The Spiritual Side of the Elections

Photo by Valentin Salja on Unsplash

Tribalism is a hot topic in politics, if you haven't heard. To put it simply, it is the idea that groups of people organize into tribes based on their political beliefs. Some advocate it is necessary, like how friendly competition causes someone to root for their favorite sports team and talk trash about the opposing side. But when it comes to politics, others argue that it is dangerous because it requires allegiances to certain camps and vilifies the 'other.' This is evident in the dominant two-party system in America, where it's easy to draw lines in the sand--Democrats (Liberals) and Republicans (Conservatives) believe such and such, and are either wrong or right because you're either part of the tribe or not.

While I agree that this tendency to polarize is more dangerous than helpful, what I am more interested in today is spiritual influences in tribalism. We demonize people who are 'other.' But in observing people on both sides of the political spectrum, let's consider there is something else at play here. Something...unseen. 

(note: I am not addressing the actual ISSUES that these parties espouse; rather the thoughts, attitudes, and divisions that come from them)

Here's where maybe I lose some of you. I realize my audience here may have very different faith backgrounds--some of you are given to modern, Enlightenment thinking that dismisses the 'supernatural' and are more scientifically-minded. Some of you may be pagan, or gnostics, and therefore are very in tune with different beings and and realms. Some of you may be a mix of beliefs, or just undecided. So going into this, I'm curious: what do you personally know about spiritual realms? Do you believe they exist? What have you experienced of the spiritual reality that may exist beyond your ability to see, hear, touch or feel physically?

It is my understanding that humans can't be purely physical, because to assume so would be discounting the common conclusions that every country, culture and tribe in history have shared. Sure, there are varying degrees of philosophy on this idea, but the dominant thinking across cultures is one that maintains that we are both body and spirit. Despite the ushering of the modern age and Western enlightenment, these ideas of another 'dimension' persist.  

What if the tribalism and division we are seeing in the political arena is a result of humans being manipulated by unseen forces in this other spiritual dimension? That is to say, what if our biggest problem in politics is not the 'other' person, but an 'other' realm? 

I can't help but come to the conclusion of spiritual influences in politics, based on my own personal beliefs stemmed from a historically and evidential Christian perspective.  (For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12: ). Also, I realize that to try to fully explain and cover every nuance of this issue in one blog post would lead to a novel, so let me be brief at the expense of lengthy explanations.

(special note for Christians reading this: I ask you to come to this conversation with humility, not with an air of being an expert in all things supernatural. I know how we, as Christians, think we always have the answers. And when it comes to politics, I ask that you add an extra dose of humility to not come to this conversation with thinking that the 'other' side are the ones who are evil or are being influenced by evil.)

Recently, I decided to read a book to my children called "Spirit of the Rainforest" written by our friends' dad, who basically recorded the stories of a former Yąnomamö shaman in the Amazon rainforest. I wanted my children to witness how there are other forces at play in this world, even if we don't always see them. So this book I had read many years ago came to mind. Few books have been so formative in my understanding of the spirit realm than this account. While some have called it a piece of missionary propaganda, I can personally vouch and speak to the integrity of the person who wrote it, i.e., what is written is what happened. This story is a very literal account of tribalism, untarnished by modern political divides and Westernized thinking. 

The Yąnomamö are infamously warring tribes who seek revenge on other villages and are caught in this endless cycle of fighting by listening to their spirit guides. The spirit world is very real for the shamans, coming as naturally to their senses as it does for our own Western eyes and ears. They would invite different spirits into their lives who would live in their 'shabono,' or heart. They would party with them 'in the spirit,' or even visit villages nearby to kill some of their people, all 'in the spirit.' Sometimes these spirits seemed benign. Sometimes they were malevolent. These spirits could help them do things, and these spirits would often convince them to attack their enemies and seek revenge for a personal injustice. But there was never peace. They were whispering in the ears of their shaman who they should attack next, and how they should do it. Some spirits would take a bite out of children's stomachs during their 'travels,' only to have the child die the next day. It was a constant tit-for-tat between tribes being led by their shamans, who in turn were led by their spirits. 

You may think, well, we don't have spirits like that in a 'civilized' culture. However, even when foreigners from developed countries would come to visit the Yąnomamö, the shamans would discern that they had certain spirits, even if they didn't know it. As I am reading this to my kids, it occurred that some of the same behavior or attitudes I was seeing in this shaman's retelling held a similar tenor to the political rhetoric I was witnessing daily on Facebook, Twitter, political leaders, the news, etc. The spirits of dissension, war, trickery, and charm. These were all very real beings in the Yąnomamö way of life. Is it possible those same, or similar beings are influencing us? 

Maybe you are thinking that's a pretty big leap to take: aren't human beings sometimes just ugly and nasty and distasteful on these platforms, and in politics? Perhaps. Does it really take spirits to influence behaviors and attitudes? Probably not always. But I do believe it becomes more likely when power and control are the perceived prize, as my experience with these spirits has always been about power-grabbing and influence. Politics, then, is an easy arena to operate in. 

Another (albeit, fictional) example: there's a scene at the end of the recent Wonder Woman movie where (spoiler alert) Ares reveals that he is actually the villain. His hatred of humans sought their demise by whispering nefarious ideas into their ears that propelled them into warring schemes so they would ultimately destroy one another. It's a perfect analogy for what I believe enemy spirits are doing to us as humans. The important thing to remember is: ultimately we have the responsibility to decide if we are to act or react on these thoughts. 

I believe the idea behind these serious implications of spiritual influence has Biblical roots from the dawn of time. Spiritual beings are woven throughout Scripture and our origin story. The 'Elohim,' or beings other than humans, created by God, have held dominion and authority in our present ordered universe. A simplified version of understanding these beings and their interaction with the earth and humans can be found here in a great, thoughtful and not-boring video  series from my favorite Bible Project guys. Let me reiterate that it's an oversimplification for a complex concept and I recommend listening to their extended explanations in their podcast, and also the resources they recommend.

We are in a state in our country where people are absolutely flabbergasted that there is so much divide. And we can't seem to put our finger on how we got here. Perhaps this is the result of a campaign aimed at creating division, born of both physical man's brokenness and malevolent spiritual influence.

Ultimately, in the story of the Yąnomamö, the tribes were able to come to peace when they 'threw away' their spirits and accepted the Spirit of God. The peace they discovered after doing so was incomparable.

Do you think it's possible that you, or someone you know, is being influenced, in some way, by extreme ideas originating from divisive spirits? And if you think it is the OTHER side only being influenced by dark forces...that perhaps, maybe, you may be part of the problem? I know I certainly struggle with walking that fine line of peace and trying to see the humanity in all people, despite their political leanings. Humility will be critical, and asking the Source of wisdom for wisdom. If it is the case the we are being influenced by the 'other,' let us be on guard for those who seek our demise. Perhaps, though, it is not your fellow human, or the agenda they may have adopted.