http://loveofallwisdom.com/2009/06/political-quietism-today/ Philosophy through multiple traditions Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:23:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://loveofallwisdom.com/2009/06/political-quietism-today/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Amod Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:56:42 +0000 http://loveofallwisdom.com/?p=36#comment-98 I would say Merton's quote is an example of what I'm disagreeing with here. Humans have been capable of evil and brutality throughout recorded history, amply demonstrated by the record of that history. That's one of the reasons why a Marxist worldview feels so much like an experience of failure; but in a sense it's an argument for quietism in itself. There is a valuable peace that comes from being able to say: certain things are not my problem. If one feels that one cannot be happy because there are a billion miserable suffering people in the world, one simply increases the number to a billion and one. The Christian solution you mention is certainly preferable, since at least one can remain happy that way. But I've always been a little uneasy with the idea that the outcome doesn't matter (the Bhagavad Gītā's view as well). Surely the outcome is supposed to be the point? I would say Merton’s quote is an example of what I’m disagreeing with here. Humans have been capable of evil and brutality throughout recorded history, amply demonstrated by the record of that history. That’s one of the reasons why a Marxist worldview feels so much like an experience of failure; but in a sense it’s an argument for quietism in itself. There is a valuable peace that comes from being able to say: certain things are not my problem. If one feels that one cannot be happy because there are a billion miserable suffering people in the world, one simply increases the number to a billion and one. The Christian solution you mention is certainly preferable, since at least one can remain happy that way. But I’ve always been a little uneasy with the idea that the outcome doesn’t matter (the Bhagavad Gītā’s view as well). Surely the outcome is supposed to be the point?

]]> http://loveofallwisdom.com/2009/06/political-quietism-today/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Topher Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:23:25 +0000 http://loveofallwisdom.com/?p=36#comment-96 I'll try and keep up with your current posts, Amod, but I also wanted to comment on this older one. As someone with strong Marxist tendencies before my Christian conversion, I have really struggled with this. The question concerns the role of instrumentalism, I think: by putting the glorification of God first, Christianity lets us labour for justice and peace without being responsible for a successful outcome. My experience of Marxism was of constant and inevitable failure, since injustice persists. I recently came across this quote from Thomas Merton, which I think nicely expresses my anxiety about trusting in an ultimate justice while living in a modern, goal-oriented world: "Contemplation in the age of Auschwitz and Dachau, Solovky and Karaganda is something darker and more fearsome than contemplation in the age of the Church Fathers. For that very reason, the urge to seek a path of spiritual light can be a subtle temptation to sin. It certainly is sin if it means a frank rejection of the burden of our age, an escape into unreality and spiritual illusion, so as not to share the misery of other men." What this means for my behaviour in the world is something I'm just beginning to work out. I’ll try and keep up with your current posts, Amod, but I also wanted to comment on this older one. As someone with strong Marxist tendencies before my Christian conversion, I have really struggled with this. The question concerns the role of instrumentalism, I think: by putting the glorification of God first, Christianity lets us labour for justice and peace without being responsible for a successful outcome. My experience of Marxism was of constant and inevitable failure, since injustice persists. I recently came across this quote from Thomas Merton, which I think nicely expresses my anxiety about trusting in an ultimate justice while living in a modern, goal-oriented world: “Contemplation in the age of Auschwitz and Dachau, Solovky and Karaganda is something darker and more fearsome than contemplation in the age of the Church Fathers. For that very reason, the urge to seek a path of spiritual light can be a subtle temptation to sin. It certainly is sin if it means a frank rejection of the burden of our age, an escape into unreality and spiritual illusion, so as not to share the misery of other men.” What this means for my behaviour in the world is something I’m just beginning to work out.

]]>