Heresy is a belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (usually Christian) doctrine. The Spanish Inquisition was about identifying a person believing in or practising religious heresy (e.g. not believing in the Catholic faith). Similar persecution occurred in the UK against Catholics that were not Protestant. Believing differently to the mainstream view of the present is always going be fraught with difficulty.
Today’s beliefs in the West are more dominated by the philosophical and ideological beliefs of Neoliberalism than they are of religion. The consensus amongst the elites appears to be that free markets, private enterprise and capital is the most important pillars of our way of life. Neoliberalism has created a lot of choice though as inequalities increase between rich and poor many feel they are being left behind and excluded and for some their basic needs are no longer being met. The irony of Neoliberalism is that when markets fail such as the banking crisis of 2008 or during COVID they turn to governments to borrow or print money (quantitive easing) to bail them out.
Many people in the UK today are suffering from a NHS that is under resourced, an expensive housing market and a cost of living crisis. The implicit communicated solution is for all of us is to work harder and longer. This is despite the top 1% of society taking an increasing bigger share of the wealth. Most of the economic growth goes to the richest in society.
Those who are the poorest or disabled are experiencing Spanish like Inquisitions on why they are not able to work. Everyone is always asking if you work full time but the real Inquisition comes from the NHS and DWP. Today it is considered heresy not to be working full time if you are of working age. Many people are collapsing under the strain by attempting to take their own life or simply finding themselves destitute.
In the end I wonder what is the endgame for all of this working? I can only see it serves the top 1 % for their empires of wealth. There appears to be enough wealth in this country and world for all of our basic needs to be met. Therefore I don’t subscribe to the Neoliberal ideology and philosophy.
These days I am more concerned with suffering less and being a good person spiritually. I believe there will be a life after this and I will be judged by God. I believe there is an eternal life after this one. Success or money is something I will not worship. I worship God which I believe is the true light and way of this world.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44 from The New Testament, Holy Bible
I often feel grind down by questions and ostracism due to being Autistic and taking medication for a mental illness. Explaining the fallacies of the Neoliberal philosophy isn’t something most want to hear. They expect me to reason away my own personal failings. Yet they won’t be happy with my answers until I’m working full time (in an often bullshit job) like them. I believe given my condition – God put me here for a different reason. Perhaps it was to help explain our predicament.
And he [Jesus] told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21 from The New Testament, Holy Bible
The opportunities for people like me are few and far between. I work best alone, ideally at a computer. I’m hopeful I may be able to work part time again one day if their is some flexibility. There are things I need to do to stay well that I need accommodations for as well as time off sometimes. The problem is the Social Contract doesn’t integrate part time work well for disabled people like me. Much needs to be addressed when it comes to housing, income and health provision. I believe we as a society very much need to leave the ‘Battery Chicken’ style of working for our masters.
In the meantime I am preparing to carry my own cross. Perhaps I am already carrying it. I have suffered a great deal from the NHS, social attitudes and treatment. The UK is increasingly becoming a darker country for people with disabilities, we are on a precipice and I’m not sure the future looks so bright. I maybe street homeless and destitute myself one day.
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Mathew 27:32-44 from The New Testament, Holy Bible