Questions for your Religious friends.

[Neo-Scholastic]

IMHO gained over the last year, AF is more lively and entertaining when religious members are active. When religious members contribute less, such as happened about a year ago, the threads get stale quicker. I debated with myself about whether to become active again since the discussions did not seem interesting any more. But I reminded myself that it is up to members, like me, to make positive contributions, which is what I am trying to do and remaining mindful that people are more than the sum of their beliefs. Disliking someone for their beliefs feels rather juvenile to me.

You can dislike the belief without disliking the person, but often the two are entangled.

Can you really 'like' a outwardly vocal white supremacist?

Someone, now deceased, who was close to me was in most other respects an admirable man of honor and ability but...he was a white separatist in the sense that while he believed blacks and whites were existentially equals that the cultural differences were too great for blacks and whites in the US for them to live together harmoniously. When I remember him it is never about his opinions but the many kindnesses he showed to those around him and I am totally sure he never mistreated anyone because of their race. So yes, I am conflicted because the book didn't seem to match the cover in his case and I belief it takes some maturity to understand that everyone is very complicated and filled with contradictions. The compassionate effort to still see them as a human being like unto one's self is worth it.

I have tried to cultivate this understand of the human condition as one of the central features of my Christian faith. When I read the Passion story, I see the universal flaws of humanity exemplified in the deeds of Pilate, Peter, Judas, the Pharasee's and the Crowd. IMHO the human heart cries out for redemption. Maybe to an empty universe, as many here think, but I cannot help but sense a divine presence in the world. Maybe that instinct is false, but I can hope that it isn't just as easily as I can dismiss it. If honoring that insinct makes me a better person then I will treat that sense of the divine as-if it is what it seems to be.

---

The founding principles of the USA would be better described as non-sectarian natural law.

Why do you say that?

I personally think it is more social contract theory than natural law.

Social contact too. I wouldnt exclude it from the mix of influences. I was Mostly thinking because IMHO the concept of inalienable rights is linnked to natural law in the D of I.