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I don’t mean
to take offense at the suggestion that the worst American characteristics are
attributed to Scottish Irish ancestry, of which I am primarily Scottish. Many
tribal societies were fierce warriors and most raided others property, as well
as carry off captives for trade or other, especially if their geographical
boundaries were not plentiful and conducive to self-sufficiency. Most of the
general public is aware of the historical role of tribal culture, but many are unaware
of how tribal culture still affects socialization and perceptions. On FW, Keith Hudson wrote about it from
a socioeconomic perspective and Ray Evans Harrell from his socio-cultural
perspective. My own focus
is the role that religion and/or community plays in society and politics. Although
some of the violence in the industrialized West may be booze-driven, it is also
tangled in religious imagery and group identification. There is a paucity of
nurturing individual self-awareness, rather than fostering individuality. For
several generations Hollywood has had the last word teaching historical and
cultural heritage, rather than family, schools and community. In my opinion,
the most revealing aspect about Scottish violence was the “embrace of Calvinism”,
itself a fierce and unyielding worldview. For all the “good” in so-called
modern western life, there is too often a loss of community and sense of
belonging and purpose. Besides the spiritual quest many realize, western
religion too often becomes the structural replacement for the loss of tribal
identification and ancestral heritage. Unfortunately, many misuse religion as a
weapon, to reinforce primal needs for survival and superiority. It leads to localized and nationalized
Manifest Destiny, writ small and large, another excellent reason to separate
church and state. I do not know if we will ever overcome this problem. It has
been the seed of much tragedy and downfall of many. This study
doesn’t agree with the statistical evidence cited in the UN study, but it does
discuss the socio-psychological dimensions. kwc Report: Societies
are worse off when they have “God on their side” Religious belief can cause damage to a
society, contributing towards high murder rates, abortion, sexual promiscuity
and suicide, according to research published today. According to the study, published in the Journal of Religion and Society, a US
academic journal, belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for a
healthy society but may actually contribute to social problems. The study counters the view of believers that religion is necessary to
provide the moral and ethical foundations of a healthy society. It compares the social performance of relatively secular countries, such as Britain, with the
US, where the majority believes in a creator rather than the theory of
evolution. Many conservative evangelicals in the US consider Darwinism to be a
social evil, believing that it inspires atheism and amorality. Many liberal Christians and believers of other faiths hold that
religious belief is socially beneficial, believing that it helps to lower rates
of violent crime, murder, suicide, sexual promiscuity and abortion. The benefits of religious belief to a
society have been described as its “spiritual
capital”.
But the study claims that the devotion of many in the US may actually
contribute to its ills. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1798944,00.html |
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