CRIME, THE CHURCH, STATE AND PUBLIC MORALITY

The separation of church and state in the United States of America has had some unforseen and significant consequences. Since moral teaching and condoning of moral values has been regarded historically as a function of religion, the public teaching and support of moral values has largely been the affair of the religious institutions. By what right would the secular government of The United States assume responsibility in the arena of morality, or impose moral values and ethical virtues upon the people? Clearly, by virtue of the separation church (religion) and state it could do so only in a non-religious context.

If it is known or if it can be demonstrated that ANY particular behavior or the restraint of ANY particular behavior is beneficial to the public interest, the government can justify imposing or restricting those behaviors by legislative fiat and executive force. This is, in fact, what is done regarding murder, theft, rape, fraud, assault and battery, etc. These behaviors are deemed undesirable and injurious to individuals and society and are therefore legislated against. Other behaviors such as charitable giving, investing, building, increasing tax revenues to government, military service in wartime, etc., are seen as beneficial to the public interest and the general welfare and are accorded legislative encouragement. Therefore, if it can be demonstrated that what has heretofore been called "moral" and "ethical" behavior had some expedient benefit, it would empower the political master, the government, to legislate that this behavior be accepted and encouraged. This legislation would have no religious regard, but only to enhance the life, liberty, security and pursuit of happiness of the people. The encouragement of such behavior would have no religious implications, no after-life rewards, no necessary cudos from God or The Greater Powers. They would have to expediently enhance "life on this earth" and the efficiency and operation of Reality, the conceptual paradigm according to which any society operates.

Is there any earthly benefit to what we call moral values and behavior? Can such behavior even be called "moral" if it is carried out by legal force rather than some inherent or inculcated moral impulse? But do we really care? Aren't politeness, respect and law-obedience generally considered desirable by all of us, regardless of the motivation? Certainly we would choose to associate with genuine and honest people whose behavior emanates from some inherent goodness of heart and natural kindness rather than inauthentic actors. But, in the absence of these admirable qualities, would we not vote for decent behavior from those around us, even if we are not robbed or murdered because of the presence of a policeman? It is said that you cannot legislate morality. Fine! But let us then legislate decent behavior. Let us take back these actions and deeds from the failing religious institutions and call them secular Beneficial Actions. Let temperance, kindness, courage, bravery, honesty, truth-telling, politeness, respect, unselfishness, charity, openness, genuiness, self-restraint, self-discipline be encouraged by government in whatever manner it can do so. Let violations be punished by community work. Let rudeness, guile and guise be considered misdemeanors as they were once considered "venial sins." Why not? I ask. Are we not sunk in the sea of secular humanism and are not the state and man himself the new gods? And should these not be appealed to, not in the form and mode of religious prayer, but in the attitude of human hope and aspiration for 'the best that we can be.' Why not? I ask you again. If stealing and theft, contractual fraud are both wrong and illegal, why cannot cheating, dishonesty and lying be both morally wrong and illegal?

We are stuck with our old ways. We are trapped in the tyranny of language, of old concepts, old ways of thinking, old and familiar terms, phrases and platitudes with which we feel comfortable, like the memories of old friends. These are "part of us now and we like them. We resist change and cling to our "thought-habits" every bit as much as we cling to our "behavioral habits" of smoking, various tics and mannerism which characterize each of us. We accept them even though they are undesirable and harmful. So with our "cultural ways," like limping Hobriand Islanders crippled by jumping off towers with ropes about their ankles to prove that they are men, we hobble and limp with our metaphysical baggage of stupid ideas.

Let us therefore consider the benefits of acts, deeds and kinds of behavior previously regarded by the religious institutions as 'their concern' and reconceive them under a new concept of BENEFICIAL ACTIONS. These could be considered beneficial to individuals, to the group, to the society and culture. And let us encourage them, not only through our religious institutions, but also personally in our homes and among our own families, through government legislation, financial reward and reasonable punishment, and in every other way we can - including prayer to any greater power that may happen to be, especially the one that created us and gave us MOTION.

Sometimes I beel there is little difference between the average politician, especially legislators and political officeholders, and organized criminals. The main difference between them depends on which of the human frailties, weaknesses, vulnerabilities they play upon.

The average politician plays upon people's insecurity, envy and covetousness. The average organized criminal plays upon lust, and men's desire for excitement, fun and thrill. Both also play upon fear and greed. By subtly appealing to these unfortunate characteristics of human nature, they generate fears, desires and then make promises to relieve them.

There have been fewer well-meaning acts which resulted in social choas, widespread immoral behavior and crime than the idea of separation of church and state. America is conceived as a nation built on religious freedom simply because some of those who first came here came to seek the ability to worship or think about God in their own way. Little did they realize that the failure of all of the people of a nation to share a common language and beliefs (language system) regarding such important concepts as that of God and Morality would result in such fragmentation of our moral standards. This silly idea, coupled with the immigration of myriads of people from totally non-Christian moral systems and the massive effect of individual freedom, even of the amoral and immoral, has created a nation of pure and simple chaotic expediency. Pragmatism is the only philosophy available to Americans. Do what works. Do what wins. Do what gets you your way, assures your own success, accomplishes your own desires, attains your own goal. What has 'cash value?' Each is number one! Each is full of nonsense, in plain English! Now pride, envy, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony and sloth rule the day. Throw in some fear and greed like salt and pepper and you have modern American democrats! Because of malignant individualism, we live in a metaphysical Hobbesian jungle surrounded by the tangible trappings of civilization. Will we soon all be "Roadrunners"?

A. Iosue