A MARRIAGE AND A SLUR
Posted by anthonynorth on May 14, 2008
Today begins on a happy note. Yvonne and I are celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary. So I’d like to take this opportunity to thank her for those years, her love and companionship, and for all the years we have yet to live together. But to another subject.
It’s been suggested that I’ve slurred religion. In para 3 of How To Fantasize, I suggested religion is based on fantasy. In cmt #49 it’s pointed out religion is the core of one’s being, so to say it is fantasy IS a slur.
Is it a slur to say religion can be based on fantasy?
A slur suggests intent. If no intent to be malevolent is present, can it still be a slur? If a policeman shoots someone dead in defence of others, is he a murderer? Surely ‘intent’ changes definitions and values.
Fantasy can be said to be the opposite of rationality. The philosopher, Kierkegaard, saved religion, intellectually, by saying its irrationality is the point. This was the birth of the phrase: leap of faith. Hence, this places a degree of fantasizing upon religion.
Does a religionist ‘know’ the reality of a deity?
To say yes is to say the religionist is ‘as one’ in terms of intellect with a higher being. I don’t think they mean this, but if they are not, then to speak with ‘absolute’ authority must hold a degree of their own intuition, which must be to fantasize.
And finally on this subject, I respect the peacefully held beliefs of anyone, but feel an urge to try to understand just what religion is. To do so is to ask some serious questions of religion. Must this always be a slur? If so, where does it leave free speech?
In the UK the ‘esteemed leader’, Brownski, has shown his worthlessness.
Not long ago he became the first Prime Minister with a socialist background to purposely take money off the poor by abolishing the initial 10p tax rate. There was a revolt by backbench NuLabour MPs.
Yesterday, the Budget was totally redrawn by increasing the tax allowance to give it back. Clearly the greatest U-turn of modern times, it makes one wonder how long the UK can remain leaderless. Even the conman, Blair, was better than this.
Following the total trashing of NuLabour in the recent local government elections, we are clearly seeing the final days of this disgusting ‘modernist’ experiment in politics which, since 1997, has torn the heart out of the UK. But what worries me is you can guarantee the unelected Brownski will cling to power to the last. But at what cost?
Don’t forget to call tomorrow.
© Anthony North, May 2008
May 14, 2008 at 9:59 am
Congrats on your 31st anniversary Anthony and Yvonne. May your day be filled with celebration and love.
May 14, 2008 at 10:01 am
well you know i for one will give you the first amen on religion being a fantasy… show me a man that has laid his eyes on god,, and i will show you a dead guy,,, and even then i doubt it….
it would in fact be comforting to KNOW that there is a greater being,, but all evidence proves otherwise in my estimated opinion,, so i will just have to take the ability to reason and run with it….
May 14, 2008 at 10:10 am
Hi Brian,
Thanks for that. It sure will
Hi Paisley,
This is an important point, I think. We cannot be sure until we die. Personally, I’d class myself as very spiritual, but not religious. Spirituality seems to me to be an inner knowing, whereas religion is a social codification.
As for there being a greater being, I’m certain we’re in the situation, intellectually, where we could seriously begin to theorise on its existence or non-existence. But all we get are two sides, forever battling it out.
May 14, 2008 at 10:16 am
Happy Anniversary! God bless your day.
Your thoughts on religion are interesting. So is your thought on thinking about religion. We have to be able to ask the questions without getting in trouble for thinking.
May 14, 2008 at 10:24 am
Hi Sandy,
Thankyou for the blessing. It’s much appreciated.
I think the point about thinking about religion is what this is all about. I don’t ever think religion and science will be as one, but society could be so much better if they learnt to tolerate and cooperate more.
There is so much yet to learn, in both spheres, and to ask questions of anything has got to be a noble pursuit, and not something to be condemned.
It is my 31st anniversary. I am not a practicing Christian. Yvonne is, and all my children have been brought up in a church environment, with my blessing. It’s called toleration and freedom.
May 14, 2008 at 11:40 am
Happy Anniversary to you both!
At the risk of breaking my own rules about discussing politics or religion…. There’s a huge difference between religion and faith. I’ll simply say that as a Christian, I have nothing to lose if I am wrong.
May 14, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Hi WillThink4Wine,
Many thanks for the good wishes, and I’m sorry if I’ve made you break your rule. My reinstated daily - well, most days - Diary post used to have a habit of doing that to people
Do I see a hint of Pascal’s Wager there?
May 14, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Happy Anniversary, Anthony! (and Yvonne)
May 14, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Hi Susan,
Many thanks for that. Much appreciated
May 14, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I think it might have approached a slur to single out a particular religion and say that it alone is based on fantasy, but you did not do that. And I would disagree with the commenter that religion is the core of one’s being, and rather argue that spirituality is more close to center.
Happy Anniversary!
May 14, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Hi Travis,
Some good points there. Yes, it is spirituality that actually centres a mystically minded person. And when we think of different beliefs between religions, if we take a too draconian view, every one slurs every other.
Somewhere in this, commonsense - a greater toleration - must rise.
Many thanks for the blessing.
May 14, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Lots of deep stuff in this post. Fascinating Atlantis list. About religion, I’m reminded of Walt Whitman’s advice–argue not concerning God. But if we do, here’s to toleration!
I enjoy your verse.
Happy anniversary.
May 15, 2008 at 4:42 am
Happy Anniversary to you both. Wishing you many, many more wonderful years together.
I agree with you about religion. The existence issue is the debate we as a supposedly sophisticated race (by that I mean, the human race) need to have. There is a propensity to criticise anyone who brings it up, which isn’t helpful. I think that sometimes we need a little more than faith to convince us or reassure us. Keep those thought-provoking posts coming.
May 15, 2008 at 8:19 am
Hi Kay,
Thanks for that. Whitman’s advice is sound.
Hi Selma,
I sure will.
I think one problem today is that religionists have been forced into a corner by science. This is an error on both sides. And personally I’m convinced there’s something above us, and that we’re in a position to seriously theorise upon it.
In one way, rational acceptance of such a concept could lead to a revival of religion, rather than its end. Burt maybe a more tolerant religious expression.
May 18, 2008 at 6:07 am
I missed this post the other day. Happy Annv. Anthony - that’s quite an accomplishment!
May 18, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hi Texasblu,
Thanks for the congratulations. It does seem to be rare nowadays to be still going strong into a fourth decade.