Religion and Politics

I occasionally go to mass during the week, to pray, not surprisingly, for warm,sunny days. I also go to acknowledge the many blessings I have received. ( I'm really very spiritual, in my own freakin' way.) Today's readings referred to people giving too much importance to themselves, thinking they are god-like.

I was reminded of a book I recently read; my first Robert Ludlum. It features a rogue undercover agent with powers, not super human, but extraordinary beyond acceptable bounds of belief. The plot involves a philanthropist that suffers through the ordeals of trying to do the most good, for the most people, while minimizing, but accepting detrimental results for a minority.

He is playing God.

It's a tough gig; I give credit to all the real Divine Beings for their relentless efforts.

Thanks be to God.

Anyway, in the book, the philanthropist gets too big for his britches, and he's brought down.

However, if you do the math, he did more good than bad. His batting average is similar to the dieties we worship, yet he was condemned. Go figure.

Politicians play God; at least the really good ones do. (The bad ones do the devil's work.) Hopefully, they make informed decisions to benefit the majority. Cynics will suggest these decisions are politically and selfishly motivated.

Probably.

Still, making decisions, even for the benefit of the majority, has got to be difficult for a moral person, aware of the negative impact on the minority. (Can you imagine sending young people off to war? I was never a fan of LBJ, proliferator of the Viet Nam war, but I do think he suffered and died prematurely, because of his godlike decisions.)

So....as I watch the political conventions with these heavy concerns to ponder, I tackle the following dilemna:

Since I now own property in Tampa, is it okay for me to be a Rays fan, and still maintain my allegiance and undying devotion to the San Francisco Giants?

What would Jesus do?

(What would David Blaine do?)

(It is now the reader's opportunity to quizzically remark "What the....?"

Hey, in Hollywood, is there a more talented person than Christopher Walken?