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- Dr. William F. Fore
- Former WACC President
It is a rare thing in human history that one can experience the rise and fall of a great nation in one's own lifetime. It took more than a thousand years for ancient China to come and go, six hundred for Rome, perhaps two hundred each for Spain and England. In the case of America, it has happened in about fifty years.
 Immediately following World War II, we were the most powerful nation on earth. Our technology was unrivalled, our production unprecedented, our self-image secure, and we were held in high respect by the peoples of the world. Today, we are on the way down. Our standard of living is decreasing, our output is diminishing, our self-image is in tatters, and we are the most disliked, if not outright hated, nation in the world.
What has happened? I think it comes down to three things: a loss of our spiritual grounding, a breakdown of our political system, and the results of irresponsible spending. As my father used to say, if we live too high on the hog for too long, eventually we are going to have to pay for it.
Loss of spiritual grounding
This does not mean we are any less 'religious'. What it does mean is that too many of our citizens have been content to lapse into false religions. The huge interest in astrology, the lottery and other forms of magic is bad enough. But the real problem is that large numbers of Christians have simply begun to worship false idols - belief in Biblical literalism, thus making the Bible itself an idol, belief in a false God who can be persuaded by us to do something if we do something in return (a vision rejected by Judaism and Jesus more than two millennia ago), and belief in our own superiority which we justify to ourselves by claiming to be the only 'children of God'.
When Thomas Althizer and Harvey Cox announced the 'death of God' in the 1960s, they were really calling people to reject the old, magical, God-with-a-beard-in-Heaven kind of God. At that time, most people in Europe understood what was being said and refused to go along with the false Christianity that had held sway there for hundreds of years. They left the churches in droves. But in America many people instead retreated into the refuge that the false God provides - certainty in our own righteousness, bliss in our own ignorance, safety if we blindly follow the God of wrath and judgment and Laws. Today more than 75% of Americans claim to believe in the virgin birth and a physical Heaven and Hell, and almost as many insist their God created the earth in seven days.
The result is a nation deeply divided between people who are concerned about real-life issues - war and peace, social justice, the health and welfare of the people - and people who are concerned, instead, about 'values' -- by which they mean dependence on a magical God, adherence to ancient taboos, the necessity for everyone to believe as they do, and safety in raw (though often hidden) power. Such a nation cannot prosper, because its prevailing religion is internally corrupt, divisive, and an offence to the God of love and justice.
The breakdown of our political system
A fundamental principle of American government has always been that a genuine unfettered flow of information and public discussion is essential to its success. Jefferson famously remarked that 'an enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic'. And Edward Carrington, a friend of Jefferson, told him that if people become inattentive to public affairs, 'you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, judges and Governors, shall all become wolves'.
Today citizens depend almost completely on the mass media - radio, TV and the press - for their 'enlightenment'. But most of the mass media are now controlled by about six huge conglomerates. Whereas in 1920 we had more than 700 cities with two or more competing newspapers, the number today is less than a dozen. Instead of information being open to many voices, today it is carefully, subtly, and quietly constrained by the demands of the marketplace and the opinions of the owners. There is no effective countervailing power in Washington. Business is in control of government. We have become 'one market under God.'
In addition, television - the process, never mind the ownership - has fundamentally changed the way people perceive the world. We are now in the third TV generation. More than 90% of people living in America today grew up with television. Neil Postman points out in Amusing Ourselves to Death that TV persistently trains people to feel rather than to think. Heart replaces mind. Attitude replaces cognition. A number of commentators on the recent election have pointed out that Kerry supporters tend to be conversant with facts and issues, while Bush supporters rely on how they feel. 'Bush makes me feel secure' is the mantra chanted by millions.
Thus the wolves have crept in. Politicians are replaced by celebrities. Appeals to facts are replaced by appeals to emotions. People elect movies stars. The President creates and acts on the basis of a whole world that is at odds with the facts - and so do the voters. Thus 75% of Bush supporters continue to believe that Saddam Hussein had a role in the 9/11 attacks, and 72% believe that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction - even after the President himself admitted it isn't so.
With the communication media under control of a handful of multinational corporations, and with much of the public trained to think less and feel more, the political system cannot be expected to meet the needs of its citizens.
Irresponsible spending
Wall Street analyst Raymond deVoe updated Karl von Clausewitz's famous dictum about politics and war to hold that 'economics is war by other means', and we can begin see that America has allowed itself to become economically vulnerable. The barbarians are at our gates, only now in the guise of the iron laws of economics. The United States has the largest negative balance of trade in the history of the world - almost $2 billion going out every day. We have the largest total debt in the history of the world - a shift from a surplus of $2 trillion four years ago to a deficit of over $3 trillion today. This amounts to $27,000 for every man, woman and child in the nation. And it does not include the Social Security monies that the Congress has stolen and spent, which would raise the individual debt to about $100,000 for each citizen. Finally we have the largest individual debt in history, as we buy goods at an amazing pace, financed by mortgages and credit cards.
