Text 911, 76 rader
Skriven 2006-05-29 13:01:00 av Robert E Starr JR (1357.babylon5)
Ärende: Re: Atheists: America's m
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"Paul Harper" <paul@harper.net> wrote in message 
news:mbul72l385asn52fk8ncp3s49hs61e57gl@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 29 May 2006 12:33:58 +0000 (UTC), "Carl"
> <cengman7@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Isn't that what people are conditioned by society to does these days?
>>Ignore strengths, catalog faults, define us by them and hold them against 
>>us
>>as a rationale to divide "them" from "us" whenever possible?
>
> Yes. It's the tribal nature of the beast. It's never the common,
> shared ground that unites, it's always the differences, however small,
> that divide. It's nothing specific to religion, though that is a good
> and widespread example, it's also politics, race, geography and any
> number of categories - some real some deliberately made up.
>
> Until the planet evolves beyond the need to have such things as
> religion, local politics, envy and such like, it's always going to be
> that way. The hierarchies at the top of the various bureaucracies
> (again, whether in a religious, commercial, media or political
> context) have a vested interest in maintaining it that way. It's what
> retains their power bases, and power, influence and fame will always
> draw small-minded people like moths to a flame.


I don't think that you have to "evolve" beyond religion, politics, etc. 
There's nothing wrong with a belief system as long as you don't try to 
impose yours on me and I don't try to impose mine on you.  We're never going 
to completely agree on everything, nor would it be healthy for us to do so.

People need to understand that the the people on the "other" side of any 
fence may have good reasons for being there.  We might disagree with them, 
but that doesn't make the reasons invalid or the other person bsd or even 
wrong".   Their reasons are every bit as compelling (from their side) as 
ours are for us....and there aren't going to be many instances in which even 
two people are always going to be on the same side of the fence across 
multiple issues.  The same people on the other side of one fence on one 
issue might be on your side when it comes to another issue.

I don't necessarily blame any particular power base.  People need to make up 
their own mind rather than relinquishing their right to having their own 
opinions.  A power structure will always take advantage of the people that 
let them.  Even that power structure will usually think they are doing 
something for the benefit of those people.  Everyone rationalizes their own 
views.






> It's not so much "conditioned by society these days" it's deeper -
> it's a fundamental flaw in our makeup.
>
> I hope fervently that Darwin was right, because it's a flaw that shows
> all the signs of wiping us out before very much longer unless we grow
> out of it.
>
> Paul.
> -- 
> . Bill Maher: "Tulips aren't flowers, they're gay onions"
> . A .sig is all well and good, but it's no substitute for a personality
> . Is there a moron carrot above?  Have you replied to it?  Are you sure?
> . EMail: Unless invited to, don't; it's likely to be automatically 
> deleted.
>
              
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