Idealists frequently see something in society they feel needs to be corrected, which is as it should be. These goals and the plans made to reach them are how such idealists should operate; this is the way society grows. People of faith or social activists also find societal goals they want to reach out for. Any of these individuals may become strongly fixated on their goal which is thought to be extremely desirable. It is precisely at this point that a firm moral foundation is crucial. Having a moral compass minimizes the chance of going astray; when there is no such foundation anything becomes justified to attain that goal.
Ideologically driven processes
An ideologically driven process is one in which the goal becomes so important it becomes the morality. In this framework anything is acceptable if it contributes to reaching the goal; the goal becomes the morality.
For those without a moral compass the goal may become far more important than the process used to attain that goal, their efforts are guided by this ideology not by facts or a moral foundation. They perceive a certain state of affairs, which is so desirable that any means are acceptable to reach this exalted goal. Hitler desired a world without Jews. The communists wanted a workers paradise. The neoconservatives desired a world conforming to a certain set of “traditional” values. Radical Islamists envision a world in which the ummah, the community of Islamic believers, comprise all of humanity. In each case this idealized goal was so desirable, so sublime that it would be immoral not to pursue it with all vigor. It would be immoral to allow reason and conventional morality to interfere with this ultimate goal. This goal becomes their morality. This is what is meant by ideologically driven processes.
This goal may be specific or it may be an ideal state. The central tenet of their belief system may be idealized and practically unattainable but moving toward this goal becomes the center of their efforts. It may be as specific as wanting to make America the most powerful nation on the planet; or it may be more idealistic such as attaining universal brotherhood, according to their definition.
This goal, whatever it may be, is then deemed to be so glorious that any means must be used to attain it. We can imagine young idealists everywhere declaring their goal is so transcendent that it is certainly worth any cost, any price to attain. This might be a true idealistic goal but it is not wisdom. Only those who face facts and adjust them to ideals can achieve wisdom. Wisdom embraces both the fact and the ideal and therefore saves its devotees from both of those barren extremes of philosophy — the man whose idealism excludes facts and the materialist who is devoid of spiritual outlook. (Urantia Book 1779.6) Many of those who are caught up in these ideological processes tend to ignore facts that are not consistent with their worldview, for example climate change deniers.
The followers of these processes may realize that things do not often happen rapidly. They realize they may need to fight for their cause for a very long time, but that does not deter them, rather it seems to give them even more determination to stay with it for the long term.
Losing morality to the process
Individuals lose their sense of morality and reason to the process; in fact thinking it through is the last thing an ideologue wants to do. Their thinking process is focused upon how the goal can be realized; there is little questioning of the proper method to employ, the attainment of their goal becomes their morality. Their ideology is a non-thinking philosophy and it becomes easier because of this, it is absolutism.[1]
It is sad to know people who lose their moral nature to a fossilized ideological concept; it can have tragic consequences for them spiritually. It is much more disheartening to view what these ideological drives can do to our democracy. In order to function properly, democracy must have a well-informed citizenry and the ideologically driven individuals are informed only about what agrees with their preconceived notions. Thus reason departs from our public discourse. When reason is removed, democracy reduces to who can exercise the most power.[2] This raw power is not directed at the public good but rather toward a personal agenda.
Those who are caught up in these ideological processes may not be aware of any moral failure, not aware of spiritual reality. For them, their goal has such vital importance that morality becomes secondary to their goal. Again, achieving this goal becomes their morality.
Generally these people cannot be reasoned with because of their total loyalty to the process instead of to reason. Democracy can become weighted down and torn apart when reason and facts are trampled under the boots of ideological processes.
Sometimes the ideology of these terrorist groups is couched in terms of conservative and extreme religious dogma. They appear to feel that when murder is cloaked in religious terms it becomes sanctified. It is true that the needs of the poor and downtrodden must be addressed, but doing this by means of violence is not productive for anybody.
Throughout history idealists have focused upon a particular idealistic goal so desirable they feel obligated to use any possible means to reach that goal. To do anything less would be a failure of will. This goal might be to overthrow tyranny or to bring about equality and justice under their definition. This sublime goal is so important to them it becomes their morality, therefore true morality is lost and their goal is lost.
Goal and morality intertwined
When the goal and morality become so intertwined there arises a sort of feedback loop, each feeds the other. Under these circumstances goals and morality become confused and mixed up. Having lost their foundation in true morality, recognition of the supremacy of our Heavenly Father in all creation, they flounder in a sea of confusion and their goal is lost, witness Communism; countless other examples might also be brought up: French Revolution, radical Islamists, and many elements in current politics. Undoubtedly there are numerous others in the dustbins of history.
Comparing the varying response to Marxism in Cuba with that in Russia and China highlights the importance of having a moral foundation. In the latter countries there was little spiritual background among those in positions of authority in the movement and therefore the movement had no moral underpinning; even today both use brutal methods to retain power. On the other hand, the Catholic Church has always been a presence in Cuba; even though the leaders may or may not have been active church members, there must have been an innate feeling of right and wrong because of their moral upbringing. Fidel Castro attended Catholic boarding schools and a Catholic High School.[3] This spiritual background acted as a moral foundation, and Marxism in Cuba has not demonstrated such inhumanity as observed with Communism in Russia and China.
Any time an idealistic goal becomes supreme in the focus of any person or group it overrides true morality. The only way to attain such a goal is to base our life on a solid moral foundation, the presence of God within each of us; once this is done we can all seek idealistic goals based on this bedrock.
Further reading
“Light of Truth: Anticipating the Triumph of Righteousness”
