It's not Just the Ecomomy Stupid

Economic factors may not be the most important aspects of our lives, but they do form the basis of most of our interactions. Through work and exchange, we come into contact with others. The spiritual dimensions of life, although the most enduring and valuable, are usually private things. This has been the sensible American way of thinking and mode of behavior. One reason westerners have a reputation for reticence is that our society is highly heterogeneous. We have so many peoples of so many view points and beliefs, that it is often the best policy to avoid disputes by keeping most of our views to ourselves. But sometimes we are pushed too far.

Journalist, Brit Hume was moved by the spectacle of Tiger Wood's vast extramarital exploits to actually recommended Christianity for him. He thought that it would be superior to Wood's apparently professed beliefs in Buddhism. Of course the leftist journalist have been pontificating against Hume See USA Today's story: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/01/tiger-woods-brit-hume-jesus-buddhism-evangelist/1 Today, His Excellency the Great One, Mark Levin, discussed the tedious and arrogant remarks by Keith Overbite of Countdown to No Ratings. (Note: I do not believe that this is the real name of Mr. Overbite's program but as I have never watched it, I only know Mr. Levin's sobriquet.) Apparently, Mr. Overbite took offense with Mr. Hume's remarks, which he viewed as a slight to Buddhism. Furthermore, as a leftist, Mr. Overbite has a deep seated grudge against Christianity. As for myself, even though my Catholic beliefs sometimes verge on the Ultramontainism of my forefathers, I am not motivated to proselytize. In defense of Mr. Hume's doing so I would point out the following:

Buddhists have the belief, not so different from Christians, that we must experience the consequences of our actions (and even the actions of our forebearers), whether now or in the future. Enlightenment cannot come until the karma of our past deeds has been erases. Buddhist masters have variously held that this is not easy, in fact well nigh impossible. (Of course Christians would say that once enlightened, you still aren't necessarily saved.) If this karmic load can be eased by our good deeds and thoughts, then this is not such an unchristian belief. In fact, Christianity goes a step further in it's view that only by the grace of God can we be saved (or enlightened) because man cannot alone overcome the burden of sin (karma). And it is reasonable for even a Buddhist to see the ultimate and sublime grace that would proceed from the blood sacrifice of God's only son, Jesus, who died so that sins could be forgiven (and we could become enlightened).

What I had started out to write was that if appeals to conventional morality and religion can turn some of the population against the current socialist (and atheist) regime, I say pour it on thick. The same for national defense issues. It seems that the public at large can understand the shortcomings of the Obamaites in military and antiterrorism matters better that it can comprehend BHO's economics folly. I am glad to see the left attacked on all fronts. If it causes more people to join the Party of No, I'm all for it.