Wisdom Literature, Continued

In my previous piece I talked about using wisdom literature in counseling. I’d like to following that up with a bit on how the wisdom literature in scripture came to be written and some implications.

The prevailing thought of the day of the wisdom writers was a simple view; the rich were rewarded for being good, righteous people and the poor were those who were poor, a punishment for their sinful, unrighteous life. If life is going well for you this philosophy make you feel good about yourself and leads to a good deal of self-righteousness, which was prevalent at the time.

The wisdom writers saw this as a fallacy. If you read Ecclesiastes,(a.ka. Quohelth or the Preacher) you see that he saw things much differently. He was one of the well off folk but he was also a student of human nature and action. He noticed that there were lot of really decent people who were poor not because they were bad or evil, but just didn’t have good luck or good fortune.  He also noticed that a lot of folk who were rotten to the core, backstabbing, money grubbing, opportunists who were had tremendous bottom lines, in the vernacular of our age. So, he and the other wisdom writers took issue with the popular philosophy of their times and said things like, “The rain falls on the just and the unjust equally.” They rejected the false piety of haves and the condemnation of the have nots.

The belief in the rich being rewarded and poor being punished for their behavior didn’t end with the writing of the wisdom writers. In this country we called it the “protestant ethic.” If you worked hard, you will get rewarded. We saw ourselves of the land of opportunity where you could raise yourself to a high economic station in life though hard work and moral turpitude.  You here the same language in today’s political discussions. Most recently in the Republican attacks upon all those folk in this country who don’t pay income tax, 51% is the figure being thrown around. The idea is that the dregs upon society are not pulling their fair share and their taxes should be raised rather than picking on the poor rich millionaires and billionaires; portrayed as class warfare. [See Washington Post article 8/23/11, Wonkbook: since when do Republican want to raise taxes?]

So, who are these social deadbeats that aren’t paying their fair share? Well, a number of them just are poor, people in poverty who are ill equipped to do anything but find a place to live they can afford and put food on the table. The vast majority of these folk are like Doreen and I, the retired. Now it doesn’t strain the brain to figure out why we don’t pay much in the way of tax; we don’t work and get a bigger standard deduction. Also one should bear in mind that we are on fixed incomes so we take a hit each year we’re retired despite any increase is social security payments if any. Now this is not new information. Now, I am not against upping the age for retirement, we’re living longer and healthier. I’m also not again increasing what we pay into social security to keep up with the times.

So here we are now looked at as the deadbeats of society whereas all those ultra rich folk who also don’t pay taxes are seen as the driving force of society. Now I am not aware that I have become any less or any more good or evil, moral or immoral since retiring but proportionately my income is reducing because of inflation and perhaps added taxes.

But, if you are not a wisdom thinker you would conclude that old folk are the evil deadbeats of society that need to be punished and that God doesn’t like us as much as the ultra rich folk in society.

Perhaps it is just my selfish evil self speaking but I’m not buying it. And, I hope you don’t either. In my reading of scripture God and her earthly emissaries were consistently advocates for the oppressed and those in need. Scripture does no say there is a blessing in being poor but that all of us should be the recipients of the abundant life, including material abundance, and those who have much are responsible for the welfare of those who don’t.

Consider what the wisdom writers would comment on today’s world economics.

Philosophical Counselors

I found today a fascinating article by Emily Wax on the Washington Post with the above title. The article was based on Patricia Anne Murphy who has a PhD in philosophy which she uses to counsel folk. Apparently this is a growing field of folk who use the wisdom ancient philosopher instead of drugs to aid their patients work through life difficulties. They are also quick to refer folk with serious mental illnesses to properly qualified counselors who have specific abilities and the ability to dispense drugs. The author of the article calls them “intellectual life coaches.”

In today’s life drugs seem to predominate when it comes to easing people’s woes and problems, but that is often not what they really need. Perhaps we just need to work more on our philosophy of life, and the values we need to learn and practice to lead happier lives.

I know that was true in my ministry. Many of you know that I started my ministry in campus ministry where over half my time was spent in counseling. I found I had a real knack for it, but I also busily read a lot of psychological material of the day such as: Transactional Analysis, Gestalt Therapy, Jungian psychology, Roger’s non-directive therapy, among others. My favorite of those became Rational Therapy or Rational Emotive Therapy by Albert Ellis, now called Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). Curiously enough Ellis was influenced by Asian, Greek, Roman and modern philosophers. It is a think system with which I felt most comfortable. Interestingly, studies have shown  that it doesn't make much different which therapy system a counselor uses as long as the patient is comfortable and trusting of the therapist. I also was quick to refer the cases that were beyond my dept to the Mental Health Association in the community and was able to transfer that trust folk had in me to those professionals.

