This is the second post by this guy I’ve reblogged and I’ve only ever reblogged two posts! I love his directness and honesty and free-wheeling exploration and, well, I’m jealous because I didn’t write it! I couldn’t, anyway, because I’m not American. What he says has resonance in the UK too. And as they say, what happens in the USA today happens here tomorrow!
Update: if the original link to the full post doesn’t work, please click on https://hkarges.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/losing-religion-learning-language-contagion-of-kindness-needed-asap-pls/
If you like this you can read the other reblog on https://davekingsbury.wordpress.com/2015/12/07/tribes-without-passports-people-without-states/
We become so inured to modern violence that we assume it’s natural, the general air of belligerence and the general lack of politeness. And that’s right I reckon—it IS natural, or WAS, anyway—in the beginning. Imagine what it would be like it we hadn’t been inoculated by religion at birth, that vaccination by cultural collusion and linguistic license, immigrant immersion and religious righteousness.
We need a booster shot now, more than ever, we so far from God, and so close to Mexico, conveniently close to sacrificial lambs, artificial limbs and easy scapegoats for our worst trespasses and most hideous transgressions, things we should’ve said and things we should’ve done, too late now to start over, so must settle for walls and bridges, duct-tape solutions and anti-retroviral cocktails…
If you’re American, then the degree to which you’re awash in violence is a serious impediment to (y)our spiritual well-being. I don’t mean…
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a nomad in cyberspace 
Very Powerful, and True.
‘so far from God, and so close to Mexico, conveniently close to sacrificial lambs, artificial limbs and easy scapegoats for our worst trespasses and most hideous transgressions, things we should’ve said and things we should’ve done, too late now to start over, so must settle for walls and bridges, duct-tape solutions.’
The rest of the 566 words become unavailable, as the link leads to just the title.
But We can Never lose Religion, as it stands for relationships. We SHALL have to lose our misconceptions, what we think is religion, and the humbug.
I have a series on this subject. Please peruse: https://lovehappinessandpeace.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/religion-what-it-is-not/
Regards.
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Thank you for this, I’ve added another link as the original one seems unreliable. And if religion is about relationships, then I’m all for it, because that moves away from the corrosive concept of personal salvation – ultimately an expression of selfishness. Your own article linked in your comment is very interesting and I, a non-believer, find common ground with you in your emphasis on human conduct rather than ritual. The passage you quote embodies the international spirit that my mum taught me to believe in – my religion, I suppose!
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At the very least, I can say I like the writing style. But the original poster seems to endorse the idea that religion is necessary for righteousness, and I truly believe that this is not the case as do many others. One can just use a moral theory and be well.
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I think he applauds the moral impetus that religion has given while arguing the need to move on and evolve a more advanced ethical standpoint. As he says:
“To be sure, Heaven is mostly a metaphor, of course, a synonym and comparison to perceived divinity and the intuition of a higher realm to our earthly existence… ”
Moral theory is the basis for this, as you suggest, without any recourse to metaphysics or the supernatural. Our common ground is a shared sense of wonder leading to mutual respect. Thank you for your comment.
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So very true Dave and excellent words much needed
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I agree and we must thank Hardie for uttering them.
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Great article, it’s funny there’s been a saying around for so long that it crops up in so many texts which is known mainly as the golden rule and basically loosely says do to others what you’d want done to you. I believe that if humankind didn’t keep breaking this rule then we would all be a lot better. 😊
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You’re right … maybe it’s something to do with empathy … in the words of the native American proverb, you got to walk around in somebody else’s mocassins before you can understand them properly …
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True… Dave. I read the original too. As you say… ‘ Our common ground is a shared sense of wonder leading to mutual respect.’ , yes. That is the ultimate sense is in want here, now.
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