A Marvelous Prospect

Tiger Woods has been unfaithful to his wife. Who cares? Oh, you do? Why? I thought it was  a founding principle of this country that we’re entitled to “the pursuit of happiness.” If we pursue it and find it in the arms (or whatever) of a prostitute, aren’t we  entitled to do that, whenever and with whomever? That’s what the media says – all night long every night. And I think all day long too – in the Soaps, but I haven’t seen one of those in a long, long time.

What’s going on? Why are we collectively incensed that a successful athlete would make it with as many women as he could? It’s sort of the new cultural anthem. Wouldn’t you, if you were in his green jacket? Smoking is the new evil act – screw whomever, that’s all right.

OK. You know I wouldn’t ask a question without offering an answer. We are incensed because we know better. It’s written on our hearts. NO culture lasts long that ignores this basic natural law of fidelity in marriage. The family is the foundation of every society. We destroy it at our own peril. Even committing the act, Tiger knew better. “Sex addict.” Give me a break. The 7th Commandment (of 10) says “Don’t commit adultery.” Inherent in that is the concept of marriage and fidelity. Adultery is the act. Even the thought (addiction if you will) is prohibited in Commandment 10 – do not covet (or lust).

Don’t tell me that for all time men have been philandering. It might have been winked at, but it’s always been outside the acceptable norm. Everybody knew it was hurting somebody while at the same time pleasuring another.

It isn’t “sex addiction;” you know that as well as I do. It’s sin – a wrong choice. A focus on satisfying self instead of honoring God and loving our neighbor – beginning with our spouses.

While we’re here, we might as well address the issue of Buddhism and Christianity – which Britt Hume exposed and now Tiger has addressed. He said yesterday, “I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don’t realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously I lost track of what I was taught.”

Well, they certainly have the pointless search for security part right, but to what end? Buddhism is about doing. Work hard and be good to “achieve nirvana and escape … the cycle of suffering and rebirth” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism) – escape to – nothingness. Yuk. Christianity is about being – accepting the gift of redemption bought by Jesus the Messiah through his death and resurrection – and doing – in gratitude, not to earn God’s love or to escape. We are forgiven and can hence forgive. We are loved and can love. We are not escaping, we are living an abundant life here and now. It’s Tiger’s only true hope.

Here is a good analogy showing the difference between Buddhism and Christianity, in the words of a former Buddhist: http://www.christianministriesintl.org/articles/03.html

Oh, do you know what “happiness” meant to the authors of our U.S. Declaration of Independence? Virtue – the pursuit of a virtuous life – “transcending self.” What a concept.

1. Oracle says:

   February 22, 2010 at 6:10 PM

   Man’s problem is sin. Tiger’s aim to search from nothing to find something is oxymoronic. My prayer is that all of us in the American seam will turn from self-gratifying hedonism as Tiger enjoyed in his ascendancy, but turn to the humility and repentance at the foot of the Cross. http://www.wayofthemaster.com
2. John-boy says:

   September 6, 2010 at 2:05 PM

   Six months later, and where’s Tiger. At least for now he’s become an also-ran in the PGA.

   Body and soul are connected; it’s as simple as that.