Religious Freedom Redux

I wrote about religious freedom a week or so ago. At the time I was mostly concerned about how governments around the world get so tied down by religious tradition and belief systems – theologies.

By their nature theologies attract thinkers and emoters. Variably these folks think because they must and feel the way they must as well. Through the centuries and millennia populations large and small have adopted theories of how the world began and why and how our life came to be. These were the mythologies, the theories, the theologies, the dogma adopted by people through the ages. They made sense then; some do to this very day. Others fell by the wayside. Others have morphed into combinations of several belief systems.

Tragically many of these beliefs grew to be the primary decision point as to who is right and who is wrong: this group or that one? That nation over there or our very own nation? And once the decision is made, what do we do about it?  Love, fight, adopt or destroy?

George Bernard Shaw was quite the philosopher and writer. He gave us this quote many years ago:

“Once there was a time when all people believed in God and the Church ruled. This time is called the Dark Ages.”

Many of us chuckle over that quote. Some get angry with Shaw’s outlook. Other’s don’t give a hoot.  No matter; someone is getting angry and prepares to take action based on their feelings. Perhaps that is what Shaw meant by ‘dark’!

Lest we think Shaw was alone (we know he wasn't!), let me share a quote from Barry Goldwater, a staunch Republican, policy maker, conservative leader, US Senator and candidate for President in 1964:

“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the Republican Party, and they’re sure trying to do so, it’s going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can’t and won’t compromise. I know, I’ve tried to deal with them.”

You know what I’m talking about. You know the people who grab TV time and newspaper headlines with their comments, demands and exhortations. Because people respond to these bold statements and headlines news agencies give them publicity. Sound bites follow along with a lot of public discussion about things that simply are off the beam.

In our current time political parties are struggling with these very same topics. It is one of the Tea Party strongholds of philosophy. And conservatism in the main. Of course opposite stances create other centers of political discussion and party poopery! The race is on and the airwaves are filled – a lot of it nonsense.

Go back to George Bernard Shaw and Barry Goldwater. Reread their words. Do not latch onto them as pure and the only truth. Observe them for the opinion and the cause/effect/result of those words. Will they have wisdom to guide us in the future? Do they call on us to rethink some of what we take for granted? Are we on the right course in history? Or are we in the process of making serious, deadly errors?

I think the latter, but that is my personal feeling. The Dark Ages will constantly revisit us if we do not take these matters seriously. Others are. That’s the problem.

Where do you stand on religious freedom?

August 28, 2013