05.08.07 Mani Choices

As a new army of young soon to be18 year-old citizens enter the all important demographic, the voting age population, they will have many important civic decisions to make. These decisions will not all be easy. When it comes to their first vote their decision may impact all of us.

The question is, what will they base their decisions on?

The 3rd century Persian prophet Mani has something to teach us here. His teaching, Manichaeanism, promoted a dualism. For Star War fans this will sound familiar. Mani suggested that there are forces of light and forces of darkness waging battle in the world. The material world embodied the darkness whereas the spirit projected the light. Most religious thought today bears some resemblance. For Mani, however, the forces of darkness can be assuaged by one’s assent to think differently.

Back to our young citizens. It would be easy for them to enter the political arena with a great deal of cynicism. Tainted by omnipresent scandals, we would understand if they perceived politicians as princes of darkness. Political science tells us most of these young people do not vote. They see nothing redeeming about the process. Too many avoid the responsibility of citizenship because of the perceived past sins of the political machine.

This is where the teaching of Mani reminds us all that choices matter. Aristotle thought the same. He wrote, “It is our choice of good over evil that determines our character, not our passion about good or evil.” There are many negative emotions out there today with respect to our political leaders. Yet we have many choices to make which bare on our future. Most importantly we have the choice to do what is right. Let’s start with forgiveness.