Understanding Religion and Morality

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When I started writing this article, I had the intention of keeping it very brief. However, given the scale of the discussion on this topic, I realized it would potentially leave my argument unfulfilled and open to rebuke. So, I decided to take some time and really think about what I wanted to say. The wonderful thing about writing, is that when you start, you’ll often discover concepts and talking points that you didn’t think about when you started writing. Sometimes a written piece will just slowly reveal itself to you.

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“There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”

- G.K. Chesterton

With the rapid advancement in information technology, communication, and how we exchange information, a resurgent secular movement has risen in the West. It should come as no surprise to anyone that this movement has had an immense appeal to younger generations. There is a renewed desire for spirituality without religion, or simply the removal of religion altogether. They believe religion is antiquated and that it has served it’s purpose, and the time has come to move on. They believe secularism to be more humanistic, more compassionate, and more inclusive. They believe as I once did, that the disposal of religion equates to freedom. And, who doesn’t want more of that?

As a former atheist, I am aware of the benefits of secular reasoning. Secular reasoning rightly applies skepticism to traditional thought. It has contributed immensely to our understanding of individual liberty, constitutional government, and the need for separation of Church and state. However, it is also important to reflect on the contributions of religion to Western culture, more specifically, of Judaism and Christianity. Lest we forget that it is the Judeo-Christian foundation of western culture, that grounded the human individual in equality and freedom. Medieval Christianity also laid the foundation for modern academia. And, there happens to be no higher contributing factor to charity and giving than…you guessed it, religion.

True faith is actually built on reason. We are not meant to believe in things blindly. There are three primary practices in which we come to know and understand our reality. These three practices are science, philosophy, and theology. In spite of popular opinion, these three are meant to complement each other. But, contemporary culture has once again, decided to pit science against theology, while philosophy ruminates on a bench. I think it’s important to recognize the glaring difference between science and theology. They are answering entirely different questions. Science addresses how something came to be. Theology addresses why something came to be. True theology poses a simple question, “Why is there something rather than nothing?” This is a question that science, fundamentally, cannot answer. Therefore, study in both areas is paramount in understanding our world and our role in it. There are higher forms of reason beyond science or religion alone. Solely believing in science, theology, or philosophy is a reduction of rationality.

Now, the most important Judeo-Christian contribution to Western society is our understanding of morality. I think it’s safe to say that any society is better, stronger, and more peaceful, when people, by and large, agree on what is good and what is bad.  When there is a common code of decency, moral structure, and a common understanding of the individual as an entity of infinite value, the world is a better place. There are even goods that are beyond what is good for a particular individual,  like the good of another or the good of a whole. And, if we can all agree on that good, society profits.  This is why the act of suffering is so important.  The best good may actually require sacrifice.  As a parent will sacrifice for a child, a teacher for a student, or a soldier for a citizen.  However, if that understanding of good and bad dissolves, then that society will decay with it.  If there is no common good, there is only discord and chaos. Then you will have fathers leaving sons and neighbors stealing from neighbors.  This is where the rule of law comes in to play.

Western society is shaped by the law. Whenever we revere something, do we not surround it with laws to protect it? As Americans, think of our reverence for freedom and the Constitution that protects it. Think of the structures that form and define language.  Consider the number of laws that frame and formulate your preferred martial art. Think of the games you “play.” Would anyone who really loves chess be content with an “anything goes” approach to the game? Would you accept “following your whim” in any other area of your life that you take seriously? True religion merely provides a framework to the moral life.

We have become quick to discard and replace things that we see as unnecessary, all the while never actually knowing what purpose they served. I believe we have become overconfident in our capacity for discernment. While secular reasoning certainly has its benefits, people today are blinded to its shadows. If you reduce political thought to secular reasoning it becomes as ideologically conditioned as any religion. Now, my intention here is not to sway you one way or the other. I simply want you to have the intellectual integrity to know what it is you are about to uproot and clear away. I ask you to refuse the Enlightenment prejudice, to think critically, and to come to your own resolution.

"‘On what else is the whole world run but immediate impressions? What is more practical?’ My friend, the philosophy of this world may be founded on facts, but its business is run on spiritual impressions and atmospheres."

- G.K. Chesterton

Soleimani

It has been interesting watching world react to the elimination of Qasem Soleimani. In the US, we can speculate endlessly about the political motivations of Trump and the motivations behind the reaction from the left. However, I would rather focus on the act itself. The elimination of Soleimani is more significant than that of Al-Baghdadi or Osama Bin Laden. In fact, it doesn’t even compare. Unlike Al-Baghdadi and Bin Laden, Soleimani was actually a cabinetry level state official. Everyone was aware of both his role and duty within the state of Iran. There is no question he had a deeper influence in the region than both Al-Baghdadi and Bin Laden combined.

Now, you could argue that the deescalation of the conflict at the US Embassy in Baghdad was the end of it. We sent in Marines over night, and we firmly stated that there would be no repeat of Benghazi. OK. We prevented what potentially could have been a disaster, but beyond just that what did we achieve? Nothing. Killing Soleimani was an act of strategic deterrence.

Deterrence is something we’ve forgotten about in this country. The loss of deterrence has led to incorrect notions of US power and foreign policy. Our use of political and military power has become predictable. This is dangerous. The killing of Soleimani was an act of deterrence, and therefore, an act of disruption. Any gesture or intimation that assures an aggressor that we will not act welcomes contempt and violence. And, not only for us, but the world. We have to start using deterrence and disruption as frames of mind. Will the death of Soleimani heighten tensions between the US and Iran? Yes. Will it probably affect the stock market? Yes. Will it probably affect the price of oil? Yes.

