Two Countries

From the news: "A poll, by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, found that nearly three-fourths of Americans believe in heaven... (a)nd almost 60 percent believe in hell." And, "Majorities believe that angels and demons are at work in the world and that miracles occur today as they did in ancient times." "These are common beliefs among the American public", said a Pew researcher. The emphasis of the poll was on the relationship between religious beliefs and politics, but that initial baseline strikes me as somewhat remarkable. One remarkable factoid is that about 15% of people believe in heaven, but not in hell. Well, we all know people like that -- it's the "everyone wins, and all deserve a prize" mentality (without an exception for Hitler, even! -- or Nixon!). But the most remarkable thing about these data is what they say about the vast gulf between the American people and the mainstream media + academics. Simple belief in God is derided by academicians -- not to mention psychiatrists -- as prima facie evidence of "ignorance and superstition" and possibly "mental illness". Then add to it belief in heaven and/or hell, and you have full-blown paranoid schizophrenia with delusional aspects, hallucinations, and who knows what else. This is all according to the people who publish our newspapers and magazines, produce our radio and TV programs, and make our movies. It is also according to the vast "social services" network that has infiltrated every level of government through "child welfare" and "family service" agencies. If you're a religious person, these people all think you're crazy, and that you have to be stopped! Locked up, preferably -- or at least put under house arrest and fitted with a monitor that tracks your location at all times. And heaven (or whatever) forbid you should be allowed to raise children. (Can you say "FLDS", class?)

Can a bigger gap between the citizenry and its "providers" possibly be imagined? And our politicians, of course, have to continually walk a thin line between the two, as we see on a daily basis. They have to avoid offending either side -- which is why their public statements come off, more often than not, as stuttering gibberish. If a politician is also a believer (and yes, it is possible) he has to avoid being characterized as a "religious nut" by the media. If he's a non-believer he has to avoid condemnation by religious leaders -- you know, the ones who keep scaling that "wall of separation between church and state". I almost feel sorry for these guys -- except that they asked for it. In the meantime, we will continue to live in a country that is actually two countries -- that of believers, and that of the people who define our terminology, set our priorities, define what is socially acceptable and what is not, and make pronouncements as to our mental health or lack thereof.