Sean Major-Campbell | Spiritual bypassing of reality

I AM among those who anticipated a qualified woman of integrity to be selected to be president of the United States of America. Not only should a commander-in-chief be holder of such a position, a commander-in-chief should even theoretically be qualified for acceptance into basic combat training for the US Army. A felon is not deemed so qualified.

One can only imagine the crisis facing the value systems long espoused by Republicans, Democrats, Americans in general, and many across the globe. All those parents, teachers, counsellors, managers, supervisors and fellow human beings who taught and modelld a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and crudity, may feel some challenge as they continue to encourage our better humanity.

On the morning after the election results, I shared across social media, “May we continue to stand on the side of righteouness, peace, and love. May we ever stay on the side of goodwill for all.

Evil will not always triumph. Many will be disappointed as a result of the outcome in the US presidential elections. The fallacy of democracy is on show for all to see.

We give thanks for the inspiration that VP Kamala Harris has given to those on the side of integrity, truth, and decency. It is still okay to have expected the choice of a qualified woman over a convicted felon. It is okay to have anticipated a Harris victory. Good shall overcome. Peace be with you.”

I want folks to know that it is okay to have expected that a bellicose and belligerent character would have lost to one who maintained her decorum and decency throughout a clean and honest campaign marked by integrity and truth. I still want children to know that it is inappropriate to call one’s opponents “trash”. It is still wrong to tell lies. It is against the law to lie to the court. It is misogynistic to treat women any way you wish and to expect them to be at your behest in serving your greed and sexual fantasies.

Which of you would just pass off Trump’s being found liable for sexually abusing a woman and his being indicted in a criminal case around hush money payments to a porn actress? Is it really sufficient to just quote, “David was a man after God’s own heart”?

I hear Christians saying that he has biblical policies. We constantly hear the convenient use of spiritual bypassing. Psychotherapist John Wellwood gave us the term “spiritual bypassing”. He is an author in transpersonal psychology which sheds much light in these times. In his text, Toward a Psychology of Awakening, he aptly defines spiritual bypassing as “spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep personal, emotional ‘unfinished business’, to shore up a shaky sense of self, or to belittle basic needs, feelings, and developmental tasks”.

At a time when there is much uncertainty, and instead much anxiety for undocumented immigrants in the United Staes of America, many are resorting to spiritual bypassing.

It may be easier to understand the practice with these examples. Someone saying to one in mourning, “God knows best. He is in a better place. God is preparing you to take over.” Someone saying, “God will not give you more than you can bear.”

Lady Liberty weeps. And for a time such as this, America should read again the words on the plaque at the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Americans and foreigners alike may take hope from the fuller Emma Lazarus’ poem informing the words at the Statue of Liberty:

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows worldwide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbour that twin cities frame.

‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ cries she

With silent lips. ‘Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’”

May the many Americans and their loved ones abroad, in mourning at this time, know that America shall return to the mind of hope and the quest for freedom.

The celebrated giant of Greek fame was the Colossus of Rhodes, the Greek god Helios, a statue exceeding 100 feet tall. Interestingly, his depiction was that of conquering power. What a contrast to Lady Liberty who still stands for welcome and hope!

What a contrast between the storied pomp of any ruler, any dictator, any autocracy, and the humble service of the kingship of Christ who gave us the Beatitudes! See Matthew 5 in order to pause with these gems which are the opposite of what many conservative extremists value today.

When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he did not advise them to become stronger through the legislation of morality. In Ephesians 4:20-24, we see instead an affirmation of a change in one’s thinking. “That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Conservative extremists are misguided. Is it willful or blind?

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human dignity and human rights. Send feedback to seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.