We are now living in a time when the ideology of a few is impacting the lives of the majority. Granted, this isn’t new. History is littered with ideological detritus that still shapes much of the world.
Before we get any further, let’s look at a proper definition for ideology. I know, I know… another definition? The reason I do this is because we now have an entire generation with the attention span of a gnat. That’s what social media and the current state of our education system has produced.
While it’s tempting to want to harangue millennials for not being aware of anything that didn’t happen within the last fifteen minutes, I’m going to pass on that urge. There are also older folks who have no historical awareness, although that doesn’t include readers of this site. So, here goes.
ideology: visionary theorizing; a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture; the integrated assertions, theories, and aim that constitute a sociopolitical program.
Subsequently, then, when you hear of a person being called an ideologue, that person is usually (by definition): “an impractical idealist; blindly partisan advocate of a particular ideological trend.”
Historically, the best modern example of the consequences of a particular ideology is communism. Although some historians trace the root concepts of communism back as far as the 1600s, it’s the 20th century that saw the consequences. An estimated 100,000,000-plus have perished throughout the various regimes that ruled as communist. Currently, China and North Korea still hold on to this failed concept.
Governments based on a sole ideological concept have also been known to implode when unrestrained by logic. The fascism of Nazi German in the 1930s and into the WWII years shows exactly what can happen when ideology is the sole impetus for the country’s direction.
Hitler’s ideology was based on a mixture of anti-Semitism, German nationalism, and the belief that German Aryan people were the world’s “master race”. Hitler’s goal was world domination by this “master race”, as led by him.
He got a good start toward this goal and could have succeeded if not for his ideology.
In 1939, Germany allied itself with Stalin’s Soviet Union. Called the German-Soviet Treaty Of Nonaggression (among other names), it was an attempt by both leaders to sort of prolong the inevitable conflict their separate ideologies would lead to. Even though Stalin and Hitler begrudgingly admired each other, they didn’t trust each other.
In September 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan formed an alliance known as The Tripartite Pact. The reason all this is significant is that at this time Japan had already overrun Korea, large parts of China, and was making further land acquisitions in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Italy was attempting land grabs in the eastern Mediterranean and Africa.
Stop and consider the amount of land, along with its resources, under the control of Hitler, Stalin, the Japanese, and to a lesser extent the Italians. Until Germany invaded Russia in June 1941, the Axis powers had a great start towards world conquest. Fortunately, Hitler’s very ideology was his undoing. Unfortunately, it also brought about The Holocaust and WWII. Either way, blindly following an ideology of supremacy and conquest resulted in the deaths of millions.
While America is not yet to the extreme point as the aforementioned examples referenced, we do have a recent occurrence of ideology being given more importance than common sense.
When the wildfires on Hawaii’s Maui started on August 8 of this year, an official of the state’s Department of Land And Natural Resources, M. Kaleo Manuel, a deputy director of water resources, went totally woke. He delayed the release of water to firefighters who desperately needed it. He has stated that he is primarily focused on bringing water planning and “indigenous knowledge” to the field of water advocacy and management. Further comments showed his belief that water usage required a “true conversation about equity.”
“Conversation about equity?” At least 93 are known dead, over 300 still listed as missing, and over 6 billion dollars in property damage. But none of this seems to matter, as long you’re woke and can have a “conversation”.
I’m not allowed to use the words I’d like to use to describe what I think of this piece of human filth. I only hope that if he’s found guilty of any crime because of his dereliction of duty, he spends some time in prison where he’ll get some real “equity”.
This is just one very unfortunate example of the deadly consequences of ideology. Along with liberalism/leftism/socialism in general, and LGBTQX10 alphabet propaganda, and the ongoing illegal invasion, we could mention hundreds of examples of ideological consequences that should not have happened. Space doesn’t allow for that here.
Recognizing the real enemy, though, is only the start of how to fight back. Ideology, in spite of the fact it can control entire nations and cultures, is always narrow in focus. It’s a system that’s agenda-driven, with no goal beyond immediate control. So how do we really counter that, in spite of ideology’s power?
Our faith as Christians is also referred to as “religion”, which is regarded as an ideology in itself. So what’s the difference?
Well, (another definition…sorry…) religion is: manifesting devotion to a ultimate reality, or specific deity; the worship of that deity.
In conclusion…
We don’t have an agenda unless you want to call eternity an agenda
We don’t desire control; we desire to offer devotion beyond ourselves.
And we really don’t have religion; we have a relationship with God The Father through Christ The Son.
