Here comes another pseudo issue along with pseudo prescriptions that require a religious component and specifically Christian one.
The problem is that requiring a belief in the supernatural is the foundation. Yes, many people don't grow up and stop needing some hope of a magical ally or source. Just like children often have to be ring-fenced with imaginary constraints to keep them well-behaved, which is OK for children. But not for adults.
Oh, darn, I forgot the very clever "we are all children of god" and therefore, as children, we need an imaginary all-knowing, all-powerful supernatural being who may punish us if we don't behave right. Well, that god, could just skip all the mumbo-jumbo and tribal accoutrement that leads to wars and hatred and just reduce it to one thing: the golden rule.
But, I do get it. Religion is a power structure and like all power structure whatever ethical influence it may have, it must also have enemies. Therefore, the whole project of the golden rule can easily be inverted: if I think you're doing me wrong, I get to do you wrong.
Maybe just throw the whole religious project out the window and invent modern liberal democracy that uses everything learned from the depradations of sectarian, tribal and racial enmity and rebuild. Oh, damn it. We let religion persist in "freedom". Plus ca change, plus ca reste la meme, as they say.
I appreciate what he notes about the Marine Corps. I've used it frequently as an analogy of what I think the Scriptures are after when it speaks of how Christians are conformed to a certain pattern of thinking. I've noticed an increased focus on the idea that every "culture" in the Church is supposed to be represented, and I see that as an infection of modern ideas of individualism. The Marine Corps is somehow able to take a lot of disparate American "cultures" and say: "You're a maggot, but you can be a Marine." It allows you to connect with fellow Marines across generational, economic, and evil political barriers based on a shared experience and understanding of what it is to be a Marine.
Beside being Gen X, I think it's my 21-years as a Marine that allows me to be very confident as a man. I have no sense of crisis about what it is to strive for or toe achieve something not because I've achieved everything I want but because the Marine Corps provides that cultural structure for something bigger than yourself where you aren't focused on "you" but on the well-being of your fellow Marines.
The one thing he got wrong about Marines, however, is the uniform-in-public thing. Marines do not wear their Cammies out in town like the Army or the other services. You won't see a Mairne at a bank or a restaurant in their cammies. You also won't see them in their dress uniform conducting business. You will, however, see them travel or be in town in their service uniforms. And they won't look dumpy or unprofessional - and if they do there will be another Marine who will point it out.
My father was a Jewish enlistee after Pearl Harbor was bombed. He fought in WW2, Korea and Viet Nam. My brother was born in Italy where my father was stationed after WW2. I was born on Fort Belvoir and until I was 13 I lived on 4 different bases in the US. On the bases we typically lived on the "generals' row", largely because my father had such important roles. A commanding officer of his from Korea, a major general had a lot to do with that arrangement because he was not in a position to do what he wanted: elevate my father to general because he was Jewish.
The military seems to have continued and expanded on that, particularly since a disproportional number of Viet Nam vets were black. And now the cult of Trump (aka General Bonespurs) and Kirk and (sickeningly Vance) has destroyed all the progress and is reversing it. Bonespurs is without any religious faith and certainly with no other ethical basis, yet Christians are enthralled by him.
Here comes another pseudo issue along with pseudo prescriptions that require a religious component and specifically Christian one.
The problem is that requiring a belief in the supernatural is the foundation. Yes, many people don't grow up and stop needing some hope of a magical ally or source. Just like children often have to be ring-fenced with imaginary constraints to keep them well-behaved, which is OK for children. But not for adults.
Oh, darn, I forgot the very clever "we are all children of god" and therefore, as children, we need an imaginary all-knowing, all-powerful supernatural being who may punish us if we don't behave right. Well, that god, could just skip all the mumbo-jumbo and tribal accoutrement that leads to wars and hatred and just reduce it to one thing: the golden rule.
But, I do get it. Religion is a power structure and like all power structure whatever ethical influence it may have, it must also have enemies. Therefore, the whole project of the golden rule can easily be inverted: if I think you're doing me wrong, I get to do you wrong.
Maybe just throw the whole religious project out the window and invent modern liberal democracy that uses everything learned from the depradations of sectarian, tribal and racial enmity and rebuild. Oh, damn it. We let religion persist in "freedom". Plus ca change, plus ca reste la meme, as they say.
Interesting conversation.
I appreciate what he notes about the Marine Corps. I've used it frequently as an analogy of what I think the Scriptures are after when it speaks of how Christians are conformed to a certain pattern of thinking. I've noticed an increased focus on the idea that every "culture" in the Church is supposed to be represented, and I see that as an infection of modern ideas of individualism. The Marine Corps is somehow able to take a lot of disparate American "cultures" and say: "You're a maggot, but you can be a Marine." It allows you to connect with fellow Marines across generational, economic, and evil political barriers based on a shared experience and understanding of what it is to be a Marine.
Beside being Gen X, I think it's my 21-years as a Marine that allows me to be very confident as a man. I have no sense of crisis about what it is to strive for or toe achieve something not because I've achieved everything I want but because the Marine Corps provides that cultural structure for something bigger than yourself where you aren't focused on "you" but on the well-being of your fellow Marines.
The one thing he got wrong about Marines, however, is the uniform-in-public thing. Marines do not wear their Cammies out in town like the Army or the other services. You won't see a Mairne at a bank or a restaurant in their cammies. You also won't see them in their dress uniform conducting business. You will, however, see them travel or be in town in their service uniforms. And they won't look dumpy or unprofessional - and if they do there will be another Marine who will point it out.
My father was a Jewish enlistee after Pearl Harbor was bombed. He fought in WW2, Korea and Viet Nam. My brother was born in Italy where my father was stationed after WW2. I was born on Fort Belvoir and until I was 13 I lived on 4 different bases in the US. On the bases we typically lived on the "generals' row", largely because my father had such important roles. A commanding officer of his from Korea, a major general had a lot to do with that arrangement because he was not in a position to do what he wanted: elevate my father to general because he was Jewish.
The military seems to have continued and expanded on that, particularly since a disproportional number of Viet Nam vets were black. And now the cult of Trump (aka General Bonespurs) and Kirk and (sickeningly Vance) has destroyed all the progress and is reversing it. Bonespurs is without any religious faith and certainly with no other ethical basis, yet Christians are enthralled by him.
What say ye?