Civil Commotion

Book Two: A Criticism of the Highest Values That Have Prevailed Hitherto
II: Criticism of Morality

§281   If, in compliance with our communal instincts, we make certain regulations for ourselves and forbid certain acts, we do not of course, in common reason, forbid a certain kind of “existence”, nor a certain attitude of mind, but only a particular application and development of this “existence” and “attitude of mind”. But then the idealist of virtue, the moralist, comes along and says: “God sees into the human heart! What matters it that ye abstain from certain acts: ye are not any better on that account”! Answer: Mr. Longears-and-Virtuous, we do not want to be better at all, we are quite satisfied with ourselves, all we desire is that we should not harm one another and that is why we forbid certain actions when they take a particular direction; that is to say, when they are against our own interests: but that does not alter the fact that when these same actions are directed against the enemies of our community — against you, for instance — we are at a loss to know how to pay them sufficient honour. We educate our children up to them; we develop them to the fullest extent. Did we share that “god-fearing” radicalism which your holy craziness recommends? If we were greenhorns enough to condemn the source of those forbidden “acts” by condemning the “heart” and the “attitude of mind” which recommends them, that would mean condemning our very existence and with it its greatest prerequisite — an attitude of mind, a heart, a passion which we revere with all our soul. By our decrees we prevent this attitude of mind from breaking out and venting itself in a useless way; we are prudent when we prescribe such laws for ourselves; we are also moral in so doing –. Have you no idea, however vague, what sacrifices it has cost us, how much self-control, self-subjection and hardness it has compelled us to exercise? We are vehement in our desires; there are times when we even feel as if we could devour each other –. But the “communal spirit” is master of us: have you observed that this is almost a definition of morality?

Larry Klayman says Obama’s abandonment of more than 50-years of fruitless embargo of Cuba is grounds for impeachment.

This week we were forced to witness the true colors of our ultra-socialist and pro-terrorist President Barack Hussein Obama again. Fresh off of his capitulation to his Muslim brothers in Tehran with regard to the sham nuclear negotiations that threaten the annihilation of not just Israel but also our own country, he seized the opportunity at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama, to advance his dastardly plan to open full diplomatic relations with the Communist island of Cuba. Shaking the hands of brutal and blood-thirsty dictator Raul Castro, the younger brother of Fidel Castro, a man who has waged his own version of the Holocaust against his people since the early 1960s when he seized power, Obama later in the week removed Cuba from the list of terrorist nations. Fidel and Raul Castro, the terrorist-supporting dictators, even installed Soviet nuclear weapons on the island only to be forced to remove them later under President Kennedy’ naval blockade and the threat of a full-fledged nuclear strike by the United States.

Book Two: A Criticism of the Highest Values That Have Prevailed Hitherto
II: Criticism of Morality

§280   The instinct of the herd values the middle and the mean as the highest and most precious of all things: this is the place where the majority is to be found, and the air that it breathes. In this way it is the opponent of all order of rank; it regards a climb from the level to the heights in the same light as a descent from the majority to the minority. The herd regards the exception, whether it be above or beneath its general level, as something which is antagonistic and dangerous to itself. Their trick in dealing with the exceptions above them, the strong, the mighty, the wise and the fruitful, is to persuade them to become guardians, herdsmen and watchmen; in fact, to become their head servants: thus they convert a danger into a thing which is useful. In the middle, fear ceases: here a man is alone with nothing; here there is not much room even for misunderstandings; here there is equality; here a man’s individual existence is not felt as a reproach, but as the right existence; here contentment reigns supreme. Mistrust is active only towards the exceptions; to be an exception is to be a sinner.

Book Two: A Criticism of the Highest Values That Have Prevailed Hitherto
II: Criticism of Morality

§279   A criticism of the virtues of the herd. Inertia is active: (1) In confidence, because mistrust makes suspense, reflection and observation necessary. (2) In veneration, where the gulf that separates power is great and submission necessary: then, so that fear may cease to exist, everybody tries to love and esteem, while the difference in power is interpreted as a difference of value: and thus the relationship to the powerful no longer has anything revolting in it. (3) In the sense of truth. What is truth? Truth is that explanation of things which causes us the smallest amount of mental exertion (apart from this, lying is extremely fatiguing). (4) In sympathy. It is a relief to know one’s self on the same level with all, to feel as all feel and to accept a belief which is already current; it is something passive beside the activity which appropriates and continually carries into practice the most individual rights of valuation (the latter process allows of no repose). (5) In impartiality and coolness of judgment: people scout the strain of being moved and prefer to be detached and “objective”. (6) In uprightness: people prefer to obey a law which is to hand rather than to create a new one, rather than to command themselves and others: the fear of commanding it is better to submit than to rebel. (7) In toleration: the fear of exercising a right or of enforcing a judgment.

The Wartburg Watch offers yet another first-person account of a family destroyed by Calvary Temple.

Then we learned that Gretel was pregnant. I [Gretel’s mother] was in contact with her regularly, but our deacon requested me to have nothing to do with her. I thanked him for his concern, but reminded Waleed she was my responsibility before God, not his, and I would do as I saw fit. She asked to come home, and, of course, I said yes. The pastors rebuked me for not seeking their approval.

I believe that this incident marked the beginning of my fall from favor at Calvary.

[ … ]

Never did I think we were being systematically divided through subtle means by Pastor Scott.

Divide and conquer.

Healthy family loyalties undermine a church’s ability to totally control its membership; the church is the enemy of healthy families.

The third theological fact about the family is the continued affirmation of the family within the redeemed people of God — the church. As the Gospels make clear, loyalty to Christ exceeds that of any family commitment, even as the church becomes the family of faith, embracing within its life all who come to faith in Christ and into the life of the church.

Albert Mohler

Like practically everything else that Christianity says about itself, ‘family values’ is an empty marketing lie.