In the last week or so a couple of things have hit the news that, well not baffle me, but definitely make me wonder.
They both have to do with how we, as a species, interpret and define reality. I.e. epistemology. How do we know what we know? How do we determine what’s true?
As you no doubt know I’m an agnostic. I try to approach the world with curiosity, humor and empathy,understanding that I know very little for sure, and being willing to learn new things.
I have very little patience with “revealed truth”. I try to look at the world and determine what works and what doesn’t given my own experience and input from sources I trust.
Occasionally I’ll get new information, and while it’s often a struggle I (hope) I can revise long-held beliefs given compelling new information.
This does not appear to be a common practice.
In this Sunday’s LA Times there was an article, “Why both sides feel they’re losing in America”.
I disagree that there are only two sides, but for the sake of argument let’s look at what the article has to say about “Conservative” vs “Liberal” views in the US.
Conservatives are concerned that that the country is becoming less religious. Specifically, fewer and fewer people consider them selves to be Protestant Christians. The article says:
As recently as 1990, surveys showed that more than 6 in 10 American adults identified as Protestant. As of 2014, the share dropped below half, and it has continued to decline.
There are liberal Christians and conservatives with no religious affiliation, but in general, non-believers tend to be liberal while Christians tend to be conservative.
In my view this correlates directly with Conservatives’ concern about recent social changes.
Even though it has no effect on their daily lives whatsoever they are very concerned that people different from them are being widely accepted into society. Especially LGBTQ+ people.
And immigrants.
And anyone who doesn’t comply with their very narrow religious beliefs.
Basically anyone who doesn’t fit into the Leave It to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet or Father Knows Best model of what a normal family looks like, white, Protestant Christian, upper-middle class is not only suspect, but downright dangerous.
Conservatives in the media push completely unfounded beliefs, i.e.
that God hates people who don’t conform to the gender assigned at birth
that their religion teaches that a newly fertilized egg is a human child
that this nation was founded as a “Christian” nation
that immigrants are being “sent” by evil governments to empty their prisons and asylums
that crime is on the rise
If you’re gay, transgender or otherwise don’t conform to their narrow view of sexuality, just stop. If you don’t you’re evil
that the economy was better under the last administration
if you’re poor, it’s your fault
if you’re rich, you deserve it
None of these things is true, or at least not always true. I’ve written on these subjects before.
In my experience there is nobody more dangerous than a member of a privileged group who sees that privilege starting to erode. I think this is why we’re seeing more and more Conservatives moving away from rational thought and towards violence.
Liberals, on the other hand see the move towards acceptance of a diverse society as a good thing.
We’re concerned about concrete issues such as climate change, poverty, healthcare and economic inequality.
From a liberal/progressive/agnostic point of view “Conservatives” appear to care a lot more about making sure the rich get richer, the military gets bigger and shoving their brand of Christianity down everyone’s throat.
They are so concerned that someone, somewhere is going to receive aid that they don’t “deserve” that, for instance, they’d rather spend nearly $700,000 on an armored vehicle for a small town that fund a school lunch program.
In the meantime for almost the last decade every year has been the hottest on record.
Even with the Affordable Care Act access to healthcare is very limited in many states, especially if you happen to be a woman and pregnant.
Conservative and religious leaders are upset because criminals are being tried and convicted.
So, THAT’s why the left is concerned. Is it any wonder that many on the left refer to “Earth One” where reality reigns?
So, that was the first thing. The other thing kind of ties in.
I’ll keep it short (unless you follow all the links) :)
The governor of Louisiana just signed a law requiring that the Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms in all Public school classrooms from Kindergarten through college.
My question is, which Ten Commandments? Depending on which of the Abrahamic Religions you subscribe to, or even which denomination of Judaism, Christianity or Islam you prefer, there are multiple versions of the Ten Commandments.
I heard that someone, I think it was a Congresscritter, suggested posting the Bill of Rights in classrooms instead of the Ten Commandments. I suggest that if they do that they should bold and italicize the first ten words of the first amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Yes, this is a state government, but as I understand it the states must conform to the US Constitution under the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution.
And while we’re at it, which Bible1 is the literal word of God? There are countless versions and translations in many different languages. Many of them have different versions of the Ten Commandments.
And what about the Apocrypha that appears in some versions of the Bible but not others?
I suggest all Christians get together come up with a holy scripture you can agree is the literal word of God. Good luck.
Let me know when you’re done.
In the meantime I’ll be doing my best to live a moral and ethical life using the Golden Rule as my guide. It’s nearly universal, and I find it to be a very practical guide to life.
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