Monday, May 19, 2008

It is not an outside enemy that will destroy America, but our own "materialism, paganism, lust, sin and selfishness."

So says the Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. No matter how big our armies and how powerful our weapons, he says, "The enemy will get into the hearts of a wicked and disolute people." We need religion, in his view. "One individual, completely surrendered to God, is of more value than an army."

"London is almost reduced to ruins now. But if peace is made now and we go on for the next twenty-five years as we have lived for the last, it will be pulverized to dust by the war of 1960."
I must confess that I cannot understand this Peale character. What have we done in the last quarter century that's all that terrible? Look at what is going on in the world right now. Can't he be clear and say that is wrong and we need to fight? Instead he picks on us for the ordinary human character flaws we might have. Maybe he is saying that we need to be strong so we'll be able to fight. But he just can't help making that into an occasion for insisting that we be more religious. Eh. It's a sermon. What can you expect? I'll tell you what: a little more optimism. I don't need to hear about getting pulverized to dust in some war 19 years from now. You know, there's something to be said for positive thinking.

THE YEAR THAT BLOG FORGOT IS: 1941.

2 comments:

Paddy O said...

Ah yes! Very nice.

Looking at his wikipedia article now I see that he co-wrote a book on psychology and theology in 1940, laying the groundwork. But his later book was condemned by his 1940 co-writer.

Interesting.

As is this little comment, Faced with the election of a Catholic," Peale declared, "our culture is at stake."

I used to have sweet, he's like a kind grandfather, kind of feelings for Peale. Seems like maybe he was just saying what got him attention.

Someone really needs to point out that vainglory used to be a sin too, and it's not an outside enemy that will destroy the church.

Off to think positively about the day...

Headless Blogger said...

No matter how big our armies and how powerful our weapons, he says, "The enemy will get into the hearts of a wicked and disolute people."

Ignore this man.

We shall never surrender.

Read and embrace Mr. Churchill's speeches from last year instead. They are programmed in the genes of all British people.