08-05-2009, 07:25 PM
Bruce
Immediately I made my last post I considered a clarification because, as with my fear of being branded 'anti-American' I thought it might be misunderstood. Anyway, following your #54, here's the clarification. I am not a man of religion myself but, like David I have the greatest respect for many who are. One of my sisters-in-law is a Salesian nun for example. Also one of the most profound spiritual experiences of my life occurred as a young merchant navy officer freshly out of a shattering divorce and in need of spiritual help whilst sojourning in Lourenco Marques (as it then was) - now Maputo, Mozambique - whilst complex ships engine repairs were carried out. I happened across one Padre Norberto Meestes, a Dutch Catholic Priest and spent several days in his company. He gave me a conducted tour of his parish. If any man can justly and without reservation be described as selfless and Good, he - a man of religion - was that man.
The thing about religion that repels me though is the power over the mass of its faithful that it vests in its leaders - together with its irrationality (blind faith I guess you call it). I agree it is not impossible for power to be used entirely for good and laudable purposes but, as Lord Acton observed, 'ALL power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. IMHO that is a fairly accurate description of the effects of institutional religion on most of its leaders over the ages. Political elites recognise, use and manipulate it as a matter of course.
Immediately I made my last post I considered a clarification because, as with my fear of being branded 'anti-American' I thought it might be misunderstood. Anyway, following your #54, here's the clarification. I am not a man of religion myself but, like David I have the greatest respect for many who are. One of my sisters-in-law is a Salesian nun for example. Also one of the most profound spiritual experiences of my life occurred as a young merchant navy officer freshly out of a shattering divorce and in need of spiritual help whilst sojourning in Lourenco Marques (as it then was) - now Maputo, Mozambique - whilst complex ships engine repairs were carried out. I happened across one Padre Norberto Meestes, a Dutch Catholic Priest and spent several days in his company. He gave me a conducted tour of his parish. If any man can justly and without reservation be described as selfless and Good, he - a man of religion - was that man.
The thing about religion that repels me though is the power over the mass of its faithful that it vests in its leaders - together with its irrationality (blind faith I guess you call it). I agree it is not impossible for power to be used entirely for good and laudable purposes but, as Lord Acton observed, 'ALL power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. IMHO that is a fairly accurate description of the effects of institutional religion on most of its leaders over the ages. Political elites recognise, use and manipulate it as a matter of course.
Peter Presland
".....there is something far worse than Nazism, and that is the hubris of the Anglo-American fraternities, whose routine is to incite indigenous monsters to war, and steer the pandemonium to further their imperial aims"
Guido Preparata. Preface to 'Conjuring Hitler'[size=12][size=12]
"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied"
Claud Cockburn
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".....there is something far worse than Nazism, and that is the hubris of the Anglo-American fraternities, whose routine is to incite indigenous monsters to war, and steer the pandemonium to further their imperial aims"
Guido Preparata. Preface to 'Conjuring Hitler'[size=12][size=12]
"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied"
Claud Cockburn
[/SIZE][/SIZE]