Oftencold
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2008
- Messages
- 5,044
- Reaction score
- 2,202
- Location
- A small village in Alaska
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Very Conservative
Myself, I think not.
Politics derives from experience, thoughts about practicality, nationality, culture, ethnic identity, the division and distribution of finite resources, the perpetuation and redress of wrongs through completely human action, human nature and how malleable that nature is. It produces lots of acrimony, discord, outrage and intransigence. And few would suggest that our politics greatly concern the dead.
Because finite resources of many kinds are involved, politics discord compels even more aggression and assertiveness than religious discord. (Many people, and many doctrines of religion can reach a point where not intrinsically hostile sects can say something to the effect that "you worship in your way, and I shall worship in mine." But politically, it's very rare to say you take that territory that we both claim, and I shall take this territory that we both claim," without plans to take all of what one claims eventually.)
Certainly religious debates can have many of these traits too.
But for the Religious, religious discussions have far deeper and more lasting implications, infinitely greater importance and involve Agencies beyond human capacity, perception, and scope.
For me, the mindset that I employ for politics is largely unsuitable for a religious debate or even deep discussion. I am quite comfortable telling someone that they are thinking like a foolish, ignorant child when they are doing just that if the topic is a Senate confirmation, or pending bill. I would almost never do that to someone expressing a closely held religious belief, other than perhaps passionate Athiests who generally refuse to acknowledge their quaint religion.
At any rate, I personally feel, (and because it's me, this is naturally a superior opinion,) that religious discussions are not well suited to the modes of thought, passions, moods and charming snarkiness of political fora. I prefer that the topics be widely separated thematically. That is, I dislike religious questions coming up, as in the topic listing while I'm girt for conceptual war.
What do you think?
Politics derives from experience, thoughts about practicality, nationality, culture, ethnic identity, the division and distribution of finite resources, the perpetuation and redress of wrongs through completely human action, human nature and how malleable that nature is. It produces lots of acrimony, discord, outrage and intransigence. And few would suggest that our politics greatly concern the dead.
Because finite resources of many kinds are involved, politics discord compels even more aggression and assertiveness than religious discord. (Many people, and many doctrines of religion can reach a point where not intrinsically hostile sects can say something to the effect that "you worship in your way, and I shall worship in mine." But politically, it's very rare to say you take that territory that we both claim, and I shall take this territory that we both claim," without plans to take all of what one claims eventually.)
Certainly religious debates can have many of these traits too.
But for the Religious, religious discussions have far deeper and more lasting implications, infinitely greater importance and involve Agencies beyond human capacity, perception, and scope.
For me, the mindset that I employ for politics is largely unsuitable for a religious debate or even deep discussion. I am quite comfortable telling someone that they are thinking like a foolish, ignorant child when they are doing just that if the topic is a Senate confirmation, or pending bill. I would almost never do that to someone expressing a closely held religious belief, other than perhaps passionate Athiests who generally refuse to acknowledge their quaint religion.
At any rate, I personally feel, (and because it's me, this is naturally a superior opinion,) that religious discussions are not well suited to the modes of thought, passions, moods and charming snarkiness of political fora. I prefer that the topics be widely separated thematically. That is, I dislike religious questions coming up, as in the topic listing while I'm girt for conceptual war.
What do you think?
Last edited: