Evidently so. Mr Beck has said that God has given him a plan for America and, presumably the rest of the world as well. How, we wonder, did this so-called 'plan' arrive to his attention? In a dream perhaps? On the internet? Through a special messenger in the Vatican? Perhaps he got a call from Roger Ailes. Unlikely sources all, but we'd like to know. It is doubtful, though, that he will share this information.
The fact is that Mr. Beck is a fanatic, a term defined as "a person with extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics." Since Mr Beck is a fanatic in both religion and politics and has mysteriously been given access to a national audience, his influence is more than worrisome.
In using the term 'fanatic,' I am using a term chosen by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay "Spiritual Laws." Throughout the turbulent Nineteenth Century, Emerson was immersed in the religious and spiritual movements sweeping the country. The century had its share of fanatical preachers claiming privileged attention from Divine Providence. Because he was a rational human being who nonetheless had spiritual insights of his own, he was always careful to watch for signs of fanaticism in himself and those who made claims of privileged communication.
In the essay, speaking of the influence of what he termed the Over-Soul, he spoke of those whose egotistical tendencies took hold of some idea or insight and claimed that God was speaking to or through them. Here is Emerson on the subject:
The pretence that he has another call, a summons by name and personal election and outward "signs that mark him extraordinary, and not in the roll of common men," is fanaticism, and betrays obtuseness to perceive that there is one mind in all the individuals, and no respect of persons therein.
Emerson's point was that spiritual insights are never localized -- no mention of Tuesday or Washington or Fox News or, as Mr Beck should know, no individual person. But what about prayers? Does God answer prayers? Obviously many people say yes. But again, how? If a life is saved or a disaster averted, we like to think a prayer is answered to that specific case. But what of those that are not? Are those people then to believe they are not worthy or that God has chosen to ignore their plea? If so why? Such reasoning leads to deep feelings of unworthiness, doubt and guilt.These are serious theological questions that are trivialized by the fanatical likes of Mr Beck. Rational people know these things and are careful not to play fast and loose with the truth and common sense. It is painful to listen to TV evangelists who make irrational and irresponsible claims of communication with their personal god. For example, did God kill John F. Kennedy because he was working towards ending segregation in the South? Fanaticism says so.
It is clear from what we know of Mr Beck's popularity that there are too many Americans who pay attention to fanaticisms of all kinds: God speaking to and through privileged individuals, theories of conspiracies by governments, Communist plots to brainwash the population, secret societies within great universities plotting to take away our freedoms. The list goes on, and they will grow longer unless the voices of fanaticism are drowned out by the voices of reason and truth. In the meantime tune out Mr. Beck.