Child Abuse

Last week, Paul Ehrlich, a doctor of biology and ecology, accused Christine and I (and countless others) of child abuse.  The program Q and A, a television show dedicated to discussing sensitive topics by a diverse panel of scientists, entertainers, mathematicians, clergy and the like, invited Paul Ehrlich to be part of a panel which discussed a question regarding whether or not a Muslim school in Sydney was right to refrain from singing the national anthem because in their religious calendar year they are in a period of joylessness.  A time of lament.  As the Australian national anthem opens, "Australians all let us rejoice..."

Ehrlich's body posture signified all the academic arrogance one has seen time and time again with regards to the "Science vs. Religion" question (as if the two have to be diametrically opposed.)  He reclined in his chair, arms crossed, one leg over the other almost rolling his eyes as the question was put forth and as his turn came to answer, the snobbery in his voice oozed.  The questioner asked, "Didn't you sing your own national anthem in school when you were growing up?"  (I think he meant the Pledge of Allegiance which states: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God...)

Ehrlich then smirked and said, "Yes, of course, but we didn't have child abuse required in the schools in those days."

Religious instruction.

There it is.  He just implied that by teaching students the value (and values) of faith in a supreme being, we are purposefully and systematically abusing children.

After these outrageous comments were spoken (Ehrlich himself tried to backtrack slightly and say that 'he didn't want to be outrageous' but sometimes when one is on camera one likes to see what kind of reaction one can get) there was a warm smattering of applause from the audience.  They liked what he had to say.  Enough of this old time religion.  Enough of this outdated philosophy of bowing in servanthood to non-sensical, all-powerful being which mysteriously controls the universe.  We want a god like everyone else.  We want a god that does exactly what we want, when we want.  We want a god to be

Us.

Isn't that where our culture and society has evolved?  We no longer need to look outside of ourselves for salvation, or even hope, for that matter?  Doesn't our culture tell us that our own narcissistic ecclesiology need only worship at the altar of the ego?  Instead of speaking of God as the Great I Am, we have simply replaced him ourselves and we intone, I am god.  In the process of replacing the true God of the universe on the throne of our hearts, we have erased the hope of the world, the light of the nations, and the true ability to care for each other, because if, as Ehrlich presumes, there are only 'supernatural monsters' that the religious unintellectuals believe, there is no reason to be anything but hedonistic.

Life is short, do what you want.  Be happy.

It's in this cultural understanding that I think we find a true source of abuse.  When we teach young people that there is no lament, there is no sadness and that our true, and only, advice for life is to try to be happy and then die, we don't give them the tools to deal with the inevitable darkness and desperation that occurs during our breathing years. 

Recently, in an assessment task in our Religion and Ethics class at school, the students were to come up with twelve pieces (or things) that gave their life meaning.  i.e. What makes my life worthwhile?

Of course family and friends were first, but for a few, the majority could not understand why they give life meaning, only that 'they are there for them.'  The rest of the answers included, cars, sports, music and almost always some kind of on-line activity and with it came the 'meaning question' when they responded,

"It gives me an escape from life for a while."

I repeat that in my head each day now, because these students were expressing what I'd been thinking for a while.  Our culture teaches them that it's all about them; be happy; if you don't like something or you think it's boring, change it until it makes you happy; and for goodness sake, if it makes you sad, run like the wind away from it.  Don't deal with it.  Run.

But sooner or later, this kind of cultural child abuse leaves these kids with nowhere else to run.  With no meaning in life other than to be happy, and no tools to deal with sadness or hopelessness, depression and anxiety become almost an inevitable conclusion.  When we don't teach students how to use lament as an expression of one of the mysteries of life, this is the form of abuse we should be talking about.

So Paul Ehrlich may be speaking for the popular culture which popularly replaces God with themselves, and by quoting famous scientist Stephen Hawking, he seems to think it will give his argument greater authority without receiving any of the negative backlash, we find ourselves in a 21st century conundrum.

Who is God here?

I Am.

You can decide which.