As I work with clients this week, I realize how the events in politics are affecting reclaimers. (“Reclaimers”- people who are recovering from religion and reclaiming their lives). Folks are hugely discouraged by the pervasive influence of conservative religion in political affairs and in the health of our country. The events of January 6 were in part religiously motivated, as evidenced by the Christian signs and banners, linking Jesus with Trump and Christianity with the dominance of “USA.” We are continually frustrated by the claim of the religious right that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation (It was not), and the Constitution as up there with the Bible. Religion permeates our society; some parts of the country seem to have no separation of church and state, and are proud of that fact. Being surrounded by religion makes it more difficult for reclaimers to heal from the harmful effects.
In general, reclaimers tend to shift their political views toward the left, valuing human rights more than before, and adopting a humanistic philosophy. They are more aware of social issues than before leaving religion, and more likely to take part in some kind of activism, even just to join a march like the Women’s March or Black Lives Matter. There is more concern about human well-being in this life instead of the hereafter. They are concerned about Planet Earth and thus issues like climate change.
The recent Supreme Court ruling, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was a shock to the system. The court overturned Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 permitted abortions in the first two trimesters of pregnancy. This is a huge step backwards for women, who need sovereignty over their own bodies. This ruling, along with the knowledge that the Supreme Court will be stacked with conservative judges for many years in the future, has made many people angry, sad, and fearful. For reclaimers new to political awareness and activism, this event has been very discouraging. It raises questions: Is the world just a lost cause like religious people say? Are we just as helpless as before when we were trying to change the world? Are people basically bad – racist, sexist, classist, and more?
Regarding the environment, it is noteworthy that the U.S. is the most religious of Western nations as well as the most opposed to climate change legislation. We know that there is a large evangelical voting bloc which believes the earth will burn anyway when biblical prophecies are fulfilled, so why bother saving it? But plenty of people, not necessarily religious, seem to simply be selfish and short-sighted. Are people just so greedy that they don’t even care about their own children and grandchildren?
These are good questions and can really get you down. But there are several things to keep in mind that can help.
- The overall arc of history is toward human rights and better living conditions. That is, if we look at changes over hundreds of years, there are marked improvements. Steven Pinker is a psychology professor and philosopher who has studied this and points out that a) life expectancy for most of human history was around 30 and now is 71 years worldwide and around 80 in more developed parts of the world, b) in education, for most of world history, people were illiterate; now 90% of people in the world under 25 can read and write, c) wealth and poverty: 200 years ago 90% of the world lived in extreme poverty and now the rate is 10%, d) peace: even though there are horrific wars that continue to go on, the rate of death in war is now about a quarter of what it was in the 80’s, and about a 7th of what it was in the 70’s during Vietnam, to say nothing of what it was during the world wars. Pinker has more to say and points out the most people are more pessimistic than they need to be.
- There are ways to fight the Supreme Court. The New York Times on Aug. 4 explained how the court was not intended to be the most powerful branch of government and how the other branches as well as states can take action to balance power. In Kansas, residents voted overwhelmingly this week to keep abortion rights as part of the state’s constitution. And in Congress, advocates for same-sex marriage are trying to pass a bill to protect it, worried that the court may soon restrict marriage rights as well. Other strategies include winning over public opinion and winning elections.
- Change occurs in movements, not individual efforts. People like the suffragettes or abolitionists organized to achieve goals like women voting or ending slavery, not in isolation. The labor movement or the civil rights movement were collective efforts. We have many organizations now which individuals can join and assist – the ACLU, Black Lives Matter, Peace Action, Move On, and many more. For individuals who get involved, there is camaraderie with others as people work together, lifting spirits. Protest marches are encouraging and exciting as you spend time with others that are like-minded, realizing that you are far from alone. Move On organizes around small groups in house parties that gather to work on progressive projects, writing letters, raising funds, backing candidates and more. A Move On initiative right now is to impeach Clarence Thomas. They are also fighting for universal health care, and working to save our elections. You can contact any of these groups to find out how to fit in and contribute. The result is empowering.
- Appreciate the BIG PICTURE. We earthlings are not the only ones in the universe. There are enormous and spectacular things happening in all the far reaches of space. To get some excitement and encouragement about what scientists are learning, check out the images from the James Webb Space Telescope. It’s amazing and beautiful. We can be small and humble as we realize an inkling of what is going on that is beyond our comprehension. In a strange way, that’s pretty comforting.