No nation, no matter how wealthy, can do this for long. We have been content to spend an avalanche of borrowed money, which our grandchildren will have to repay. At present, China and Japan are covering our daily outgo of $2 billion by buying a similar amount of US Treasury notes - promises to pay - which allows the banks and the Fed to print more money daily, a conveyor belt not unlike the drug lords washing their money. China and Japan do this so we can keep buying their cheap goods. But now China is beginning to show its power. It is beginning to put its money into Treasury notes of European nations instead of the US. And people around the world are starting to shy away from our Treasury notes because of the low interest rates. What happens if we don't get that $2 billion every day?
We face two equally bleak prospects. Either we keep interest rates low, in which case people around the world will completely stop buying US Treasuries since they can get better rates elsewhere (and the money-producing conveyor belt will stop); or we raise the rates, in which case businesses and people at home will no longer be able to borrow money for almost nothing, which in turn will slow both production and consumption - and increase unemployment. The alternatives are deflation and collapse of the dollar, or inflation and collapse of the economy.
Meanwhile, China, with a population far larger than ours which is willing to work for far less than we will work, and with at least as much natural resources as we have, is waiting at the gates. The barbarians are meaner and leaner than we are, and this time it is war by economic means - and we have begun to lose it.
A flawed vision
The day following the election New York Times commentator Thomas Friedman asked himself why he is so upset by this current Bush election, when he wasn't as upset about Bush's first election or the election of his father. I know why I am upset. It is because the electorate came out in record numbers, after each candidate had clearly stated his position, and they consciously and intentionally validated Bush's view of the world and the role of America in it. I am upset because this election endorses a vision of the nature and role and soul of America for many years to come which I find deeply flawed and downright scary.
It is a vision of America trying to control the rest of the world, a vision that is couched in black and white -- either you are for us or against us. It is a vision of True Believers, who have the religious and political Truth, and want to make everyone, in America and overseas, bow to that Truth. It is a vision that justifies any means to achieve our ends. It is a vision that bows to a God of mammon and power, then calls it the True God. It is a vision that refuses to understand that other people may have other definitions of 'freedom'. It is a vision that creates a Fortress America against the rest of the world. It is a vision that finally pits all against all.
And for these reasons, America will fail. We have had our time in history. We have had our opportunity to bring about peace and justice, to help feed the hungry of the world, to spread the wonders of technology in ways that would give everyone -- not just ourselves -- a better life. We have failed in all that. Now we will see other nations rising to the task, while we take an ever smaller role in the affairs of the world. One of the ironies of history is that empires have always started to fall at just the moment of their greatest apparent glory.
4 November 2004
William F. Fore studied at Yale University Divinity School (BD), was ordained in the United Methodist Church, and received his PhD from Columbia University and Union Theological School (1971). He was Executive Director of the Broadcasting and Film Commission of the National Council of Churches (1964-89). He served as chairperson of the Advisory Council of National Organizations of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (1972-75) and as President of the World Association for Christian Communication (1982-90). In 1989 he became Adjunct Professor at Yale Divinity School, teaching communication and cultural studies. Upon retirement he taught at United Theological College, Bangalore, India, helping to establish a Masters? Programme in Communication, returning in 2001 to assist in establishing the first Doctoral Programme in Communication and Religion in India. He is past President of the Foundation for United Methodist Communication.
There have been many responses to this article, and it has been reproduced in various languages around the world, mainly by WACC members. However we feel bound to publish any serious critical response and so below add some feedback:
WACC as a Tool of Intolerance
In surprise and disbelief I read Post Election Thoughts by William Fore in Media Development 1/05. He attacks the Evangelical Christians in his home country in a strong and discriminatory language. According to Fore “large numbers of Christians have simply begun to worship false idols”. He is alarmed to see that people are not liberated from believing in their Bible, but depend on “a magical God”. He writes:
“Today more than 75% of Americans claim to believe in the virgin birth and a physical Heaven and Hell, and almost as many insist their God created the earth in seven days”.
Adding to the misery of the Evangelicals is the fall of a great nation, the USA. Fore's world seems to be collapsing, both politically and religiously. He lets us understand how burdensome it is to be surrounded by ignorance and by people who are not concerned about “real-life issues”.
