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talkpoliticsA religious bigot rejected my personal spin on the political trials and tribulations of Arius the Alexandrian during the fourth century of the common era. His beef was not whether my take on the events had merit but that a student of orthodox theology would disagree with me. I was reminded of the arguments against Galileo's observations on Sun spots. Galileo must be mistaken because Aristotle said that the Sun was without blemish. Galileo retorted that Aristotle would agree with him if he were around to confirm the observations. To the naked eye the Sun appears to be perfect.
The orthodox theologian views his deity with just such an eye. He fails to see the blemishes in his deity because he fails to analyze it with objectivity. The orthodox deity is perfect because Caesar says it is perfect just as Aristotle said that the Sun is perfect. If Constantine Caesar were around today to see what orthodox theologians had done with his precious deity, he would side with the heretics.
The religious bigot gives us the key to understanding the political nature of orthodox theology. He cannot even entertain alternative perspectives on historical political events because such perspectives would offend the tender sensitivities of orthodox scholars. The bigot not only kowtows to the material Creator but also to a group of religious fanatics who have been out of touch with reality for nearly two thousand years.
Buddhist theology has been around much longer than has orthodox theology. Many people prefer it to orthodoxy for a variety of reasons. There are others who are put off by Buddhism because it reminds them of orthodoxy. On a purely surface level they share a great deal in common. The differences become obvious either when their practitioners come in contact with one another or when an outsider to both takes a look at the esoteric aspects of each.
Recent history presents us with an example of political conflict between Buddhism and orthodoxy during the war in Vietnam. Thich Giac Duc described his work as a Buddhist priest in Vietnam teaching the way of compassion to peasants who had been seduced into orthodoxy. He used the example of aerial bombardment of civilians as evidence of the lack of compassion in the orthodox heart. (He failed to see the need to destroy the village in order to save it from the hell of Communism.)
Can you think of other examples of the use of explosives in the interest of religious orthodoxy?
Links: David Chanoff and Van Toai Doan on the experience of Thich Giac Duc. Christopher Haas on the Arians of Alexandria.
The orthodox theologian views his deity with just such an eye. He fails to see the blemishes in his deity because he fails to analyze it with objectivity. The orthodox deity is perfect because Caesar says it is perfect just as Aristotle said that the Sun is perfect. If Constantine Caesar were around today to see what orthodox theologians had done with his precious deity, he would side with the heretics.
The religious bigot gives us the key to understanding the political nature of orthodox theology. He cannot even entertain alternative perspectives on historical political events because such perspectives would offend the tender sensitivities of orthodox scholars. The bigot not only kowtows to the material Creator but also to a group of religious fanatics who have been out of touch with reality for nearly two thousand years.
Buddhist theology has been around much longer than has orthodox theology. Many people prefer it to orthodoxy for a variety of reasons. There are others who are put off by Buddhism because it reminds them of orthodoxy. On a purely surface level they share a great deal in common. The differences become obvious either when their practitioners come in contact with one another or when an outsider to both takes a look at the esoteric aspects of each.
Recent history presents us with an example of political conflict between Buddhism and orthodoxy during the war in Vietnam. Thich Giac Duc described his work as a Buddhist priest in Vietnam teaching the way of compassion to peasants who had been seduced into orthodoxy. He used the example of aerial bombardment of civilians as evidence of the lack of compassion in the orthodox heart. (He failed to see the need to destroy the village in order to save it from the hell of Communism.)
Can you think of other examples of the use of explosives in the interest of religious orthodoxy?
Links: David Chanoff and Van Toai Doan on the experience of Thich Giac Duc. Christopher Haas on the Arians of Alexandria.
(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 19:32 (UTC)This is Bethesda after all.
(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 19:43 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 19:53 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 19:59 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 20:14 (UTC)It's probably a disastrous policy, but we'll have to see
(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 21:08 (UTC)DQ'ed, btw.
(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 19:54 (UTC)Being even more fair, Obsidian is far worse than Bethesda about testing.
(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 20:12 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 28/5/13 20:15 (UTC)