This is a starter (like
Windows 7 starter I suppose) on the abstract form of hierarchical power
precipitating social conflict inclusive of sectarian war. Perhaps I will write
more on the issue later. One finds the U.S. Government bureaucracy stimulating
wars in Syria, conflict in Egypt and strife in Ukraine with sectarianism being an issue in each instance.
There are other parties involved of course, and the assignment of blame isn’t
plain and simple or evens my intention here. The purpose of this post is to not
the action of social hierarchy as the causative agent for religious conflict.
The philosopher Thomas
Hobbes’ wrote a brilliant conservative thesis named The Leviathan describing
the right of the absolute monarch to be in effect the only real individual
around whom every citizen receives light. That is an extreme representation of the
nature of hierarchy manifesting in imperial, corporate and ecclesiastic power. As
power and wealth are concentrated dissent is increasingly eliminated. Absolute
power tolerates no dissent. Free expression and political independence dies. In
the Orwellian state thought is for-itself usurped by hierarchical programming
of citizens. The nature of bloody religious wars is inextricably linked to
hierarchical government and church structures. Especially in Erastian or
government rule of religion, yet also in established hierarchical bureaucracy
doctrine is all-important. Free thought and reform are verboten. Absolute
hierarchies are intolerant of doctrinal differences and any sort of pluralism
politically or ecclesiastically. Thus Martin Luther’s world-changing concept of
justification by faith rather than doled out by bishops.
Luther; a monk, learned of
the problems of monastic life and the corruption of Rome and the papacy after visiting Rome himself. He found the sale of indulgences and more
church practices that weren’t justified by Biblical guidance. Various Popes had
become too powerful believing that had a right to rule not only Christians but
government too. This isn’t then place for a critique of the troubles of the
papal form of church government with a more equal than other bishops
primate-they were at war with themselves too now and then even with as many as
three rival popes at once. The issue is the hierarchical structure of the
church. Pope Hildebrand thought it best for priests to be celibate in order that
they would be more like an international collection of soldiers (of a spiritual
sort). A Pope would be something like an Eisenhower. Pope John Paul II-just
canonized, was a Polish Catholic, and Polish catholic historical efforts to
take over Ukraine for Poland resulted in the formation of a half-catholic,
half-orthodox Uniate Church as well as an Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Today there are Protestants in Ukraine too.
‘Bloody’ Mary Queen of Scots
and England executed nearly 300 Protestants and other Catholic
persecutions of Protestants occurred. She died in 1578 and with her the brief
Catholic restoration. In 1572 Catholics massacred Protestants across France and Ireland in the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. The back and
forth 16th and 17th century reprisals against the
reformation of the Christian Church probably was a probably reason that the Puritan Cromwell invaded Ireland and treated them so badly in 1649. John Milton-the author of Paradise
Lost was a member of Cromwell’s government. Puritans were founders of the U.S.A. too.
The Bishop’s war of 1639 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishops%27_Wars
is said to have been a prelude to the English civil war. Charles I wanted an Episcopal
church form (with Bishops) instead of that of a Presbyterian (elders) structure.
There are innumerable historical examples of church hierarchies ruled by
government as well as of governments ruled by religious hierarchy. The problem
is not religion-at least not Christian religion-as a source for conflict, but
the sociological structure of hierarchies exerting the taught controlling power
over citizens.
Hierarchy cannot tolerate
doctrinal dissent and political free thought. The Inquisition and other
government and church executions of individuals killed far more people of faith
than scientifically inclined people, yet of course moderns would almost have
one think that the church was a great repressor of science generally rather
than its sponsor. The church with the benefit of modern science and technology
ought easily move toward a priesthood of believers egalitarian structure with
three ranks-beginner, intermediate and elder reading standardized with room for
improve liturgies in role sharing groups. That might help the ecumenical movement,
support real rather than corporate democracy and reduce international conflict.
