There are many evils in the world, and most I would suppose are rationalized in one way or another in the minds of those that promulgate them. While I am by many measures an average American, perhaps slightly above median, to many in the world I might be considered evil for my disproportionate accumulation of the world's wealth. I of course can look upward and feel the same towards millionaires, who themselves may look upward and feel aggrieved by billionaires. So I guess my guilt (if any) is ameliorated/rationalized by not being at the top of the pyramid.

Now there are many things less than ideal in the World, America's foreign policy aside, the World's main grievance with the US seems to be its over use of the World's resources, having somehow unfairly consumed said resources and converted them into wealth, excluding large sectors of the World from wealth somehow derived from their resources. Granted this is a simplification, and the World at large has other large concerns with the US, but this has been a constant one. If America's wealth were somehow totally derived from internal resources, then the World would have fewer complaints. More than this, if America consumed less than its share of resources so much the better -- this would be great for the world in an environmental sense. Now we come upon my first example of Piety by Proxy. We have a certain class of liberal Millionaires, often as not in the entertainment industry. They drive big cars, take private jets, have big homes, and call for the common man to conserve and make sacrifices that they themselves do not. In their minds, if they can get a hundred or a thousand or even a million people to conserve in their name, then the balance of piety is more than tilted in their favor, because their gluttony is offset by the austerity they have inspired in others.

When one starts to look for it, one finds examples of Piety by Proxy in many places. We often call these people Hypocrites, but I contend that Piety by Proxy is a different beast, or at least a special subset of Hypocrisy. I myself am a Hypocrite, I espouse many things to be what I believe, or what I believe people should do, and then my actions do not mirror my ideals. In most cases this is just weakness or sloth. My definition of a true hypocrite is someone that says one thing, knowing full well they are lying about their beliefs, but by doing so can trick others into actions that are advantageous to them. Piety by Proxy entails expunging ones self of the guilt of hypocrisy by setting in motion actions that tilt the balance towards good in the world as the sponsor sees it. Thus allowing themselves to indulge in just rewards for the good they have set in motion.

The Taliban leadership springs easily to mind as a group engaged in Piety by Proxy. Its ruling class had access to many pleasures denied the general populace by law. I'm sure they thought themselves all ideal Muslims, for had they not fostered an ideal Islamic state as laid out in the Koran and Sharia? Many Islamic nations supported the Taliban, and applauded their austere and devoted life style, while not demanding such strict religious adherence within their own borders. Afghanistan was in some sense a surrogate redeemer for other Islamic nations, whom by supporting so Pius a realm need not be so holy themselves.

Many (most?) Palestinians support suicide bombers, supplying money and support for a militia that sets suicide bombers in motion. The bomb maker is rarely the bomb carrier, and this is probably a small example of Piety by Proxy, but less so than the leadership and citizenship that support the bomb makers craft with money. Not everyone knows how to make bombs, so to blow up the bomb maker limits the bombs that can be made. But those with money if truly Pius should not pay for others to carry the bombs they finance, but proudly strap on the bombs they have paid for. In fact this would make doubly good sense to me, as it would be a way of repaying God (assuming God really wants people to strap bombs to themselves and take out as many infidels with the bomber as possible) for the wonderful bounty God afforded the person to enjoy while alive.

Islam is not alone in being a religion that inspires Piety by Proxy. Take a look at almost every Televangelist, almost all have been laid low by sin. Hypocrites? Yes, but I suspect my Piety by Proxy label fits well with most, who see their indulgences as payment for doing Gods work. The Catholic Priest scandal also springs to mind in this instance.

Piety by Proxy seems to thrive in any extreme environment. On the far right are frustrated white men, railing against the moral decline in America, but who drop the first wife when a younger more sexually appealing option comes along that can be had with the wealth, influence and power, that seems so alluring to certain younger attractive ambitious women. These 2nd (or 3rd) trophy wives can be rationalized on the back of how much moral good has been done in their name. On the far left are those who see sharing the wealth as the ideal, but only after they got their nut of course.

UN dues are probably a form of Piety by Proxy. We pay hefty dues for a body that is supposed to help the world get along. That it often fails to make a difference in any real sense frees our hands to meddle in Machiavellian ways across the globe, but hey we gave the UN its shot to get things done.

UN peacekeepers and leaders themselves are now caught in a fresh scandal involving rape and pedophilia in Cambodia, Bosnia and several African countries. Now doubt those involved felt owed something in pleasurable compensation for the stability and safety they may have been attempting to bring to those regions.

Communism seems to be in decline (at least in the developed world), but few could doubt the extreme display of Piety by Proxy of the old Communist leadership. Like religion or any system that calls for selflessness, Communism seems especially vulnerable to Piety by Proxy.

I guess in closing I would say if someone is extolling you to sacrifice something, look at the person sacrificing and ask, "Are you making the same sacrifice?" If not, you can be pretty sure there is a Piety by Proxy rationalization being made in the extollers mind.