All communities would seem to be parts of the political community. For people keep company for some advantage and to supply something contributing to their life. Moreover, the political community seems both to have been originally formed and to endure for advantage; for legislators also aim at advantage, and the common advantage is said to be just. […] Some communities - religious societies and dining clubs - seem to arise for pleasure, since these are, respectively, for religious sacrifices and for companionship.
- Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Book VIII Chapter 9
So, in Founding a Polity we discussed the idea that a place of worship was essential to a Polity, for binding the people together in one common set of morals, spirituality, faith. Traditionally, this would be called culture, though that word gets flung around willy-nilly in modern days, it is also called a common cult, or cultus.
As far as I know, today’s quotes are the only ones in all of Aristotle’s works on the relation of religion to a Polity. If I am wrong, please feel free to correct me. Note in both their brevity and, as stated, Aristotle simply glosses over that these are to honor the gods and thus to the ends of the Polity - which is to live the Good Life; one of Virtue and Happiness.
So, assuming you have moved to such a place of worship to found a Polity, or are planning to, what is one to do next?
Simple.
Sit down and do nothing for a time.
Really, I mean it.
Observe what is going on. Don’t be what
would call an Entryist in some of his posts like the Inevitable Failure of Inclusivity. Instead, learn what is going on at the parish or church you’ve chosen. DO NOT try and make the place of worship something other than a place of worship. Learn how people spend time outside of it, and how they spend time there, not worshiping, but gathering as a community (a fine but important distinction in places that have a Parish hall and other communal set ups). Learn how you can serve. Learn what they’re lacking and how you can step up.Notably, at this point in the game, every traditional church is on hyper alert for new comers that smell like feds. Don’t be a fed, look like one, or act like one.
All you have to do, easy as it sounds, is remind people of what the natural end of the church or parish is - to serve the Polis. To build the long term, generational wealth and thinking that is supposed to be natural to human beings.
This is both easier, and harder, than it sounds.
Easier because all it is doing is moving the overton window. It is, quiet literally, talking with people most of the time and getting them to shift their thoughts and reward structures from now, or possibly their children, to thinking about grand children, great grandchildren, and 200-300 years from now.
It is the type of thinking of, “Well, we could build the Church with stick frame, what about timber frame… or what if we built it with stone? Could we do it ourselves to save labor costs and educate our children? What businesses can we start together? Can we start our own cemetery? Can we get our own people in the local politics/sheriff/whatever? How can we get people to act like they actually believe and practice their beliefs in public office and enact policy?”
You will, inevitably, get push back from the boomers. From local powers if you’re not careful or easy going. From random setbacks to natural weather disasters, be ready to roll with it.
You’ll get push back from the young. Those that don’t understand the world and are tied to the propaganda. You have to give them a dream, a passion to follow, and real steps to achieve it. You have to show them a path to victory and honor. A path to marriage, women, and children.
You’ll get push back from the middle aged. Those that have fought and bled for the Empire and still believe the lies. That simply are emotionally enmeshed in the regime and it’s outcomes.
But, if you can show the boomers that there’s no way out but through, or simply sideline them as you can.
If you can get the young on your side or show them you understand.
If you can get the middle aged, young families the tools they need to be involved, and ease the needs they have to do good things for the Polis; both inside the place of worship and outside around the community.
Why, any of those, as they suit your ability and your goals within your place in the founding the Polity,
They’ll help you found and begin a Polity that will last the ages.
Often, all people need is simply to be shown that they can think beyond the current day, and be given enough resources to actually worry about more than the current day.
Be the change you want to see, and see what change you can be.
That, dear reader, is how you make things happen.
All these communities would seem to be subordinate to the political community, since it aims not at some advantage close at hand, but at advantage for the whole of live. For in performing sacrifices and arranging gatherings for these, people both accord honours to the gods and provide themselves with pleasant relaxations. For the long-established sacrifices and gatherings appear to take place after the harvesting of the crops, as a sort of first-fruits, since this was the time when people used to be most at leisure.
All types of community, then, appear to be parts of the political community, and these sorts of communities imply the appropriate sorts of friendships.
- Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Book VIII Chapter 9