RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 11:18 am
(This post was last modified: June 6, 2021 at 11:33 am by The Grand Nudger.)
I doubt that you'll be able to sell the claim above, but it may be the case that ideas about human dignity being attached to something of religious importance acts as a sort of hedge against their violation by chaining it to an even greater taboo. Where an offense to human dignity becomes an offense with respect to the sacred as well. OTOH, history is full of examples of the faithful breaking taboo (and especially that taboo) with at least as much if not more zeal than those who don't adhere to the notion.
Obviously, if a religion considers human dignity itself sacred, then there's no need to refer to anything additional like a god or a spirit or karma or anything of the sort in order to make that connection. Similarly, if a person sees nothing sacred in life but does see human dignity, there's no need to make any connection to any other thing or notion.
I find it interesting that people believe that some particular way of thinking relies of this or that religion, or religion in general. The order of dependency goes the other way around. Religions and religion in general depend on particular ways that human beings think about things. It's not because a person is religious that they think that X cannot coexist with the sacred, but because they believe that there is something sacred and that the sacred cannot coexist with the profane that they're religious. The contents of a given religion exploit that basic fact of apprehension. If we're being charitable, that exploitation misinforms the holder of the perception in a way that may not be in keeping or characteristic of their overall thoughts on a given subject, reflecting a deference to society and tradition. AKA why good religionists do bad things.
There's an easy way to see the difference between the sacred and the sacred-alike. Is there anything you wouldn't do for the sacred? Is there anything you wouldn't do for your country?
Obviously, if a religion considers human dignity itself sacred, then there's no need to refer to anything additional like a god or a spirit or karma or anything of the sort in order to make that connection. Similarly, if a person sees nothing sacred in life but does see human dignity, there's no need to make any connection to any other thing or notion.
I find it interesting that people believe that some particular way of thinking relies of this or that religion, or religion in general. The order of dependency goes the other way around. Religions and religion in general depend on particular ways that human beings think about things. It's not because a person is religious that they think that X cannot coexist with the sacred, but because they believe that there is something sacred and that the sacred cannot coexist with the profane that they're religious. The contents of a given religion exploit that basic fact of apprehension. If we're being charitable, that exploitation misinforms the holder of the perception in a way that may not be in keeping or characteristic of their overall thoughts on a given subject, reflecting a deference to society and tradition. AKA why good religionists do bad things.
There's an easy way to see the difference between the sacred and the sacred-alike. Is there anything you wouldn't do for the sacred? Is there anything you wouldn't do for your country?
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!