Fore is a former President of WACC. When his commentary is printed in Media Development, I suppose this is an acceptable form of communication for WACC as a global association. The message is clear: Intolerance is tolerable as long as it goes in the right direction.
Many see WACC as an association with strong leftist leanings. It even holds on to a governing structure which includes a Central Committee, a heritage shared by a few left over Communist countries. As a member of many years I have tried to argue for a more open and inclusive association - so far without any success.
The Evangelicals in the USA may live well with Fore's political and religious post election shock. The situation is different in many other of WACC's regions, Europe included. Here our Evangelical Christian brothers and sisters are in a minority in many countries. They are regarded as members of a sect, or they suffer opposition and outright hatred because of their faith. Even in the Church of England there is discussion of a coming persecution of believers.
In WACC's policy papers and in its numerous statements and declarations the freedom of expression is a celebrated human right. We now see a growing conflict between the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion. Taking sides is a WACC slogan. So far it has taken the wrong side when it comes to our Evangelical Christian sisters and brothers.
I therefore ask WACC to clarify its position in relation to the growing new Protestantism of our world. Does WACC side with Fore’s discriminatory condemnation of the Evangelicals, or does WACC intend to stand up for sisters and brothers of faith in these movements?
Dr. Geir Magnus Nyborg
Member of WACC and an Evangelical Lutheran brother of the Church of Norway.
Note from the Editor of Media Development
This article by William F. Fore was published to encourage open debate. Its opinions are not necessarily those of WACC. As a point of clarification about WACC’s structure, the 26 members of its governing body – the Central Committee - are democratically elected by WACC’s Regional Associations from among their members. As a global communications organisation, WACC is ecumenical, inclusive, and upholds both freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
Reply to Dr. Geir Magnus Nyborg from Dr. William F.Fore
I am pleased that my article has elicited some serious controversy, for this helps us all grow in our understanding of each other and in sharpening our own theological perspective. I should make it clear, however, that I do not pretend to represent the views of the WACC. This can only be done by the General Secretary, or the Central Committee itself.
I agree that the WACC probably can be considered a liberal organization, in the sense that it is open, progressive, and encourages freedom of action and expression. But to criticize it for having a "Central Committee," merely because many Communist countries have had Central Committees in the past is unfair at best, and laughable at worst.
Now to the crux of Dr. Nyborg's criticisms. Yes, I am very critical of some people in my country who in the name of Christianity actually harm themselves and authentic Christianity. Please note: I have NOT criticized Evangelicals; in fact, I never once used the word in my article. Those whom I criticize are Biblical literalists and fundamentalists -- those who take the Bible as if it were all literally true -- and in some cases, the only truth. Of course for people in the Christian tradition, the Bible is the best and fullest expression of God's revelation. But it was written by men, not by God. And people who grow up in a Buddhist tradition also know God, and truth -- but not the only truth. For us, Jesus is the way -- but not the only way. To think otherwise is to condemn most of the world to perdition, and I have talked with enough men and women from other cultures and religions to know that they, too, know the God of love and justice. So I am opposed to Biblical literalists who insist they hold the ONLY truth.
And I reject Biblical literalism that deifies literature written from cultures and biases two thousand years old. That is the kind of worship of false idols I have in mind. For example, when fundamentalists suggest that the virgin birth story is literally true, they are victims of their own biblical ignorance. Paul, Mark, and John wrote nothing about the virgin birth experience, yet their understandings of the Christ is the most profound in all of the New Testament -- not Matthew and Luke who were trying to tie the birth of Jesus to earlier scriptures. As for a physical Heaven and Hell, I defy anyone to explain just where this is -- up, or down? And the great Old Testament myths of God's creation of the heavens and earth in seven days must surely be understood as metaphor, not as literal, else we must reject the real world of science on the basis that God is not in the here and now.
But God IS in the here and now, and this is a great challenge to Christians. Those whose religious security is rooted in the literal Bible just do not want their security disturbed, so they cling to unessential elements in Old and New Testament as if those elements were somehow Gods themselves. That is what I mean by "idolatry."
Of course, other Christians hold other views. In a religion as old and broad as ours, that is to be expected, and people are entitled to hold differing understandings of faith. But I would be remiss not to make my own concerns clear. I expect that Dr. Nyborg feels equally strongly about stating his own views. But I think the charge of "Intolerance" is quite unfair. I surely tolerate his views. I just disagree with them, that's all.
On one final point, I sympathize with the fact that Evangelicals in Europe are a minority. But let me point out that bigness is not necessarily a good thing. In the U.S. the large fundamentalist (not necessarily Evangelical) churches have chosen to become a strong political force in support of President Bush and the new American Empire, and I find this more frightening than comforting.
Dr. William F. Fore
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