[Hong Wu]

In the oldest forms of spirituality, the universe's actions were considered an expression of the metaphysical will and also a reflection upon the individual. So if you were born a king, or won a battle and became a king, the universe (or God, or Gods) was validating your self-worth. If you were born a peasant or lost your throne, the universe was de-validating your self worth. This has also been called dharma, wherein everyone has a law unique to themselves and must determine what it is.

I can perceive two reactions to this idea, one of which is exclusively western and which may have been involved in the production of certain modern ideas such as socialism. In eastern religious traditions mostly identified with Buddhism, someone is asked why they expect/need validation from the universe at all. In Islam and Judaism one is generally encouraged to accept whatever comes, good or bad. Christianity can also be interpreted in this way but there exists a growing trend which suggests a different interpretation, that being that you can have every bad thing happen to you but you are still a winner by virtue of being on the right team.

I am talking of course about Christ's crucifixion. There are many ways to interpret the bible and this event is but one of them, but many people seem to believe that their personal cross to bear is not grounds for introspection, humility and so-on because they are on the "right team" and their crucifixion is the fault of someone else's original sin. If you sever this idea from other concepts associated with Christianity, such as humility, honesty, non-economic thinking etc., one might be pretty close to communism or the emerging liberal fascism.