I would like to add a holiday that once celebrated peace, but now celebrates militarism and war: Veterans Day (US). Not long ago, it was St. Martin’s day, a feast that commemorates a Roman soldier who abandoned his military office to become a monk. It was customary to sign peace treaties on his feast day for this reason. Included in this was Armistice Day, the end of World War 1. Eventually in the US this was changed to Veterans Day in 1954.
It also helps to be familiar with evangelical worship music. Strong Jesus-is-my-boyfriend vibes in many of those lyrics.
“Don’t you think it’s weird and culty to pretend shit that isn’t real as some kind of necessary social facade?”
Generally no, as it’s all cultural expression and social glue, but can you be more specific? Are you talking about rituals or theological systems?
“Like if we all gathered to talk about the Teapot around Saturn and its father Dexter, would that be just as okay?”
Sure but it would lack the moral power of the contemporary major religions. Saturn and the Greco-Roman pantheon may have motivated empires in past centuries, but today most societies take their inspiration from Abrahamic traditions.
“Especially when people really do believe this nonsense. Even if you don’t.”
Belief does matter. I appreciate the concern about organizations whose disordered beliefs lead to miseducation, abuse, and even death.
“Gather and talk about great movies. It will be much more satisfying and may actually encourage moral development.”
This is great! Here you have ritual, community, and engagement with ideas. However, for me, it’s lacking some key elements that an institutional church provides. First, at a church, I am forced to interact with people I wouldn’t ordinarily choose as friends. There is a diversity of ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds that adds a lot of depth to my social circle and puts me in positions to build relationships based on a common commitment to love our community instead of favorite movies or sports teams. Second, this environment makes a sacrificial demand of me. It challenges me to aspire to a high ethical standard and prompts penitence self when I fail. There are rituals to reinforce this such as community public confession and the rite of holy communion.
I think the debate we are having mirrors that of the puritans and the pilgrims, who disagreed over whether the Church of England was worth saving. The pilgrims left and built their own institutions while the puritans sought to purify the church. I think the church is worth saving from fundamentalism. Religious institutions have powerful infrastructures that are fuels by belief in love of neighbor at best and global conquest at worst. The largest global charity is the Roman Catholic Church. Is that organization full of assholes who should be in prison? Yes. But can I, a non-Catholic go to my local parish and get food and clothes with no questions asked? Yes.
I like my friend group, but I find deep meaning in the rituals and rhythms of the religious community.
I love this question! I too am an atheist. I consider myself religious because I participate in a religious community. I am devoted (religious) to their mission to serve the poor in our community, perform rituals that bind us together and affirm our values, and serve each other when in need. It is the consistent, scheduled, and ritualistic devotion to this community and its values that identifies me as religious. Maybe under this definition, you’re religious too!
Read my post again. I don’t have faith.
This was an interesting read. I like to describe myself as religious but not spiritual because I believe in the importance of community organized around shared values, but I don’t believe the mythologies of religion to be literal history. Regrettably I fall in the statistic that describes religion as not being important in my life. It has been in the past and I hope it will be in the future but for now, I can’t afford to take the time off to do it.
How cool! Give me a time machine and some antibiotics and set me up with an English painter’s guild in post-plague 14th century!
My computer skills? Not far. My house painting skills? I guess maybe 200 years, but I’m not excited about the prospect of using lead-based paint and wood ladders. As a jazz-trained musician, I guess to the 1940s.
This is going to create a nightmare of backlogged cases.
I missed the ANTIFA riots. I guess Evan and I don’t get our news from the same sources.
It’s amazing that this administration is so spectacularly bad that even its propaganda machine can’t hide it.
That’s fair. I would trust my cat’s guarantee not to scratch my couch more than a Republican guarantee on anything.
I’m a far-lefty, but I’m not mad because I think there’s a bigger strategy here: The subsidies were going to expire at the end of the year regardless. The republicans weren’t budging. I mean for fucks sake the unholy despot appealed to the supreme court to stop SNAP payments–that’s the level of devilry we’re dealing with. When the subsidies expired on Dec 31, dems would get the blame. By “caving” in exchange for a guaranteed vote before the expiration, they either A. secure an extension or B. Republicans vote no and shoulder the blame for premium increases. Look dumb now, win win later.
Edit: is anyone willing to discuss this?
This administration is demonic.
I have a family who I would rather not expose to insane death threats from red hats and shitlibs.
Perfect opportunity to show up to work every day in DC, be denied entry, and hold a press conference and talk exclusively about ACA subsidies and the affordability crisis under GOP leadership. Hell, get crazy and set up a tent, sleep there, and have the DNC provide private security. So many PR opportunities here.
Who am I gonna follow to make money on the stock market?!?!
As a former evangelical fundamentalist, I can confirm. It’s a common belief. That’s what I believed once upon a time. Fifteen years ago I would have argued with you about it.
I’m job shopping and the effort feels futile. I am fortunate to have one already, although it is quite stressful and the pay is low enough that I must work a part time job as well. I worry about those who depend on medicaid to stay alive and will have the added stress of finding 80 hours of work per month in a depressed market come January.
I don’t think anyone in this demonic administration will ever be held accountable for anything. Rupert Murdoch won.