As I grew as a counselor I found that while I continued to used those therapy systems and appreciated the handles they provided, i.e. Transactional Analysis (The I’m Ok, You’re Okay stuff) had great handles which I used but I thought was dumb as a bunch of rocks as a theory.) What I began to use more and more was the wisdom literature of scripture and laughter. The wisdom literature of scripture, in case you don’t know it, are those biblical books, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (or Songs) and Job; particularly Job. We human beings tend to take ourselves far too seriously and wisdom literature, and philosophy help us to bring thing back into perspective. One of the things I used to do in couples counseling was to learn to dance the Penguin, a song developed by the Harvard Lampoon Tabernacle Choir. Each partner stands facing each other as the music starts (music really isn’t necessary) with arms stiffly pointed down and their hands parallel to the floor; looking penguin like. The music starts slowly and you pick up your feet in time with the music which speeds up faster and faster. Then the music abruptly starts and you reach over and tickle your partner’s belly. Stupid like a fox. It is very hard to maintain extreme angry and hostility while dancing the penguin. As I said, it’s put’s things in perspective.

Currently there are about 300 philosophical counselors in 36 states and 40 foreign countries certified by the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. If you are looking for a read on the subject check out, Plato, Not Prozac! Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems by Lou Marinoff president of the association. The author of the article says comes across as a cross between Woody Allen and Sigmund Freud. How can that be bad?

For the full article see http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/2011/08/18/gIQA7yxNXJ_story.html

or click below

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/2011/08/18/gIQA7yxNXJ_story.html

The Daily Show for Real News

For those of you who missed the Daily Show with Jon Stewart August 18^th, I just have to share with you some of the material from that show.

It started with Jon showing Warren Buffet saying folk like himself, the very rich need to start paying their fair share of income taxes and that he pays at a lower rate that anyone else in his office, including his cleaning lady. Fox news has attacked Warren Buffet on this and called it class warfare and Buffet of being a Socialist.

The point the extreme right is making is that taxes the ultra rich in this country won’t help bring down the deficit as it would only raise $750 billion dollars over 10 years, just a fraction of what is needed.

Stewart then went on to show how the extreme right condemns 51% of the country for not paying enough taxes, getting a free ride. Then Stewart ran the figures. This group owns 2.5% of the wealth of the country or $1.4 trillion dollars. So, if you take half of what they have you come up with $750,000; that fraction mentioned in the above paragraph. He then showed videos of right wingers complaining about the wasteful spending of the government on things like NPR which I believe amounted to $1 million.

At one point Stewart pointed out the U.S.A. ranks 64^th in equitable economic distribution in the world.

No wonder the Daily has been shown to be of equal substance to Network News shows even though it is a comedy show. [IU News Room, Oct 4, 2006] His ratings are higher than all of Fox news programs; as of May 11 of 2011 averaged 2.3 million viewers, aside from The O’Reily Factor, except when they are in the same time slot, Daily beats O’Reily by about a million viewers. Fox news hates Jon Daily for a good reason. [Politicususa.com]

Only in America.

Let’s Blame the E.P.A.

Maybelle Hackmann, Brick Harry, and Salamander Imrich, along with Pon Raul, Kerman Hain, Yawn Shootsman, all members of the various Republican leaders in my hometown have found common ground, they are in blaming the E.P.A. for our economic problems. As their limos and Hummers idled, together the sang a chorus of “Drill Baby Drill” Whenever you want, wherever you want, drill baby drill.” Maybelle futher commented that there ought to be a panel of experts who really know what they are talking about; oil and gas executives empowered to set regulations. Brick Harry quickly pointed out the need to make used of those trees just taking up space in the national parks that could provide lots of jobs. All agreed that all this hooey about global warming was just a plot to upset the public created by El Gordo and his minions. Only Biff Roomy of the republican groups saw the importance to the E.P.A. keeping him in tune to the members of the various republican parties. Biff did however, come out against regulations on carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming. The Coffee Klatch however, loves their positions.

