Manuel García, Jr.: The Question of American Guilt

Manuel García, Jr.: The Question of American Guilt: "'The delusional is no longer marginal, but has come in from the fringe to influence the seats of power. We are witnessing today a coupling of ideology and theology that threatens our ability to meet the growing ecological crisis. Theology asserts propositions that need not be proven true, while ideologues hold stoutly to a world view despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality. The combination can make it impossible for a democracy to fashion real-world solutions to otherwise intractable challenges.' So writes Bill Moyers in the current issue of the New York Review of Books. (1)

Moyers describes how the anticipation of 'rapture' -- the belief in a cataclysmic Armageddon separating the 'saved' from the 'damned' as described in the Book of Revelations -- trumps any environmental or even rational concern, for a large number of evangelical American Christians. A separate news story about evangelical Christians who have awakened to environmental reality only underscores Moyers' point, since green evangelicals seem to be a minority. (2)

What is going on? We are losing our minds because we are clinging to power.

'Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'
-- Lord Acton (John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1834-1902), in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton of 5 April 1887.

'Those whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad.'
-- Euripides (c. 485-406 B.C.), a fragment. [...]"