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Actually, he is completely wrong. People need structure. Not religion, not police. Civil society has used the structure of ‘religion’ for thousands of years because it gives them a set of rules to live by and a morality to go with it. People know how to behave in societies with structure. What is permitted, what is not – it is all easy for everyone to know, abide, and live peaceably.
Now, one may not agree with the structure provided – might not like some of the rules, or how they were derived. Fine. But, just breaking down all of the rules and structure leads to societal chaos and breakdown. (We are starting to see this in many parts of the world at this very moment.) A police state is just someone else deciding the rules, but the penalties are harsher and the morality is dependant on whomever is in charge at the moment.
Our choice, finding a way to have structure without religion – which is currently fairly unsuccessful, or finding a benign religion with a good set of rules that most won’t grumble about. That is the only way that a civil society will stay strong and free. Else, it will break down and be ripe for a takeover by whatever organized entity (group, religion, movement) good or evil that steps up to the plate.
I know many people who believe that without god -people would just rape and murder and pillage (like the aftermath of Katrina minus the hurricane) and that the only thing stopping them is the threat of eternal punishment.
I have never been dependent upon anything religious. Though I recognize its presence in society I have never felt the necessity of it. Rather it has always seemed to me a butt-insky on the week ends. Like “hey Bill let’s go fishing tomorrow morning?” “Sorry cant brother, I’m in church”. “Oh yea great, I can definitely see how that would be better than fishing” and by the way I don’t fish.
RJ, I am with you on the horrors commited for god sentiment. My friends will just dismiss this as them not being “real christians” and so in their mind it goes away and there is nothing to answer for or explain. I currently have a fb friend who is thanking god for giving her the right words to get out of her traffic ticket…
I wrote something congratulatory for her and then asked if her god could do anything for humanity besides fixing minor traffic violations and gave a few examples… like Downs, Trisomy, amputees… I am hearing crickets.
I asked the question because Mr. Krauthammer has a strong tendency to place the worst possible interpretation upon the actions of anyone with whom he disagrees, and to ignore any possible alternative explanation. I’ve given you several reasons why Mr. Obama would never allow such a treaty to be negotiated, let alone submitted for ratification. Let me give you a single reason for participation in the talks, which has nothing to do with such a treaty being signed by Mr. Obama.
Maybe, just maybe, the UN delegation was there to direct the talks away from such an outcome, realizing that the freedom of speech enjoyed by UN member states when it comes to the general assembly would put such on the table from the Islamic states who wish to create problems for the US. Might just be a good reason to go.
Sorry, Krauthammer is smoking something funny on this one, and spreading fear where none is warranted.
I asked the question because I could see no other reason to believe in Krauthammer’s conspiracy theory. I just cannot understand how you could believe that Mr. Obama would abandon his core belief in our Constitution in the manner which Krauthammer proposes.
September 24th, 2012 at 5:18
Actually, he is completely wrong. People need structure. Not religion, not police. Civil society has used the structure of ‘religion’ for thousands of years because it gives them a set of rules to live by and a morality to go with it. People know how to behave in societies with structure. What is permitted, what is not – it is all easy for everyone to know, abide, and live peaceably.
Now, one may not agree with the structure provided – might not like some of the rules, or how they were derived. Fine. But, just breaking down all of the rules and structure leads to societal chaos and breakdown. (We are starting to see this in many parts of the world at this very moment.) A police state is just someone else deciding the rules, but the penalties are harsher and the morality is dependant on whomever is in charge at the moment.
Our choice, finding a way to have structure without religion – which is currently fairly unsuccessful, or finding a benign religion with a good set of rules that most won’t grumble about. That is the only way that a civil society will stay strong and free. Else, it will break down and be ripe for a takeover by whatever organized entity (group, religion, movement) good or evil that steps up to the plate.
September 24th, 2012 at 5:25
well put.
September 24th, 2012 at 6:17
I know many people who believe that without god -people would just rape and murder and pillage (like the aftermath of Katrina minus the hurricane) and that the only thing stopping them is the threat of eternal punishment.
I kind of wonder – hell, maybe they would….
September 24th, 2012 at 7:53
Heretic I think this is the most profound thing you have said to date.
September 24th, 2012 at 7:59
I have never been dependent upon anything religious. Though I recognize its presence in society I have never felt the necessity of it. Rather it has always seemed to me a butt-insky on the week ends. Like “hey Bill let’s go fishing tomorrow morning?” “Sorry cant brother, I’m in church”. “Oh yea great, I can definitely see how that would be better than fishing” and by the way I don’t fish.
September 24th, 2012 at 13:11
KITTIE…………
humans have enjoyed the ” rape-murder-pillage ”
sports for centuries………..and the threat of
” devine retribution ” hasnt slowed them up one
whit !!
and guess what ??!!??
a whole lot of that stuff has been done
IN THE NAME OF GOD !!!!
eternal punishment ??????
i dont think so. !!
September 24th, 2012 at 18:59
kittie………………
i just read your last post on sept 21…………didnt know it was there.
thank you again for your support……and for the record , i dont think
Obama is stupid, either. i can hardly imagine ANYONE doing that job.
you’re surrounded by advisors………but the final decisions must
come from the pres. like truman said ,” the buck stops here.”
well, i can still dislike his decisions, but that doesnt
necessarily mean i think he’s stupid. actually i think he’s
got a fine, quick mind. …………again, thanks.
September 24th, 2012 at 19:57
RJ, I am with you on the horrors commited for god sentiment. My friends will just dismiss this as them not being “real christians” and so in their mind it goes away and there is nothing to answer for or explain. I currently have a fb friend who is thanking god for giving her the right words to get out of her traffic ticket…
I wrote something congratulatory for her and then asked if her god could do anything for humanity besides fixing minor traffic violations and gave a few examples… like Downs, Trisomy, amputees… I am hearing crickets.
September 27th, 2012 at 17:57
Kittie and RJ,
I asked the question because Mr. Krauthammer has a strong tendency to place the worst possible interpretation upon the actions of anyone with whom he disagrees, and to ignore any possible alternative explanation. I’ve given you several reasons why Mr. Obama would never allow such a treaty to be negotiated, let alone submitted for ratification. Let me give you a single reason for participation in the talks, which has nothing to do with such a treaty being signed by Mr. Obama.
Maybe, just maybe, the UN delegation was there to direct the talks away from such an outcome, realizing that the freedom of speech enjoyed by UN member states when it comes to the general assembly would put such on the table from the Islamic states who wish to create problems for the US. Might just be a good reason to go.
Sorry, Krauthammer is smoking something funny on this one, and spreading fear where none is warranted.
September 27th, 2012 at 18:18
Kittie and RJ,
I asked the question because I could see no other reason to believe in Krauthammer’s conspiracy theory. I just cannot understand how you could believe that Mr. Obama would abandon his core belief in our Constitution in the manner which Krauthammer proposes.