What does it mean to be a revolutionary? What does the term revolution mean? In our culture we think of the American Revolution, or the civil war and the abolishment of slavery. We think of violent and turbulence where the means is justified by the assumed nobility of the end. But, from my point of view, this simply is not the true essence of what it means to be revolutionary. Now I realize there are those who would argue for violence under the logic of historical necessity. And, I am willing to concede the possibility that perhaps there has been rare circumstances in the history of man where that may have been unavoidably accurate. However, mostly what is actually accomplished is merely a recycling of the old unhealthiness in new forms and shapes. That form or shape may be more to our preference, but nothing really new has taken place beyond a certain restructurings of power. Now, I believe there has been authentic revolutions that were actually able to establish noble ends. Why? Because the means were in character with the end. Means and ends must always be united, otherwise we are more than likely going to be replace the old with new version of the old in forms that are perhaps even more devastating. As I see it, real revolution is what is at stake in Iran, as is always the case in any effort to accomplish that which authentically serves the common good. Martin Luther King Jr. understood this. Mahatma Gandhi understood this. Jesus understood this ... as you sow you reap. The Sermon on The Mount is one of the most revolutionary statement in the history of man and was the source of inspiration for both King and Gandhi. Here is a quote i would love to have your comment on. These are the words of Jacques Ellul, found in his book, The Presence of The Kingdom. ... ever since society came into existence, the revolutionary spirit, which is necessary part of social life, has always been the affirmation of a spiritual truth against the error of the moment; a truth which is called to incarnate itself in society, not in any automatic, mechanical way, but by the desperate, sacrificial effort of man (or a man/woman). He makes this superhuman effort for the sake of a hope which is beyond himself, by a supreme exercise of his free will, which he pits against all the constraints and conventions which surround him. This has always constituted the essence of a revolution. I would love to have your thoughts!
Posted on: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 17:24:50 +0000