritual Slavery

CHAPTER FIVE
Individual Exiled

CHAPTER SIX
Pious Genocide

CHAPTER SEVEN
The Ultimate Reinforcer

CHAPTER SEVEN.FIVE
The Other Reinforcer

CHAPTER EIGHT
The "D" Factor

CHAPTER NINE
The True Believer

CHAPTER TEN
Oppressions Abound

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Damnations Suprême

CHAPTER TWELVE
Regal Trepidation

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Righteous Indignation

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Death to Change

wpe23.jpg (4149 bytes)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Simple Truth

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Realistic Proposals

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Not the End

A a

POLITICAL
socio-psychology
of

RELIGION

the shackles of Christianity

J. Lamah Walker

San Damiano Publications
Cedar Crest, New Mexico
2004

Political Socio-Psychology of Religion:
In Perspective of Reality
by J. Lamah Walker

All rights reserved under International
& Pan American Copyright Conventions
No part of this book may be reproduced
in any form—except for brief quotations
(not to exceed 1000 words) in a review or
professional work—without permission
in writing from the author.

Library of Congress
Catalogue Card Number: 2004093360

Printed in the
United States of American
on acid free paper

Cover image by: Jacques-Louis David
Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I &
Coronation of the Empress Josephine
(December 1804)

To:

The many
Loyal believers who
often find solace in the
blissfulness of ignorance
and whose naivety is often
envied by those who are
charged with disclosing
the many truths that
are necessary for
their salvation

“An admirable thing, but it is well to
remember from time to time
that nothing that is worth
knowing can be taught.”

Oscar Wilde

Thanks to…

john for his enduring love

Barbara for being my loving sister

Marsena, My spiritual mother

Robin, the “doubting Thomas’

Dennis, loving friend

&

mother

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Lamah Walker, a graduate of the University of Miami (B.A. in Psychology & Religion) and Georgia State University (B.A. in Sociology/Criminology), received his M.Ed. from West Texas State in Community Counseling and his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in the Administration of Higher Education. While at the University of Oklahoma , he was the last recipient of The Robert E. Ohm Dissertation Assistance Memorial Award for outstanding scholarship as an advanced graduate student in the field of higher education and general administration. The coursework for his Ph.D. essentially consisted of the history of Western education, which of course traces the history of our intellectual development. He last served as a psychotherapist at the Student Health Center at the University of New Mexico . Outside the protective confines of that academic ivory tower, Lamah has been a general contractor and real estate broker in New Mexico for some thirty years and was ordained as a minister of the Gospel at the age of nineteen in his family's inter-denominational Christian church, New Age Church of Truth. A most dynamic and resourceful Renaissance man that dramatically illustrates that old Stoic aphorism that: "Life makes philosophers of us all" and more importantly, Lamah has arrived at an understanding of just how mankind’s checkered history of religions contributes to his stubborn resistance to change that will eventually bring us into the Age of Reality.