Charles Taliaferro is a beloved philosophy professor at St. Olaf college who focuses on the study of philosophical theology in particular. His classes are the favorite among many on campus and he is known for curating lively discussions in class while accompanied by his friendly sheltie Pip. He has published multiple books focusing on love, aesthetics and theism. Here is his essay dedicated to George Snow and other students.
The term "election" in English is derived from the Latin, electio, meaning "to pick out," and evolved through the Anglo-French term for choosing or choice. Elections took place in the Ancient Greco-Roman democracies, but what might also be called elections took place among non-democracies in which the elite pick out whom to lead and assign those who are to follow. In philosophical theology, we study many elections and investiture historical conflicts, the processes by which persons pick out or recognize sages or spiritual - philosophical leaders but, for much of the history of ideas, the term "election" was principally used to refer to the choice that was made eternally by unsurpassable, omnipotent, majestic, cosmic-sustaining POWER to become manifested or incarnated as a vulnerable human being of love who taught non-violence and compassion, a person who healed the sick and then was subject to torture and death by religious and state authorities who feared his life and teaching of love. You do not need to be a Christian or even like Christianity to appreciate how this vision, at its core, repudiates the hollow glory of state tyranny, opportunistic, organized violence. So Gandhi, who had awe for the teaching and life of Christ (especially the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount) was a non-Christian Hindu, who nonetheless sought to draw on the core teaching of love that he found in common with world religions.
What might Gandhi say about the USA election? I am not sure, but we may gain some insight about how he sought to connect between persons of profound differences. In 1942, Louis Fischer visited Gandhi's ashram and noticed that the only decoration on the wall was a picture of Jesus with the caption "He is our peace." Fischer said to Gandhi: "But you are not a Christian." Gandhi replied: "I am a Christian and a Hindu and a Muslim and a Jew." Fischer records what he thought when Gandhi said this: "Then you are a better Christian than most Christians." Again, Gandhi was a non-Christian Hindu, but he so sought to identify with what is good at the core of world religions, he was prepared to fight (through non-violent protest) injustice with any of those committed to compassion and justice. He sought to do something else as well, something more intimate.
During his final fast, not long before his assassination, members of a Hindu death squad burst into Gandhi's quarters. One man came forward and begged Gandhi to help him. "I am in hell," he said. "Why are you in hell, my son." The man replied: "The Muslims killed my child. Today, I killed a Muslim boy." Gandhi replied (slowly; this event is faithfully recorded in the epic 1982 film Gandhi based on the reliable testimony of three persons who were there) "I know a way out of hell. You must find a young Muslim boy. The same age as your son. And you must raise him." Pause. Pause. Pause. Pause. "As a Muslim."
Impossible? Maybe, but what Gandhi required of the man of violence, was for him to renounce violence and instead resort to nurture. And to so remove himself from his own religion so as to reach out in compassionate love to others. The man was to remain a Hindu himself, but he was tasked to so nurture another soul so as to purge himself of a hatred for Muslims, for "the other."
Should Democrats seek to find little, young Trump supporters and raise them as Republicans or vice versa? This might either just contribute to a Saturday Night Live skit or cause a riot, though perhaps not as serious as the riot Gandhi was seeking to dispel in which Hindus and Muslims were committing acts of violence against each other on the streets in Northern India. But I wonder if there might be something to do that goes half way with Gandhi's proposal. Perhaps we might take our eyes off of worldly elections and think more cosmically of THE CHOICE we make in our lives to tend to each others' needs, feelings, aspirations, and dreams. Some of us might feel like that person Gandhi sought to help on that evening during the last months of his life. If so, there is a way out of hell. But, if Gandhi is right, it will take time, perseverance, and loving those we might otherwise see as enemies.
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