We’ll survive. I promise.

There is more military might on a single United States naval carrier than in the entire Iranian military. Unfortunately, in the last 20 years, the world has forgotten what we are capable of. Iran has just been reminded.

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*Please feel free to comment or message me on social media. I always welcome debate and conversation.

Red Team Theories - Emotional Awareness

I sincerely appreciate all of the positive feedback that I have received for my last article.  I have decided to continue my work on this subject with a series of articles that I will release periodically.  These articles will focus on practical ways to implement the adversarial mindset to your daily life.  If you simply want to improve yourself or if you’re really adamant about becoming a “Red Teamer”, hopefully the information I will share in this series will prove useful.  This article, in particular, focuses on the importance of emotional awareness and more important, emotional availability.

"When people talk, listen completely. Don't be thinking what you're going to say. Most people never listen. Nor do they observe. You should be able to go into a room and when you come out, know everything that you saw there and not only that. If that room gave you any feeling you should know exactly what it was that gave you that feeling. Try that for practice." - Ernest Hemingway

Social Engineering

As the bad actor in an adversarial assessment you must explore all avenues of attack.  If you carefully examine past incidents involving security breaches, you’ll quickly learn that the human element of security is often the weakest.  The success of an attack is most often the result of human negligence.  So, for a moment, let’s put aside all of the technical skills that you and your group would need to be an effective red team.   Can you have and maintain a conversion with a stranger?  If you needed to extract information from your target without your expensive high-tech gadgetry, how would you do it?

There is a scene in The Bourne Identity that is often overlooked and actually used to bring levity to the story, but I feel it is most realistic scene in the entire film.  Bourne tasks Marie with gathering records from a hotel regarding a certain Mr. Kane.  He gives her an exhausting list of directions to follow once she enters the hotel.  As she walks inside, she sees a male front desk agent, he smiles at her.  Suddenly, the scene cuts to her meeting Bourne outside, records in hand.  Now, how do you think Marie was able to acquire those records without following Bourne’s direction?  Her feminine wiles?  Following Bourne’s questioning, she states she simply asked for them.  Don’t we all wish red teaming was that easy?  Marie tells Bourne that she told the desk agent she was Mr. Kane’s personal assistant.  Although, she provides a simple answer, the engagement was likely more complicated than that.  I believe she was able to tap into the most receptive part of the human person. 

Human emotion.

A few days ago, I had an interesting conversation with my girlfriend.  She works in property management.  On top of her daily tasks, she is constantly fielding problems, dealing with vendors, addressing tenant complaints, and managing her employees.  During our conversation, she said, “Whenever you need something from someone, never demand it.  Saying, ‘please,’ won’t help you either.  Instead, put yourself in a position of the needy.  State your problem and ask for help.”  People that ask for help are automatically people you feel you can trust.  Why?  Because they are trusting you to help them.

People in need of help trigger something in human beings.  They trigger emotion, it can be sympathy, sadness, in some cases it can even be pride.  When you put yourself in a position of need, especially in this particular way, you put your target in a position of power.  It will make your target feel like they hold all of the cards.  Whether or not that is  true is irrelevant.  Although, you never really see Marie’s engagement with the hotel agent, I would like to think the encounter was more complex than the movie makes it out to be.

This method of social exploitation, by it’s very nature, runs contrary to what you would normally expect from an adversarial engagement.  The goal is to be noticed.  You want your target to focus on you.  However, it is also important to understand the culture of the environment in which you are going to work.  Some people are more willing to help a man wearing a Verizon shirt asking for a restroom than they would a panhandler.   Remember your ABCs.

Emotional Awareness

To be truly effective in a social engagement, emotional awareness is essential.  To be aware of others, you must learn to be emotionally available yourself.  All of our emotions are inherently good.  Although, some may be uncomfortable, they are still good.  They are primal tools, which inform us of ourselves and our surroundings.   In the information age, emotional insensitivity seems to be norm, not the exception.  This leaves us at a disadvantage.  If it takes you more than sixty seconds to identify what you’re feeling at any given moment, you probably have an issue.

If you think about how the human body responds to stimuli, your body reacts first, then your emotions, and finally your intellect.  All three are meant to compliment each other.  Once your body reacts, you are meant to feel, and then temper those emotions with your reason.  So, how do you begin to put this into practice?   Next time you read a book, have a glass of wine, or dinner with your significant other, ask yourself how it made you feel.   The emotions are there, you just have to start giving them their proper attention.

Once you gain a better understanding of your own emotional state, you can purposefully begin to engage others.  Years ago, when I realized I was a bit emotionally underdeveloped, I decided to make a dramatic career shift.   The work forced me to engage people on a daily basis.   I encountered numerous difficulties.  In spite of that, I had to remain proactive, and I had to challenge myself.  And after two years, I found that I had I changed and grown in ways I never thought possible. 

So, if you find yourself lacking in emotional awareness, you know have work to do.  Red Teaming is a multifaceted and multidisciplinary field.  This particular skill will eventually be applied to any large scale social or cultural intel gathering activities.  Challenge yourself, do not fear failure, and embrace your own suffering.  It is the man that can properly harness his emotional state and recognize the emotional state of others, that will find success in whatever he chooses to pursue.   So, do you still want to be a red teamer?

“There are some games you don't get to play unless you are all in.” - Jordan B. Peterson