I have been taking some time recently to consider why it is we believe that there must be struggle and suffering in life. I began to write today about the source of what we know as the puritan work ethic and may have taken some journeys along the way but arrived back here. In cultural teachings hard work and sacrifice have been linked systematically to an individual’s faith and value to society. These teachings lead to a belief that if your life is not working out the way you want, you must be doing something wrong. These are patterns.
The puritan work ethic is also referred to as the protestant work ethic or calvinist work ethic. It has both theological and sociological meaning. Theologically, it refers to the view that hard work is a signifier of one’s salvation and that diligence in one’s work is pleasing to God. Economic and historical meaning is also attached to these values. In The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism Max Weber asserted that this ethic and values combined with training and the Christian theological teaching of predestination lead to creation of capitalism as we know it.
His View Was Widely Disputed
On this topic Martin Luther King Jr. said We have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifice. The fact is that capitalism was built on the exploitation and suffering of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor — both black and white, here and abroad
Capitalism was built on and continues to operate on exploitation and suffering of humans. Some have suffered more than others.
In our current global society, value of success is deeply rooted in a recipe whereby individuals educate, sacrifice, work hard and participate in an unequitable economic system to someday gain freedom from that system through deferred gratification to ultimately reach retirement. A retirement where your assets are controlled to ensure that tax revenue continues to flow to corporations called government.
In World War II, at the entrance to Auschwitz, a sign read Arbeit Macht Frei. Work sets you free.
What Evil Would Put Such A Sign In Such A Place?
Why, since the war ended 75 years ago, have the practices developed in that time continued? And why were so many elite permitted to profit from this war, and the wars that followed?
No Pain, No Gain; Turn the other cheek. It appears that applies to you and me.
You and I are part of a system, a system intentionally designed around us. A system that combines social theory, the power of faith, government policy and strategies that direct outcome. We rationalize our discomfort and work hard to learn lessons to move us beyond those things that constrain us. At times we reach out in anger attempting to stop that thing that holds power over us, not knowing exactly what our target should be. We turn on those who are visibly different or those who stand out.
Turn the other cheek is a cliché which originates in the biblical story found in Matthew 5:38-41. This cliché, when combined with a belief that there will always be suffering in life, can lead to rationalization for passively accepting injustice and unfair treatment toward ourselves or toward others that we are witness to.
This Belief Is Wrong
And, it does not have to be this way.
As organized religion became less effective, a combination of puritan work ethic, and for those not governed by organized religion, achievement ideology became prevalent.
This ideologies view is that a person reaches a culturally accepted definition of success through education and hard work. That is what is taught in schools today, that is what created the great businesses that we call educational institutions. The institutions which have been thrown in turmoil by cultural debates, corruption and failed government policy. Planting seeds of difference, inequality, and hate into young minds.
Achievement ideology was meant to bring humans past gender, race, economic background, social influences and geographical constraint. It has done exactly the opposite, because the ideology, the social theory and its accompanying policies, like all others are based on a foundation of lies and control.
And now again, we have come full circle.
This Pattern Has Repeated Itself In History
At the root of these problems are false beliefs. Beliefs such as the common man is not intelligent and must be ruled, belief that skin color and ethnicity somehow matter, belief that resources are scarce and for one to win another must lose.
Today, what you see in the world is the true nature of our existence facing you. It’s ugly and hard to look at. It’s quite hard to admit we have been lied to and were never free. To imagine, the creative ability of good people has been put toward this designed purpose.
Will Work Set You Free?
This is a time where people need to pull together. Share the things that you learn, share evidence of your discoveries. Most importantly you must be open to the fact that someone might know a truth that you don’t know yet. This is diversity and inclusion, accepting altering views and opinions without hate or judgement.
We do not want Totalitarianism, and unless people can put aside differences and pull together as humans to learn, we could head down that road. Again.
The great strength of the totalitarian state is that it forces those who fear it to imitate it.
adolf hitler
There is a winner in this, and it is not us. It is not we, the people. It is the wealthy elite, the same bloodlines that lead uniformed people to walk other people under that sign 75 years ago.
The most feared thing on our planet is free and empowered people governed by God given rights and common law.
In that free environment there would be no elite in control. No need for the design of strategies and lies to rule people and behavior. No accusations of conspiracy casting doubt in good minds.
The No Pain, No Gain belief and Puritan work ethic will hold you back your entire life. The emphasis on hard work, discipline and frugality combined with questionable leadership and lack of values has left many people destitute.
What can you do?
Identify Patterns
And, break them in your life.
Try to understand the source of your beliefs and decide if they serve your life purpose and challenge them.
Replace habits with good ones designed around your true values. The values that are built into you which make you unique in this world.
Most importantly, connect with people and listen to what they have to say. And if you are sharing insight and knowledge do it in a way that the recipients can receive and understand your message.
Stupid is knowing the truth, seeing the truth, but still believing the lies.
Supun Dilusha
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