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

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[David M]
Like any other form of explanation, religion tries to makes sense of experience,
some of this explanation can be useful, some of it less so, some of it, goes
the wrong way entirely and creates problems. MOQ has less problems, but we can
still use the good stuff that religion, SOM, science, feminism, whatever have
brought to the party.

[Arlo]
As metaphorical narratives that attempt to encapsulate "reality", looking
broadly at the metaphors and backing away from any literalness seems to me the
best way to move forward. Both the MOQ and Christianity, Islam and
Existensialism, Semiotics and Odin-ianity, in my opinion, are metaphorical
narratives, and as such should never be assumed to hold truth inclusively. This
has been the crux of Joseph Campbell's work, and supports the MOQ assumption
that there are multiple "truths", that are culturally, historically and
temporally bound. To say Christianity is "right" and Buddhism is "wrong",
places the dialogue on some false literal level, where "truth" is inclusive,
acultural and overshadows (or even obliterates) the metaphor.

It also evidences the fact that the historical instantiation of "religion" has
in nearly all guises been paralled with a quest to "use" the literal to
subserviate people and consolidate power. One of the more interesting
summations of history I've heard is that it is "ongoing killing over WHO said
'thou shall not kill'". (To be fair, many "Gods" only showed concern over the
flock, killing the infidels, nonbelievers or pagans was quite acceptable). 

[David M]
Of course, differentiating the good from bad is hard work.

[Arlo]
Backing up the metaphorical level is a good place to start. Separating out these
metaphors from the static power social structures that have literalized them is
another.