Wednesday, August 17, 2011
"Unchristian"? What does that really mean?
Irish Archbishop Moriarty, who just resigned over the cover-up, had this to say: "The truth is that the long struggle of survivors to be heard and respected by church authorities has revealed a culture within the Church that many would simply describe as unchristian". Does this bother anyone? Why not "unmuslim" or "unhindu" or "unjewish" or simply "inhuman"? To me THIS is the whole root of the problem with all, or nearly all, organized religions (and other ideologies). The umption is that "WE" (in this case, Christians) are BETTER than other people--and even if we f*u*c*k up--well, that is not an offense to MANKIND, it is offense to OUR little group. This is of course why, as I pointed out the other day, Catholics think it makes sense to pray for the poor, embattled Pope, rather the victims, because at the end of the day what matters is US. I once lived in one of the Communist countries, and it was exactly the same mentality. Until we get rid of it, there can be no progress. HOWEVER--I believe that history is already having its last laugh: millions maybe billions of supposedly religious people do NOT feel this way, simply because this communalism, this feeling that "WE" are better, is something that inevitably gives way with the progress of technology, education, science, travel, general prosperity. I think the real divide is not between atheists and believers but between those who think that their particular group is better (which has included atheists such as communists and some nazis and fascists) and those who do not (which includes more and more religious people who I think do not have a clue as to what their churches really teach).
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