In an anti tree-hugger jamboree the Coffee Klatch was heard chanting, “Gases, gases, let them rip from your patoot.”

Sal Paladin, of “Have Bus will Travel” fame, when asked by reporter Curious Kurrick about her views on the E.P.A. said, “I don’t read it…” then conferring with a consultant said, “I meant to say I don’t have a strong opinion about Oprah but I believe you can see her from my backyard.”

[See the New York Times Aug 17, 2011 “Bashing the E.P.A. Is New theme in G.O.P Race.]

Do We have a Multiple Party System?

In my home town we have Democratic and Republican parties. I suppose that is no surprise. But I think that really does not adequately describe the political system in my hometown. In the southern part of town are democrats but not really. They are the gun toting, don’t mess with my stuff democrats that generally vote for the democratic candidate; they talk with a south of highway 6 drawl. Then there are the liberal democrats that want really good schools, they want to take care of the poor, and they even go so far to think that every citizen in my hometown is entitled to reasonable good health care just because they live there. There are other democrats that are democrats because their families have always been democrats. Plus there are a few more that fall under the general category but really are different parties

There are even more that call themselves Republicans. There are the Republicans that just want to vote no. Their hero was congressman H.R. Gross who had the most consistent voting record in the House of Representatives, he always voted “no!” (Charles Grassley holds that seat now); Doesn’t make any difference what the issue is, they just vote no upholding that great tradition of bein’ agin it. Other Republicans want to make sure the government doesn’t mess with their business. There Republicans will run for the school board just to keep property taxes down and don’t think you should molly coddle kids, just give them the three R’s whatever they are. Some Republicans are really just anarchists in disguise; they don’t want any government at all. There are Republicans because all their daddies and mommas have been Republicans and they don’t want them spinning in their graves. There are also some Republicans who just like to condemn lazy people for being lazy, poor people for being poor etc. Again, there more groups that call themselves Republicans, but really are different parties, even more than the democrats.

There are some folk in town who call themselves independents and whatever candidates cater the best to their vested interests they will vote for them. They tend to think of themselves as more objective and intelligent. Their detractors just say they lack commitment and don’t understand the importance of political platforms. My uncle Mortimer would tell them to do their business or get of the pot; at least that how he said it after he got hoity toity religion.

We say we have a two party system but we really don’t. We really have a multiple party system that makes coalitions where their common interests meet; beside they don’t like to think they are anything like the French and their multitude of parties. So, some folk get aligned in certain ways that they can call themselves one or the other.

Currently none of these multiple parties are agreeing on anything except that they are mad and a lot of them are taking their anger out on the mayor who inherited most of his problems from the previous mayor. Thank God, folk in my hometown don’t have a militia with which to wage a war. Oh, I guess is there a party that wants to do that but the hide out in each other basements and collect weapons. One claimed he brought down a 35 point buck last year with a bazooka. They formed their own lobby group entitled “? The Local Armed and Dingy Group.”

On the north end of town, in a rustic house set back in a small woods is a fella that most folk would be hard pressed to even know his name, nor do they know what his politics are. But he is filthy rich, a subtle arm twister, and has a lot of people who owe him and somehow whoever he wants to get elected gets elected. He has never ever paid any taxes himself, but somehow the local government is always giving him things he wants and funding projects from which he benefits. In essence he bought most of the town’s government over 30 years ago but nobody noticed.

That’s the way politics work in my hometown, a mystical maze which few ever find their way through.

The Belief of Minute Thorton

Another fella in my hometown had philosophical and theological bent. This was not a largely shared trait in town as far as one can tell. His name was Minute Thrornton. Minute got along with folk pretty well and they he; his difference was pretty well tolerated and he didn’t talk about it much anyway.

Minute was a member of the Calvinistic Community Church and friends of the pastor there. With this pastor Minute felt free to talk about and express his philosophical and religious beliefs and the pastor with him. His pastor told him one time that one of the criteria he had to fulfill in becoming a minister was to write his personal statement of faith.

Minute thought about that for some time and decided that he would write his own statement of belief. This is what he wrote.

I believe in God. I cannot prove that God exists, but I believe there is a God. I believe this God is different from we human beings in ways so profound that we can never fully understand God. But I believe this God fully understands us. Moreover, I believe this God is totally head over heels in love with us for no apparent reason that I can understand. This God has given us all that we have in creation and has given us the ability to care for these gifts and to share them, but we don’t seem to be very good at it; yet God continues to still love us.

