Letter | Spiritual sickness afflicts us all in mysterious ways

Spiritual sickness is a disease not limited to the ultra-religious. By definition, it is a pathological condition which leads patients to decide that their beliefs, values, truth as they perceive it, even the world as they understand it, are superior to the views of anyone who disagrees.

Its symptoms include rejection of nuance.

It is characterized by free-floating anger, a closed mind, a sense of being part of a fringe group, and, not infrequently, condoning violence against adversaries who disagree, even in small ways. Characteristically, the sufferer may not know, and may not be able to comprehend, that he is afflicted.

When a religious zealot contracts spiritual sickness, the disease blinds him to the fact that there are scores of mutually exclusive belief systems whose adherents exhibit the same passion. If a degree of clarity were to be sought by the patient, that would give rise to the question, “How can I be right if so many others disagree so strongly?”

Of course, help is seldom pursued, so epidemiologists have no treatment for this extreme form of the disease.

The same illness is seen in judges, politicians, and even the general public when they use the word “Constitution” to mean my interpretation of the Constitution.

For example, in constitutional issues such as where and when the Second Amendment applies, spiritual sickness inhibits logical thought processes. It allows its victims, even justices of the Supreme Court, to bask in the conviction that they alone are privileged to comprehend the minds of the founding fathers. Oddly, it also convinces them that changes in society which have occurred since 1787 are of no consequence in making decisions about contemporary issues.

In the case of people who describe themselves as pro-life, spiritual sickness leads to a denial of federally mandated rights. From time to time, it permits threatening or even killing those who attempt to preserve those rights. If this is not a disease, what name should we give it?

Regarding immigration, one of the most virulent forms of the disease is often diagnosed. It makes sufferers howl continuously about a problem they have no answer for. It denies them the ability to discuss dispassionately the available alternatives. But the most puzzling symptom for therapists is that it compels the afflicted to mumble the meaningless phrase “fence off the border” for years on end.

Despite appearances, I’m not preaching or judging, because it occurs to me that I myself may suffer from this fatal affliction. What tipped me off is my unshakable conviction that living a life of compassion, empathy, tolerance, open-mindedness and understanding, and showing a willingness to provide a helping hand to those in need is our best shot at spiritual wellness.

But how can I possibly be right when so many appear to disagree?

The writer lives in Pawleys Island.

This story was originally published May 7, 2015 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Letter | Spiritual sickness afflicts us all in mysterious ways."