tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37410885.post2135920480120640905..comments2023-07-30T05:57:48.256-04:00Comments on Gospel of the Living Dead: The FamilyKPaffenrothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02323273575993522455noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37410885.post-33471909290007663102009-08-12T13:03:07.724-04:002009-08-12T13:03:07.724-04:00Yes, Scott, I had that unpleasant experience when ...Yes, Scott, I had that unpleasant experience when "discussing" with a fundie: there was no discussion. There was me marshalling evidence and describing my experience, and trying to see things from his perspective, and there was him saying, "No, no, no, it can only be this way! The Bible says so!" The only moment when I felt some compassion or interest in what he was saying was when he admitted that if he doubted the way I did, he couldn't live with it, it'd be too much for him. Well, far be it from me to take such certainty and comfort away from somebody, but if it makes you think nutty things that harm other people, maybe you should keep your "faith" (="certainty") under a bushel. <br /><br />This then leads me to consider the problem of the modern "solution" of having religiosity be a purely "private" affair. We proclaim you can believe anything, no matter how nonsensical, so long as you keep it to yourself. I'd rather people were more public about their beliefs, but were willing to negotiate and consider (and - gasp! - maybe even change!)those beliefs in discussion with others. But then I encounter someone with ideas I find so abhorrent (or just silly) and I fall back on the panacea of "Well, that's your opinion, but don't try to impose it on me." I keep hoping for something better.KPaffenrothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02323273575993522455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37410885.post-5557977975425343182009-08-12T12:49:07.104-04:002009-08-12T12:49:07.104-04:00But rather than be encouraged by such works that i...<i>But rather than be encouraged by such works that it was okay to doubt, that doubt was even the most necessary and revelatory state a person can be in, he suddenly grabbed on to some idea by which all doubt could be removed, blasted from his mind</i> <br /><br />Interesting observation. I think this is behind much of what divides us culturally these days: there are those who are comfortable with the concept of doubt, and those who are terrified by it. The slightest hint of uncertainty sends them running to the nearest comforting lie. And not just in religion – it’s at the root of most wacky conspiracy theories, from the “birthers” to the anti-vaccine nuts. It’s even a major factor in our current health care “debate;” not to say there aren’t legitimate concerns, but most of the rhetoric seems to go from “change is scary” straight to “DEATH PANELS WILL EUTHANIZE YOUR GRANDMOTHER!!!” <br /><br />There is, of course, a certain strength and focus that comes from certainty that makes it undeniably appealing to many people, especially those seeking power. The problem for society is that not only does it make it hard for the individual to change his/her mind, it makes it nearly impossible to have rational debates. About anything.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01557114593999315703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37410885.post-77570853830820585722009-08-12T12:16:37.149-04:002009-08-12T12:16:37.149-04:00Let me also say on Gov Sanford (and I'd lump P...Let me also say on Gov Sanford (and I'd lump Palin in this camp too), vs The Family - I think there are two stereotypes of Christians being lived out by these current groups. One is the "Christians are hypocritical buffoons." The other is "Christians are callous megalomaniacs." We had 8 years of the latter as the main impression of Christians, now we're swinging toward the former. Neither is very flattering, and I sure wish we'd get away from them. And I'm not saying this is a media conspiracy or something - if anything, the responsibility lies more with Christians to behave themselves in a reasonable, civil, humane manner and let themselves be known by their works.KPaffenrothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02323273575993522455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37410885.post-32678495990491755742009-08-12T12:08:46.739-04:002009-08-12T12:08:46.739-04:00Thanks! And now that I've read further, I'...Thanks! And now that I've read further, I'll add to the original post.KPaffenrothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02323273575993522455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37410885.post-40407360879164704902009-08-12T12:05:40.480-04:002009-08-12T12:05:40.480-04:00Magnificent! You have got my mind racing. This cou...Magnificent! You have got my mind racing. This could make a great panel at the MAR-AAR meeting in March. Let's get Harold Bloom to give his further reflections on<br />"the American religion." <br />As an armchair psychologist of the worst sort, I am also horrified by how all this is connected to Gov. Sanford's affair and his public confessions about it, which showed him to be emotionally frozen at around the age of 13. I would love to know what trauma he suffered then that he was never able to move beyond.eap21152https://www.blogger.com/profile/03340183939595360085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37410885.post-69460451987388805282009-08-12T12:04:38.091-04:002009-08-12T12:04:38.091-04:00Magnificent! You have got my mind racing. This cou...Magnificent! You have got my mind racing. This could make a great panel at the MAR-AAR meeting in March. Let's get Harold Bloom to give his further reflections on<br />"the American religion." <br />As an armchair psychologist of the worst sort, I am also horrified by how all this is connected to Gov. Sanford's affair and his public confessions about it, which showed him to be emotionally frozen at around the age of 13. I would love to know what trauma he suffered then that he was never able to move beyond.eap21152https://www.blogger.com/profile/03340183939595360085noreply@blogger.com