The following advice is adapted from a French Counter-Revolutionary named Jean Ousset (1914-1994) taken from his book "Action," a manual for the reconstruction of Christendom.
If Revolution is a movement that seeks to destroy all legitimate order and replace it with an illegitimate state of things— disorderly ideas, sentiments, customs, institutions, art, and ambiances— then three pillars need to be erected in the Warrior if he hopes to have any chance of success in combatting it: (I) Doctrinal and cultural training aimed at action, (II) applying training to a fitting enterprise, and (III) "untiring perseverance."
Pillar I. Doctrinal and Cultural Training Aimed at Action
A. Mr. Ousset notes an important setback resulting from inadequate doctrinal and cultural training, a myopic view of the crisis in society, the result is an inability to undertake "long-range and large-scale operations."(1) Mr. Ousset states that "He will tend to be a day-to-day activist, forever chopping and changing, continually recasting his tactics, and even his goals, in the light of the latest event."(2) Now we do not censure combatting evils as they arise but having a myopic view causes the person to engage different battles without a worth-while general objective.
B. Furthermore, with a myopic view also comes a myopic assessment and solution to the present crisis. A common instance is a zealous soul with an intellectual aptitude who has gained considerable insight into theological controversies. Moved by presumption and sentimentality rather than caution and wisdom he thrusts himself into an enterprise aimed at refuting progressive theology without proper doctrinal and cultural training. Thus, he reduces the crisis to progressive theology resulting in sterility and even inadvertently sewing a revolutionary spirit.
C. This is because, without proper doctrinal and cultural training, consisting of general knowledge of philosophy, art, history, science, et cetera, as well as conduct which consists of manners and etiquette, he is likely infected by revolutionary ideas, customs, sentiments, and tastes. So, although his positions on theology may be orthodox, he is vulnerable to aberrations subtle and overt in his general knowledge and conduct that ultimately undermine his entire theological enterprise and promote a revolutionary spirit.
Pillar II. Applying Training to a Fitting Enterprise
A. The doctrinal and cultural training depending on the context and ability of a soul will lend itself to a specific use in society. (3) A well-formed gentleman with artistic ability, for example, may contribute to his region a persona of refinement and a unique artistic expression stemming from the masters of old, the noble characteristics of his region, and sound doctrine.
B. And leveraging his context— his connections, degrees, diplomas, social class, et cetera— he presents his art in such a manner as to change mentalities. (4) In short, he uses his abilities and context along with his general training to install a long-range and large-scale operation. Otherwise, he would be a well-formed gentleman without any concrete enterprise to rebuild civilization.
Pillar III. "Untiring Perseverance"
A. Finally, without perseverance, one's training, abilities, and context will not lead, Mr. Ousset states, "to anything lasting or worthwhile." (5)
Conclusion
Thus, "The effective militant," Mr. Ousset observes, "should possess all three elements. If one is missing the drop in performance is immediate." As we have seen without doctrinal and cultural training enterprises lack direction and are subject to revolutionary influence; doctrinal and cultural training without concrete abilities and the leveraging of context is sterile; and without perseverance training, as well as, abilities and context never amount to anything.
Source
(1) Action by Jean Ousset. Published by IHS Press. Page 260.
(2) Jean Ousset. Page 261.
(3) Jean Ousset. Page 260.
(4) Jean Ousset. Page 260.
(5) Jean Ousset. Page 260.
Painting: Cavalryman in the Thirty Years War by Werner Wilhelm Gustav Schuch (German, 1843-1918)
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