Monday, December 24, 2007

Wait'll I Tell Your Father!

God does not know everything and never has known everything.
Maurice Maeterlinck, My Idea of God

That tired old ploy of mothers fed up with their children's inattention, with their children's intentional naughtiness. Knowing better, but because she has admonished them more than sufficiently, often enough, to no avail. Finally relinquishing responsibility because, exasperation aside, she finds herself incapable of arresting their interest, of threatening their self-interest sufficiently to ensure they will heed her.

However reluctantly, she succumbs to the inevitable - in a two-parent family - of referring to the Authority figure, the Patriarch, the Powerful One, the Dominant figure. The male. That somehow manages to rivet the careless, the care-free, the minds of the young. To be answerable to He Who Thunders. Who is also capable of offering physical punishment. Who, in any event, the young don't wish to disappoint. Because, after all, he matters.

Like father, like son : every good tree maketh good fruits.
William Langland, Piers Plowman

And, in a sense, that's the story, the history of human development through the family structure. The woman gives care and attention, the man disciplines. Either through physical domination or through the heavy censure of his disapproval and all that it may entail, from ordinary entitlements withheld to the withholding of fatherly attentions most prized.

That's the scenario on the minutest scale of human interaction of a family unit. And wasn't it ever thus?

When divine souls appear, men are compelled by their own self-respect to distinguish them.
Emerson, Journals

How about this type of transaction in human relations considered on a larger, much larger scale? The dominant social figure, for example, placing himself forward in a position of authority taken on as a leader, a political figure, a trusted or a feared presence. One whose personal charisma, wealth or social or traditional cultural standing exalts him over all others. A dictator, benign or otherwise. A cultural icon. A religious figure of great respect. A member of traditional nobility.

With me as leader, ye men, control your anxieties;
under my guidance, let ship and crew run straight.
(Me duce damnosas, homines, conpescite curas;
Rectaque cum sociis me duce navis est.)
Ovid, Remediorum Amoris.

This is human nature, to obey the instructions and injunctions and demands of one of superior standing. On whom all others learn to depend. For protection from harm from the world outside one's tribe. For direction on modes of accepted behaviour fitting in with the majority culture. For judicial assistance in disputes. For meaningful connections throughout life.

Reason and calm judgement, the qualities specially belonging to a leader.
(Ratione et consilio, propriis ducis aribus.)
Tacitus, History

Transpose that to a higher level. Introspectively cerebral minds conceive of an even higher authority whose trusted presence taken on faith - a hard-wired need within human consciousness - would lead the collective toward a relationship leading to social control. Ascribe all natural phenomena to the presence of a truly superior, unseen, but overwhelmingly powerful Presence.

It is expedient there should be gods and, since it is expedient, let us believe that gods exist. (Expedit esse deos, et, ut expedit, esse putemus.)
Ovid, Ars Amatoria

We believe, therefore He exists.

God whose gifts in gracious flood
Unto all who seek are sent,
Only asks you to be good
And is content.
Victor Hugo, God Whose Gifts in Gracious Flood

Labels: ,

posted by Pieface @ Monday, December 24, 2007

Follow @rheytah Tweet