[MD] Why the return to literal anti-intellectual religion

[ian glendinning]

Dave and DMB, et al,

I very much agree with this statement
"I think that failure on the intellectual level has much blame to
carry. Western thought and science is dominated by an obsession with
SQ, order: knowledge and power over SQ. Such a view has disenchanted
existence and people have returned to anti-intellectual forms of
religion."

I see that as the central problem facing the world - no less. The
reason for me to have any interest in philosophy at all. (And the
reason  for my insistance against Bo for example, that the
intellectual level must include it's own evolution, if MoQ is to
provide any value to solving that problem.)

(And we "enlightened intellectuals" - notice the scare quotes - need
to very careful not to compound the problem by tarring "all people"
with any religious beliefs with the generalisation inherent in such a
succint, but nevertheless true, statement.)

Ian

On 4/12/06, David M <davidint at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi DMB
>
> Yes the below is a very serious concern. How have we got to this place?
> I think that failure on the intellectual level has much blame to carry.
> Western thought and science is dominated by an obsession with SQ,
> order: knowledge and power over SQ. Such a view has disenchanted
> existence and people have returned to anti-intellectual forms of religion.
> What I think we need is a form of intellectual outlook that allows DQ
> to be brought back into play rather than banished. New ideas in physics,
> post-enlightenment radical theology (eg Don Cupitt), eastern religious
> thought, post-modern irony, Roy Bhaskar's critical realism,
> and the MOQ are all possible ways forward, there are others.
>
> Regards
> David M
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "david buchanan" <dmbuchanan at hotmail.com>
> To: <moq_discuss at moqtalk.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 12:30 AM
> Subject: Re: [MD] False Messiah
>
>
> > DM, Scott and all y'all:
> >
> > DM said to dmb:
> > ...Here's an example from New Zealand: http://sof.wellington.net.nz/
> > ...What
> > are you trying to prove and how would you like to set about banning
> > theism?
> > Personally I suggest encouraging radical theology of which there is a
> > great
> > deal. Have a look at Don Cupitt's After God.
> >
> > dmb tries this one again:
> > I looked briefly at the 'sea of faith" web site and at Don Cupitt a bit
> > too.
> > Again, to the extent that that these organizations and authors are not
> > theists they are not the target of my criticisms of theism. But just in
> > case
> > there is any chance that you're actually interested the real target, you
> > might want to check out a book called AMERICAN THEOCRACY" by Kevin
> > Phillips,
> > a long-time Republican and former Reagan Administration offical. That's
> > how
> > bad its getting gents. Supreme Court Justice O'Connor, who was appointed
> > by
> > a Republican, recently complained about the death threats leveled against
> > her and explained how it was part of the American right's attack on the
> > Judicial branch, and how that attack was part of a movement toward a
> > dictatorship in the United States. Justice Ginsberg has also had death
> > threats and agrees with her more conservative peer. John Dean, another
> > long-time Republican and former Nixon Administration bigshot recently
> > wrote
> > a book about the present administration called "Worse than Watergate".
> > President Dumbass says Jesus is his favorite philosopher, "because he
> > changed my heart". Again, when this thread began I hoped it would be a
> > discussion of neo-Victorian moral decline. And the current tendency to
> > theocracy is at the heart of this moral decline, the slipping back to the
> > last static latch. It tends to undo the intellectual principle upon which
> > the US was founded AND tends to result in a rather aggressive foriegn
> > policy. And the wider global tensions and downright bloodshed also happens
> > to involve some theism of a different flavor. See, the Republican Party is
> > run by literalist (Its true. There are hard numbers on this. 55% of them
> > believe in the "end times" prophecies, for example) And presently the
> > Republican party has control over all three branches of government so that
> > they control the nation with relatively unchecked power. International
> > checks and balances on their power are relatively inert too, given the
> > sheer
> > size of the US military and, more specifically, the administration's
> > contempt for the United Nations, the Geneva Conventions, and such. Gents,
> > when you add it all up, we're talking about religious fanatics with nukes,
> > fanatics on a mission from God. And I don't mean Islamic fundamentalists.
> > I'm talking about how dangerous our own Christian fundamentalist are.
> > That's
> > the target. OK?
> >
> > If you think Don Cupper or anybody else can help to diagnose or treat that
> > problem, feel free to explain. Personally, I like the MOQ, Wilber,
> > Campbell,
> > Watts, and lots of other thinkers. I think they offer something like a
> > diagnosis and a recommendation for treatment. But again, if you have your
> > hands on a better idea, or even just a pretty good idea, bring it. I've
> > been
> > bringing plenty and boy are my fingers tired.
> >
> > "The selling out of intellectual truth to the social icons of organized
> > religion is seen by the MOQ as an evil act." RMP
> >
> > Thanks.
> > dmb
> >
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>
>
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