Ham and others, Thanks for taking the time to respond to me about Essentialism and Essence.
I started writing this to Ham and then I just took off with it as a musing on belief systems in general. --------------------------------------------- About this idea of antitheist paranoia Ham was talking about. (Ham wrote: Educated people today are paranoid about belief in God because they've been persuaded by intellectuals that theism is an outworn relic of the dark ages.) I think much of the hostility that many intellectuals have about a belief in God is well founded. The fearful belief in God is the foundation for malevolent organized behavior that is socially approved of. When 'Christians' are bombing abortion clinics - there is a fundamental problem with 'fundamentalists'. When 'Christians' are using their religion to commit crimes and act in hostile ways toward non Christians - there is a problem. When our President (and the recently nominated Republican Vice President) thinks that we should continue with this war because 'GOD said so', there is a problem. There is a BIG difference between personal belief systems and organized religious efforts. I think there are a lot of good reasons why some intellectuals want to banish theism. It causes causes some really difficult social problems, though I have known and respected many 'Christians' who simply attempt to organize their life around a set of guiding principles - like the 10 Commandments or the Golden Rule AND they attempt to have a great deal of compassion toward their fellow man and they do this under the symbolism of Christianity, ok then. I have no problem with people attempting to organize their life around beliefs that make them feel good - even if it's a belief I don't agree with. As long as they aren't imposing their belief system onto me. BUT, all that aside - I have some other beliefs too about believing in a higher power. I do understand the human 'need' to sense a higher power - I've even read about some studies about a part of the brain that is stimulated when people report feeling a connection to a higher power (whatever that might be)... I have called this a 'Doctor it hurts when I move my arm this way" religion. Which is to say... when it makes you more uncomfortable to consider the universe without a higher power than it does to consider it with one...then just don't move your arm (or think in such a way that makes you uncomfortable) that way. The truth is, you cannot have the concept of 'faith' without an 'unknown'. So, if you logically realize that you have the power to make a CHOICE between believe or non-belief...cause let's face it - none of us know. And none of us are ever going to know. Ever. Then logically, you can Choose to have a belief in the unknown AND then put your faith into that. But that's all it's ever going to be. A choice. Some people move mountains personally, once they've accepted that this is all a belief system really is. A choice. Most people are fearful and life is difficult enough... just basic survival in the concrete jungle that most people have to operate in - so why not let them embrace a concept that makes them feel good. Most of the time, I believe a much simpler point of view...which is that it doesn't really matter what you believe in...just be kind and compassionate to your fellow man - that's all. Everything changes - always. It is possible for people (I think) to have emotions and intellectual ideas to support multiple belief systems simultaneously - IN fact, it's kind of a waste of mental energy to try to constantly support and hold up one belief system. This is why there is no reason to make fun of anyone who only believes in God when they are experiencing a trauma (or going to church...(which can be a trauma (ha ha)) or any other kind of profound event or even just when they are having sex (ha ha). Why not allow yourself to have multiple, situational belief systems? Margaret Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
