Perhaps it is connected to the transfer of power that occurred in industry during the 1980s. Men who knew how to do real things handed the baton off to schemers and pretenders.
I enjoyed the writing and your pacy development of the argument. I thought you pitched it right when you wrote "the mistaken belief (and might I add, the quasi-religious, irrational belief) that the universe is a mere mechanism, and that we are nothing but random conglomerates of atoms, leads inevitably to moral bankruptcy." So the first step has to be to move beyond that sterile model, and beyond that I'd say that people have to let the implications sink in over time and try to find their way back to God in a spirit of anatheism, rather than immediately buying into the institutional religions, certainly the major ones, in the state they're in.
In communist Poland it wasn’t acceptable not to be Catholic. The Church was a barricade in the struggle for freedom. When Karol Wojtyła became pope, for many years I was a proud Pole. When freedom of speech appeared in Poland I learned how much harm priests had done to children in so many countries. Today, more than anything else I search for faith in other human beings.
Yes, when I arrived in Poland in 1993 almost everyone was Catholic, and certainly approval of the Church was nearly universal, because many priests had bravely stood against the Communists, from what I understand. Of course you're right about the abuse in the Church, and anyone can understand how that might disillusion believers, and cause a crisis of faith. I think it was a systematic institutional problem, and several Popes and many cardinals bear responsibility for not investigating it. However, I am sure that good priests existed too, and actually there are abuse scandals in any organisation which is powerful: the Anglican Church too, the Tibetan Buddhists, and so on. Human beings are not perfect. I am not proselytising for any church, but I think we can't judge an entire religion by the conduct of some of its priests. And if you search for faith in other human beings, I think you'll find the same proportion of good and bad ones!
Many churches have institutional problems, eg the abuse scandals of the Catholic and Anglican churches. But that doesn't mean that Christianity is wrong.
I have issues with the idea of a supernatural being and all the paraphernalia. I kinda groove on Jesus words but that's it. There's no way I could ever become a believer.
I'm pretty old - 55. I think because my formative years were shaped by existentialism I have to experience it before I believe. I've not seen Jesus, nor felt him, nor any god. I do feel a oneness with things and if anything I would now be inclined to non-dualist notions of metaphysics. But I have no beef with faith in general as long as they have no beef with my lack thereof. That's the rub innit? Enjoying your Stack. 🙂
I'm older: 70. And I was still a convinced atheist at your age! One of the interesting things about aging is how you change in ways you can't foresee... And thanks!
And there will be no reckoning. Our leaders are as corrupt as our enemies.
Unfortunately so, with very rare exceptions. There's an English politician with real integrity, Rupert Lowe, but why aren't there more?
It reminds me of the principal that police work attracts bullies. Politics attracts crooks.
Yes, and narcissists and megalomaniacs. But it seems to me there are more bad apples now than ever!
Perhaps it is connected to the transfer of power that occurred in industry during the 1980s. Men who knew how to do real things handed the baton off to schemers and pretenders.
Maybe: I know very little about that.
The Old guard were a bunch of can-do guys. Their replacements are pathetic.
I enjoyed the writing and your pacy development of the argument. I thought you pitched it right when you wrote "the mistaken belief (and might I add, the quasi-religious, irrational belief) that the universe is a mere mechanism, and that we are nothing but random conglomerates of atoms, leads inevitably to moral bankruptcy." So the first step has to be to move beyond that sterile model, and beyond that I'd say that people have to let the implications sink in over time and try to find their way back to God in a spirit of anatheism, rather than immediately buying into the institutional religions, certainly the major ones, in the state they're in.
Also thanks for the compliment, and for the restack!
I quite agree. That's where I am, finding my way back very, very slowly.
In communist Poland it wasn’t acceptable not to be Catholic. The Church was a barricade in the struggle for freedom. When Karol Wojtyła became pope, for many years I was a proud Pole. When freedom of speech appeared in Poland I learned how much harm priests had done to children in so many countries. Today, more than anything else I search for faith in other human beings.
Yes, when I arrived in Poland in 1993 almost everyone was Catholic, and certainly approval of the Church was nearly universal, because many priests had bravely stood against the Communists, from what I understand. Of course you're right about the abuse in the Church, and anyone can understand how that might disillusion believers, and cause a crisis of faith. I think it was a systematic institutional problem, and several Popes and many cardinals bear responsibility for not investigating it. However, I am sure that good priests existed too, and actually there are abuse scandals in any organisation which is powerful: the Anglican Church too, the Tibetan Buddhists, and so on. Human beings are not perfect. I am not proselytising for any church, but I think we can't judge an entire religion by the conduct of some of its priests. And if you search for faith in other human beings, I think you'll find the same proportion of good and bad ones!
I don't have a problem with Christian morality, it's all the other guff I can't swallow.
Many churches have institutional problems, eg the abuse scandals of the Catholic and Anglican churches. But that doesn't mean that Christianity is wrong.
I have issues with the idea of a supernatural being and all the paraphernalia. I kinda groove on Jesus words but that's it. There's no way I could ever become a believer.
You might be surprised as you grow older. I was an atheist for many years. But fair enough.
I'm pretty old - 55. I think because my formative years were shaped by existentialism I have to experience it before I believe. I've not seen Jesus, nor felt him, nor any god. I do feel a oneness with things and if anything I would now be inclined to non-dualist notions of metaphysics. But I have no beef with faith in general as long as they have no beef with my lack thereof. That's the rub innit? Enjoying your Stack. 🙂
I'm older: 70. And I was still a convinced atheist at your age! One of the interesting things about aging is how you change in ways you can't foresee... And thanks!
Thought provoking as always, Comandante.
Thank you!