Mainlining Christianity

[salinen]

The psychology behind the "saved" is most fascinating. Humility is not a term that should be associated with fundamentalist Christians. Modern evangelical thought places the believer on the highest level possible in the human experience. Contrary to claims of enlightenment, the modern evangelical is terrified of life with an end. So they attach themselves to the promise of life ever after. And life ever after is only possible to the true believer, the highest level of human achievement, above the flora and fauna, and above the non-committed.

If you can imagine what enlightenment might be, the enlightened would necessarily be loathe to worship. Attributing heroic status to the enlightened being would be ill advised, they would surely frown.

In a world where the evidence for evolution stares back at us from behind the bars at the zoo, and the associated discomfort, the frightened naked human must seek the grandiosity of the self that only religion can satisfy.

[indigobusiness]

1. "Stay away from the brown acid...."

Bad trip, guaranteed.

[wtmusic]

2. nobility, humility, honor

are all traits not only missing from this administration, but not even aspired to

[indigobusiness]

5. Power, manipulation, control...

is its Trinity.

[tjdee]

3. Who was looking for disdainful Dem posts about religion?

I've been so excited the past few days to come to DU and learn that gays and pro-choicers are a burden to the Democratic party, how young people should be drafted, and now that religion satisifies frightened humans seeking grandiosity.

:eyes:

[salinen]

4. My opinion only

Pay no attention if you like.

[PurityOfEssence]

6. Anyone who threatens their worldview deserves death

This is not just a casual assumption, it's one that dispels the fear of mortality and uncertainty. Imbued with the righteousness and mandate, it proves that those who don't believe are worse than mere fiends.

godgodgod.

Believe or die.

With any luck, believers with a conscience and a brain will band together to split the faithful; I wish them well and hope for the best, but we're in a dark age of fantasy now, and it doesn't look good.

Never underestimate the evil of the sure.

[starroute]

7. I agree -- I posted something similar a day or two ago

But to take it a step further, I would say this means that fundamentalist Christianity is not a true religion at all.

In one way or another, the message of every genuine religion is: Reality is much larger than you are, and you are only a tiny fragment of it. The way forward is to accept that you are a small and transitory being and to identify with the nature and goals of the Whole.

Evolution teaches this message -- which is why the fundies fear it. Christianity once taught the same message -- and for those with ears to hear, it still does -- but fundamentalist Christianity has turned its back on higher truth.

The fundies want to live forever, to be told that they are perfect just as they are, to be the ultimate goal of existence and never have to change, and even to be the arbiters of God's will on Earth.

In the old days, they called that sort of thing heresy, and it was severely looked down on. But the fundies have forgotten the meaning of heresy, and us New Agey types have been too generous to hold them to a higher standard.

[jacksonian]

8. yes

well put.