I also believe we are in conflict with this God. We are in conflict basically because we want to be God ourselves and we want the world to reflect the glory of ourselves and our intelligence. But I believe this does not upset God particularly, he/she just accepts it. I also believe God has fixed this conflict we have but we are slow to understand or accept how it was done.

I believe that all the religions in this world, except for the really whacky ones and maybe even they, have some understanding of this God and tell truths about this God that are helpful to us.

I believe we are placed on this earth like children who are given bicycles with training wheels. Here we are to learn how to care for our world, and how to care for each other. I believe we are here to learn the basic rules of citizenship in a greater world to come and is eternal. We are already part of the world but need glasses to see it more clearly and what it is like and what we will be like in it.

I believe God loves everyone and intends for everyone to have citizenship in this eternal world; nobody gets excluded no matter what they do. They are included by what God has done as is doing.

I also believe there are times when God comes to us here on this earth clearly and we see clearly, if briefly. Those moments are to be treasured and we need to become more and more open to them.

I believe I can talk to this God and that this God talks to me, but all the languages in the world are not pure enough for that communication to be what it will be. I believe in our conversations with God are in the great religious books of the world were inspired and reflect God’s intention for us. I also belief that we are prone to reduce the God given truths to rules and regulations to try and justify our lives rather than just accept them as gifts to help us on our spiritual journeys.

I Love this God, not because I contain an inherent ability to love but because God loves me. This love is so powerful it spills over and lets me love others as well. But I will give the credit for that ability to love to God rather than claim it for myself.

I believe God has made me a searcher and I will continue to search until I’m found and I know it completely or perhaps it goes on forever.

This I believe,

Minute Thornton

Hieronymus Throckmorten Rucksucker III., aka Anomie Smith

In my hometown there lived a fella by the name of Hieronymus Throckmorten Rucksucker III. We called him Hermie,  Throckie, old Ruckster, or HTR3, among other things. It was a terrible moniker for a kid, or an adult for that matter. He also had very large ears, bad eyesight with thick glasses, his folk made him wear dress clothes to school and carry a briefcase. The Rucksuckers thought they were pretty hot stuff in town, but it was not a shared point of view. Folk tended to say if they walked in the rain without their umbrellas they likely drown because the noses were held so high. Hermie’s voice was also one of the last one to change and it didn't sound very mature when it did. Folk, being naturally unkind to those who are different gave Hieronymus Throckmorten Rucksucter III an unnecessarily hard time. What can be said in the HTR III was a very obedient child who did whatever his parents, teachers, and ministers said to the best of his ability.

When HTR III went to college he went as far away from home as he could to a Ivy League School out east somewhere. He took elocution lessons and developed a very sound speaking voice. He had plastic surgery on his ears, his body filled out through gym work and he changed his name to Anomie* Smith. After college Anomie went to live in a large eastern town in a large business and became a mid level executive who stood out in no way whatsoever. He just fit in to the point of almost becoming invisible. He liked that.

With his new cloak of invisibility Anomie began doing things that he never would have done in my hometown. We went to strip bars. When not noticed he would trip little old ladies as they were trying cross the street. He would silently fart in an elevator with an innocent air. He would attend the theater sitting in the upper seats and boo performers. He would enter a bar he’d never been in and pick an argument and swear terribly at strangers but always escape before anyone would attack him. He would send anonymous emails belittling co-workers or bosses at his firm. He would attend political rallies and badger whoever the speaker was. Anomie felt he was free at last and could do practically anything he wanted with impunity. At night in bed he would think back about the members of my hometown and laugh at all their hang-ups and restricted behavior. There were also times when he felt like a first class shit. But even then he felt a silent comradeship with most of the other folk who lived in the city who didn’t know their neighbors, didn’t belong to much of anything, and felt very little responsibility for anyone and anything. He felt he was like almost everyone else he didn’t really know. He thought he was a part of the real silent majority, those that never claimed to be the silent majority for political purposes. He was no longer Throckmorten Rucksucker III but Anomie Smith along with a whole lot of other amoral  A. Smiths.

[Anomie is a term meaning "personal feeling of a lack of social norms; normlessness". It describes the breakdown of social norms and values.^[1] It was popularized by French sociologist Émile Durkheim in his influential book Suicide (1897). Durkheim borrowed the word from French philosopher Jean-Marie Guyau ~ Wikipedia]