- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
- Messages
- 51,123
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- Location
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- Independent
I am not really 'judging' the subjective feelings. I am drawing conclusions about general attitudes based on the sum of individual actions of society in general as I perceive them.
Do you base your opinions about this specific issue on personal feelings, anecdotal evidence about people's actions, theological treatises, or scientific literature?
Myself, right now I am basing my opinion on anecdotal evidence about people's actions. Thus my opinion is extremely likely to adjust in the future. Indeed, before you posted this, I was coming into contact with new information and thinking on the subject. I posted that information, and even pointed out that my own thinking would need adjustment of some kind.
Is that sort of the point of a discussion?
If one starts from the premise that cultural behavior is significantly based on the inner life of the individuals of the society practicing cultural norms, then one can use ritual practice as 'data' from which to draw some conclusions.
Fail to see relevance here. Beside that, I do accept that America has a diverse culture. In fact my post recognized that fact, though it states some speculations about a particular group's motivations for their stances based on their differing culture.
If you're referring to the broader implications that stem from my generally very liberal stances, you've mistaken me for the sort of person who makes a reasonably common mistake when observing differing cultures.
While I do believe that a general attitude of openness leads to greater enrichment and superior quality of life, both on a personal and a societal level, I do not make the mistake that all cultural systems are equally desirable.
You will have to excuse me, this issue is a bit personal to me and I let my feelings dictate my post. I apologize for the tone.