On the Inversion and Perversion of Virtue
Times that call for spiritual and patriotic Fortitude
If there is hope, it must lie in the proles [proletariat], because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated
George Orwell, 1984
N.B. My apologies in advance if portions of this piece might seem a bit preachy as I aim to convey a sense of urgency.
War is coming; battle lines are being drawn.
In 1938, George Orwell shared his insight pertaining to Nazi Germany’s rise with his character George Bowling in the novel Coming Up for Air published a year later, the year Germany invaded Poland. Bowling/Orwell went on to observe that millions of common folk had “a sense that the world had gone wrong and they could feel things cracking and collapsing under their feet.”
How about you? For my part, this ‘cracking and collapsing’ first became obvious in 2016 when the Party, aghast and horrified by Trump’s election, rallied its legions of obedient leftwing apparatchiks, lapdog media bobbleheads and malinformed Useful Idiots into a brazen resistance of democracy and then, with effete haughtiness and sublime Orwellian doublespeak, insisted that free and fair elections pose “a threat to our democracy.”
A slick downhill slide into totalitarianism ensued, culminating in a phony ‘insurrection’ on January 6, 2021 — yet another expertly planned and staged hoax by the Party’s omnipotent intelligence apparatus. This hoax, mirroring the spirit of previous ones, such as the everlasting anthropogenic Climate Crisis and the ongoing Covid ‘Plandemic,’ continued the trend of similar deceptions.1
Consequently, many patriots now seriously doubt that the Party will even bother holding ‘free and fair elections’ this fall (2024), particularly if former president Trump’s dogged candidacy continues to remain viable and threatening.
The Bible coined a blunt phrase for the Party’s brand of cunning behavior — “the Spirit of Antichrist”
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that Antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
1 John 2:18
The Forces of evil and rancid ideologies are arrayed against us
So how can we, the disregarded masses of proles, survive this onslaught of evil, this grotesque inversion and perversion of virtue, this disdain for traditional Western values? We can identify two viable defenses, but before discussing them let’s update readers on the truth of January 6 that impugns the Party’s Big Lie.
An 11-minute video (linked in the footnotes) reveals the truth about January 6 (J6). In the video, Tucker Carlson notes that “our leadership class is poisonous, power mad and dangerous.2 He’s on safe footing; there were 200 or more federal agents —agents provocateurs — in the J6 crowd. They were situated to ignite a riot and then to lure unwary MAGA patriots into the Capitol building to insurrect. The truth is on the film!
In a previous piece titled Tyranny of the Antichrist, I referenced a “strong delusion” that St. Paul promised God would one day send us.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2: 11-12
That term, “had pleasure in unrighteousness,” exemplifies the inversion and perversion of virtue. The inversion of virtue refers to the act of turning virtue into its opposite, while perversion of virtue refers to the act of using virtue in a misguided way.
Consider the virtue of humility. In its inverted form it becomes ‘pride’ or ‘arrogance.’ If a society values self-importance over modesty, claiming it as a form of self-empowerment, this can be seen as an inversion of the virtue of humility. People may begin to celebrate arrogance as a positive trait, directly contradicting the essence of humility.3
Consider next the virtue of compassion. The perversion of compassion might occur in overprotective parenting, where the desire to shield children from hardship leads to overindulgence and prevents them from experiencing necessary life challenges. The parents' compassion, while well-intentioned, might hinder the child's ability to develop resilience and independence, thereby becoming misguided or detrimental.
I’m reminded of an even worse instance of ‘misguided compassion’ brilliantly performed in the 2019 TV miniseries, ‘The Act’ starring Joey King. The perversion of virtue in this true story lies in the abject distortion of caregiving, which is inherently a virtuous act characterized by compassion, empathy and a genuine desire to help.
In this disorder, called ‘Munchausen syndrome by proxy,’ a caregiver, typically a parent, induces or fabricates illness in a person under their care in order to gain attention, sympathy or other emotional benefits. In the case of ‘The Act,’ this involved a mother and child named Gypsy Rose.
In this mental disorder, which was characterized in “The Act,” these virtuous motivations are twisted. The caregiver's actions, under the guise of care and concern, are actually harmful to the dependent. The virtue of caregiving is perverted into a form of psychological and sometimes physical abuse. The caregiver's perverse need for attention or sympathy took precedence over the genuine needs of the person they were supposed to protect and nurture.
In the case of us common folk, the proles, patriots and disregarded masses, we are beset upon by toxic narcissism, perfidy and the psychological lust for power by our own government. It’s as if we the people are the victims of “Munchausen by government.”
Andrzej Łobaczewski’s assertion in Political Ponerology that individuals in positions of political power, if psychopathic, are capable of creating an epidemic of psychopathology in non-psychopathic individuals, explains a great deal about the source of spiritual decay of our society, which is rife.
Psychopathology often begins as a 'mind virus,' initially infecting those in positions of political power. From there, it spreads to their underlings and enablers, including influential figures in the media. Eventually, via social contagion, the mind virus (today it’s ‘wokeness’) debases an unwary and susceptible general public.
A microcosm of this phenomenon can be observed in the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders program. Despite its seemingly innocuous nature, it exemplifies how such psychopathological influences permeate leadership structures.
Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a wide range of traits, including manipulativeness, narcissism, lack of empathy and contempt for moral and social norms. Psychopathic individuals often exhibit superficial charm, cunning behavior and a propensity for exploitation.
“Pleasure in unrighteousness”
Why would anyone, especially those of sound mind, derive pleasure from unrighteousness? To even entertain such a notion suggests not only a disregard for the divine commandments — God’s "shalts and shalt nots' — but also a fundamental and pervasive scorn for the very pillars of civilized society.
The responsibility for this inclination does not lie with atheists, agnostics, or even with believers who distance themselves from organized religion. Rather, it is a matter of the pure love of sin, the deliberate transgression against God’s law. Such a propensity can lead to, or be exemplified by, instances of moral rot as seen in the events of October 7th in Israel. This is a breed of sin that calls forth divine justice. The same standard applies to Israel’s ‘collective punishment’ of Palestinians.
The verse from St. Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians, which speaks of the 'strong delusion(s)' that God will send, is further illuminated by the preceding verse:
'God will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.'
2 Thessalonians 2:10
Paul also mentions 'a restraining force' that impedes the emergence of the Antichrist, referring to this force with the pronoun 'he.' Paul writes: “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way.”
This passage is interpreted as a prophecy concerning the advent of the Antichrist and events that will precede the end times. However, there is no unified agreement among scholars as to the identity of this 'restraining force.' The truth is many Antichrists have been revealed, and consequently there are many restrainers.
Russian political philosopher Alexander Dugin offered a thought-provoking interpretation regarding the identity of a 'restrainer' in St. Paul's writings, suggesting it is none other than Vladimir Putin. Dugin, known for his controversial yet influential theories, often weaves theological and eschatological (end times) themes into his geopolitical analysis. This approach is particularly evident within the framework of Russian nationalism, Holy Rus and Eurasianism.
Dugin’s interpretation has found a receptive audience among certain Russian nationalist and Orthodox Christian groups, particularly those who share his Eurasianist and traditionalist perspectives. Dugin’s thesis reinforces the view of Russia or 'Holy Rus' as a bastion of Orthodox Christianity and traditional values, standing against what is perceived as the moral and cultural decline of the secular West. (I explored his topic in depth in a piece titled, 'Holy Rus and the Third Roman Empire.”
The persistent and somewhat unfair demonization of Putin and Russia by Western powers lends an intriguing, if not spiritual, dimension to Dugin's theory. It raises interesting questions: Might the Orthodox Church emerge as the custodian of a Christian heritage that the increasingly 'Woke' West appears to be abandoning? Does the shifting global paradigm hint at a future where Eurasia rises in prominence as the West declines? Is Pope Francis the Antichrist?4
Decline of the West
Firstly, it's imperative for us to acknowledge our collective role in the moral and cultural decline of the West. Spirituality, once the cornerstone of our civilization, now seems a quaint relic of the past. Malevolent forces, intent on consigning Western Civilization to the annals of history, operate within our society with alarming openness and impunity. Their presence is so overt that there is little need for explicit identification.
Furthermore, our widespread rejection of religion, most notably Christianity, has led us to discard essential values along with the superfluous — the proverbial baby with the bathwater. This loss has contributed significantly to the decline of our civilization. Since Western Civilization is inextricably linked with Christianity, this abandonment may well invite divine retribution, a concept deemed archaic by many.
Therefore, our first line of defense should be to remain steadfast and pray5 earnestly, hoping either to forestall or mitigate ‘divine retribution.’ Reflecting on the end times, Jesus warned, “These things must happen. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21)
Similarly, St. Paul advised the Thessalonians: “With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teachings we passed on to you both in person and by letter.” Essentially, he implores Christians steadfastly to maintain their faith.
The second defense lies in resisting the pervasive deceptions and perturbations of darkness. We must reject the constant barrage of falsehoods and refuse to comply with them. Remain well-informed and resilient. Allow cognitive dissonance to work to your advantage, aiding you in your quest for truth and understanding.
Embracing the love of truth enables God to endow us with discerning hearts and bestow upon us wisdom akin to that of Solomon, as promised in 1 Kings 3:12: “Behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you…”
N.B. All of our articles about the End Times can be located at the ‘End Times’ tab on our Substack homepage, which is here.
There are seven virtues: the four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude and the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity.
Prayer can take many forms including yoga, meditation, mindfulness, breathwork and chakra work, for example. All are spiritual disciplines that aim to increase individual self awareness and communication with one’s higher self.
You state - "There are seven virtues: the four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude and the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity."
Why would I find this, where I found it... look closely at the web site name - I just found it a little odd.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32988184/#:~:text=Christian%20doctrine%20incorporates%20into%20the,%2F%20temperance%2C%206)%20envy%20%2F
Thankfully temperance is regards Obesity and not my drinking nights out.
4 out of 7 isn't bad !!!!; may need an appeal, but I will win... DAMN 3/7...
Yes, very odd. Pub Med?! I wonder, since the original paper is in Spanish, if something was lost in translation? Or maybe we’ve been wrong about temperance all along? Thanks for your comment, Bob - Enough (of what?).