The world of politics has been my playground and classroom for some years now. Reflecting on this journey, two profound lessons have etched themselves into my psyche, shaping my views and altering the way I navigate the political landscape.
The first is the acknowledgment of a deep, spiritual void in the hearts of people—a void that people are desperately trying to fill with politics. From my observations, many on the left, who might be atheists or lukewarm Christians, have substituted politics for religion. They place power above truth, building their worldview around political talking points rather than grounding their beliefs in truth. This is a treacherous path, as politics, by nature, isn't necessarily about truth, and when it does align with truth, it's often by chance rather than design.
On the right, I've seen religion being used as a tool to gain more power, which, in my view, tarnishes the sacredness of faith and the potential for a beautiful connection with the divine. It risks painting religion in a negative light, skewing the public perception of something that can foster virtue, grace, and a recognition of life's miraculous nature.
The second lesson is about the interplay between politics and culture—how politics is a reflection of our culture and how it is shaped by cultural currents. If you want to bring about lasting change, you need to influence culture first. It's not easy, but if you manage to shape culture, you indirectly shape politics. Politicians, consciously or subconsciously, start to take cues from cultural trends.
Take Elon Musk as an example. His focus on electric cars, a transpolitical issue, appealed to people across the political spectrum, making electric vehicles not just a political agenda, but a cultural phenomenon. His influence on culture shaped the political agenda around electric cars, proving more effective than any lobbying effort.
This understanding can be applied broadly—if we want to bring about political change, we need to make our cause culturally appealing. It could be a virtue, a principle, or even an object—once it becomes "cool," it's picked up by the political world, prompting politicians to consider whether they should align with this new cultural movement.
In sum, the lessons I've learned boil down to this: People are seeking spiritual fulfillment and have a tendency to seek it in politics, which is perilous. And, if you wish to make a lasting impact on politics, work to shape the culture.
Yes, politics matters—it helps manage budgets at all levels and shapes the way trillions of dollars are allocated around the world annually. But our influence as individuals can be more potent in shaping culture. And if we can shape culture, we can inevitably shape politics as well. This understanding brings a newfound clarity to my political journey, revealing where my time and energy are best spent.