Perspectives of a Wanderer

If you go by popular literature and entertainment, civilization will be done in by nuclear war. I do not see that being the case.

As with some civilizations of the past, I believe today’s civilizations will be done in by immorality and despotism.  With the breakdown of society, anarchy will prevail, disease will be rampant, and resources to survive will be almost non-existent.

The immorality is already here due to the rampant relativism, materialism, and liberalism.  You cannot turn on the TV, go to the movies, and not even go shopping without seeing the weeds from the seeds of immorality.

Despotism is coming in the guise liberal socialism which is, in reality, resurgent Marxist socialism.  The latest example is what is happening in Venezuela and other South American countries with Chavez and his allies.  Even here, socialism is making headway, mainly in the form of Judicial Activism, and it may only be a matter of time before it completely takes over.

Immorality and Despotism will eventually lead to anarchy either by the total breakdown of all norms or through rebellion against authority.  In either case, the consequences could be devastating.

With the breakdown of the civilization, infrastructure will be disrupted at a minimum and may even be destroyed.  This means food, clothing , and other staples of survival which most have no idea of how to obtain other than through commercial means (i.e grocery stores).

In addition, with the breakdown of the infrastructure, diseases that are easily treated could go unchecked and those diseases that have been practically wiped out could, and most like will, reemerge.  Not only that, what if disease like the plague, or ebola would be unleashed in an urban area?  The black plague in the middle ages would look like the common cold to that.

No, I am afraid, civilization will not go out with a bang, but with a whimper and a slow, painful death if nothing is done.

Yes, I am at it again.  This time on Relativism.  Consider these words of then Cardinal Ratzinger at the Mass just before the conclave that would elect him Pope Benedict XVI:

How many winds of doctrine we have known in recent decades, how many ideological currents, how many ways of thinking. The small boat of thought of many Christians has often been tossed about by these waves ¬ thrown from one extreme to the other: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism, and so forth. Every day new sects are created and what Saint Paul says about human trickery comes true, with cunning which tries to draw those into error (cf Eph 4, 14). Having a clear faith, based on the Creed of the Church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. Whereas, relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and “swept along by every wind of teaching”, looks like the only attitude acceptable to today’s standards. We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as certain and which has as its highest goal one’s own ego and one’s own desires. However, we have a different goal: the Son of God, true man. He is the measure of true humanism. Being an “Adult” means having a faith which does not follow the waves of today’s fashions or the latest novelties. A faith which is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ is adult and mature. It is this friendship which opens us up to all that is good and gives us the knowledge to judge true from false, and deceit from truth.

In that homily, Pope Benedict equates Relativism to a Dictatorship.  I would like to go one step further and say it makes us slaves.  That is, it makes us slaves to perceptions and desires, not reality.  What we perceive and desire is true not what is the real truth.  Thus we are slaves to our perceptions and desires and, thus, slaves to sin.  Since nothing is false to the relativist, those enslaves do not realize they are slaves and it is almost impossible to show them this.

Abortion, euthanasia, “gay marriage, and the likes are all results of the Relativistic mindset and it will not stop there.  How long will it be before infanticide and even worse are legalized.

It is my opinion that Relativism (along with its brethren Liberalism and Materialism) is one of the main reasons society is on the brink of implosion. And, unless we can break its stranglehold and move back to God, I believe there is little hope for society.

If one thing has come out of the current situation is that Materialism is not conducive with the goal that one should have in life. That goal is that we should live our lives in accordance with God’s Natural Law based on the teachings of Our Lord.

The greed of Materialism, along with its cohorts Relativism and Liberalism, has all but destroyed today’s society. We must look long and hard on how we live our lives and make changes that will not only bring us closer to God, but also hopefully help mend society.

Although I have not been caught up as much as some in the cult of Materialism, I still am guilty of participating in it and I do not like it. In the next couple of months, I will personally be looking at how I live my life and make changes that will not only wean me further away from many of the trappings of Materialism but also, hopefully, bring me closer to God. Some of the things I am looking at:

1. Look at what I have and get rid of anything I absolutely do not need.
2. Not eating out as often and, when I do, stay away from the more expensive restaurants (which I only eat at once or twice a month as it is). This includes taking my lunch to work instead of eating at the Cafe that is in the building where I work.
3. Taking less expensive vacations and even not going anywhere or doing personal retreats when I take time off.
4. I was looking at buying a new car in the next year or so, but I will look at keeping my 7+ year old compact a little longer and, if I need to get a car, look at use cars first.
5. Instead of going to the mall, bookstore, etc., spend time in prayer (including Eucharistic Adoration), going to Mass, and/or spending time at home reading.

I know, some of this look like I am cutting back due to the economy. However, I have been debating a lot of his for quite awhile. In addition, the above list is not, by all means complete. There are some things I have probably forgotten and more things I will think of.

The goal is to make Materialism a thing of the past and God the most important thing in my life.

With the rapid implosion both economically and morally of society from the weight of rampant Materialism and Relativism, I think it is may be time.

The failed experiment of social engineering of the secularists that stared around the French Revolution is finally showing it decayed fruits. Moral barriers are falling almost every day and show no sign of slowing any time soon due to God being replaced by the “self” as the “supreme being”.

The excessive greed of Materialism has finally gotten to the point where people are panicking because they no longer can afford their luxuries that make them feel self-important. An aspect of this is Globalization, bigger is better. However, this so-called philosophy has wound the world so tight that the slightest vibration is not only felt, but is amplified throughout the world.

We must to get back to a smaller, more simplified society where living by God’s Natural Law, not our man-made “Positive Law”, is the bases for how we conduct our lives. We cannot do that the way today’s society is structured. We need to put God and Family first

We need to make ourselves self-sufficient without having to rely on the rest of the world for our needs. By doing this, we are less susceptible to the amplified economic tides that are affecting the world.

Yes, it would be difficult, seemingly impossible, at first. But, with perseverance, it would be possible.

Saying that, we still must not cut ourselves completely off from society since we must still participate, even if it is at a reduced level. Voting and things like that must still be done but there is a more important reason not to completely cut oneself off from the rest of the world. That is we must evangelize society to turn away from the Relativism and Materialism that is so damaging the world through its perversions. A balance must be struck between the two.

The out of control materialism that started in the 90’s has finally caught up with society and we are seeing the results of that these days.  The foundation of the pyramid scheme of greed is starting to crumble and has a chance of accelerating society’s slide to implosion.

This, however, does gives us one more reason to reflect on our own lives and see where we can change for the better.  The New Testament gives us many examples of how we can amend out lives to serve God better.  For example:

And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,  Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?”  Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt. 19: 16-27 RSV)

Wealth can blind us to what is most important and that is serving God. How we obtain it and what we do with it is what is important.  If we put our complete effort is obtaining material weath without regard to the consequences, that is not doing God’s will.  In the save vein, if we hoard it and do not use it for the betterment of mankind, again we are not using it for God’s will.

Again, we can see in the New Testament how we are to act with charity towards our fellow man:

Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ (Mt: 25: 34-40)

Charity towards our fellow man is sorely lacking in this materialistic society. It seem we replaced our charity with government programs (i.e welfare) to do the acts we were meant to do just so we can pursue our material gains. This has to change. What do we need to do? We can see, in part, what to do with some of Our Lord’s final words to Peter:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (Jn: 21:15-17 RSV)

These words were meant for all of us, not just Peter.  This is, by no means, complete, but only a starting point.   Only by following the complete teachings out Out Lord, will we be able to obtain real wealth. That is, eternal life with Our Lord in heaven.