[MD] New Model Army, Mystic(DQ) Experience, and Religion (SQ) as Power

[david buchanan]

Ian said to dmb:
The excluded middle is not some comprimised average of two extreme views, 
it's a whole set of different (higher quality) opportunities - excluded by, 
drowned out by the "noise" of, concentrating on the extremes.

dmb replies:
You'd have to be much more specific to convince me that you're offering 
anything other than mamby pamby equivocations. I don't recall reading 
anything from you about these higher quality opportunites, for example. 
Please explain. And you seem to be suggesting that I'm all freaked out about 
some tiny fringe group of extremists. But as I keep trying to tell you, 85% 
of Americans call themselves Christian and the party of the religious right 
is in control of all three branches of government. And there is also the 
problem of trying to fit theism into the MOQ.

Ian also said:
On your "theist" question, since you ask. I'm atheist as you know, but how 
about versions of theism which acknowledge the mystical metaphorical value 
of the idea of "god", but don't prescribe its literal authority outside the 
spiritual realm.

dmb replies:
Firstly, I'm not asking for a hypothetical version of acceptable theism. I'm 
asking you to identify and describe one that actually exists. Secondly, if 
it acknowledge that "God" is a mystical metaphor rather than an actual god, 
then it would be inaccurate to describe it as theism. Theism, by definition, 
is the belief in a supernatural being. If that belief is absent, then its 
not theism and I have nothing to criticize. As I understand these key terms, 
your suggestion makes no sense and refers to nothing that exists in the real 
world. Please explain.

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