Tag: religion matters

Embracing Virtue

weekly Torah essay: parasha Nitzavim-Vayelech 5783

“See, I have placed before you this day life and good, death and evil.” – Deuteronomy 30:15

How can we freely choose, based on information that will permit us to make an informed decision? If we know right from wrong, then, we should have enough discernment to make the best decision for all who will be affected by that decision. Yet, if we lack discernment between right and wrong, and knowledge of good and evil, what precedent do we have to base our decisions upon? This is the tragedy of post-modern culture, that deprived itself of truth.

G-d is like a loving-parent, who sets clear boundaries and expectations with consequences for the child’s behavior. Out of the mouth of G-d proceeds the reward for doing good, and the judgments for wrongdoing (Lamentations 3:38). If we are unaware of G-d’s commitment to our moral condition, wherein He has made everything clear to us for our sake, then we are no better off than if we were in unchartered waters. 

If we attempt to navigate life without a map, what can our decisions be based upon, except for subjective notions of right and wrong, that might be vague and ill-defined? The truths established in scripture are time-tested, and will not be undone by the attempt to undermine Western civilization today.

This has been going on for centuries, ever since the French Revolution and the Enlightenment. And, now, the cultural revolution that has captured the institutions of society is wreaking havoc upon classical Western values. Yet, the value of scripture, and the qualities that are promoted by its teachings, such as truth, forgiveness, and compassion are even more important now than ever before. Our humanity is at risk if we fail to embrace the virtues that make us human.

Woke Dynamics

Religious Parallels:

Religion contains the opportunity to recognize sin, through a careful examination of the heart; upon doing so, an individual can be reconciled to G-d, by confessing those sins. Wokism has defined its own version of sins, through a social justice framework. By way of coercion, a person may be brought to confess his or her so-called sins.

In order to better recognize this parallel within the Woke system, it is helpful to look at the specific elements that contribute to this dynamic. Generally, cancel culture is relentless, and does not give opportunity to confess; typically, there is no allowance for mercy and compassion; rather, only judgment and condemnation.

Yet, calling out another person’s microaggression, can require that person to publicly confess, wherein there is a type of confession made for the “sin” of microaggression. That person, as a result of the confession, is then figuratively reinstated to the good graces of the community wherein the microaggression was committed.

1). it reinforces the system, wherein blame is placed upon an individual regardless of intent 2). confession is an admittance of guilt, whether or not the statement condemned as a microaggression was intended as a slight or not. 3). the process actively engages the so-called culprit of the microaggression to be further indoctrinated into the overall system. 4). accusing someone of a microaggression can lead to censorship of that person’s speech.

Any allowance for redress within the Woke system is nil. The opportunity for discussion about the issues at hand does not exist, because the Woke always reason that they hold the moral position, based upon their set of rules.

Extracting a confession brings the condemned person over to the other side, absolving him or her of his so-called sin. An effort may be made to bring the individual into further alignment with the ideology.

As a result of a foot-in-the-door tactic, a confession allows for entrance into that person’s psyche. Woke pseudo-moralism is intrusive; understanding the dynamic behind the language is key, so as to not fall prey to its influence.

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