The human longing for eternal existence is the natural portal for the smuggling of idolatry: a rock, a tree or some arbitrarily defined tribe (nation, race, even gender) can outlast your life, so it is natural to put those trivial but durable objects over the daily miracle of (mortal) consciousness.
But nothing really exists but you (your conscious mind, your cartesian self, your res cogitans) and other conscious beings. The public life is instrumental: the government, the flag or the garbage collection service are necessary, and consequently worthy of the sacrifice of blood and treasury, but their value is to make the private life possible. It is in private life where we find what matters: romantic love, family life and the quest for knowledge, enlightenment and creation.
I absolutely agree that we need an open pluralistic society where divergent, intellectually diverse views and politics are not merely tolerated but seen as essential. Robust even heated debate over ideas is essential to making the best decisions- as a society, through the messy process of politics, elections, legislation.
So, although a registered democrat, I voted for Trump in 2024. I was shocked and red pilled by the covid authoritarian paradigm. A virus doesn't cancel the bill of rights and democratic debate. I saw credentialed scientists, like Jay Bhattacharya, censored on social media when they criticized the lockdowns and school closures. The government mandated a brand new mrna vaccine platform with NO Long term safety studies. But discussion of this was taboo in all left or center left media. Also taboo is questioning the transgender ideology as it pertains to children.
We know from the case Murty vs Biden that the Biden admin pressuring social media companies to censor speech criticizing their covid policies.
Fast forward. Now I am very disappointed that the Trump team is censoring both Pro Palestine speech and anyone who makes mean comments about Charlie Kirk. However, I do see a lot of MAGA people and Republicans criticizing and pushing back. Whereas with the Democrats I didnt see any tolerance for divergent views. Remember when Seth Moulton said he didnt want his daughters playing high school sports against biological men? Has ONE democrat said anything critical of the Biden admin vaccine mandates? Or of gender surgeries on children?
"Remember when Seth Moulton said he didnt want his daughters playing high school sports against biological men? Has ONE democrat said anything critical of the Biden admin vaccine mandates? Or of gender surgeries on children?" Perhaps, Ms. Williams, you've been getting your information in the wrong places.
I would be very happy to be wrong about this. Can you name which other democrats in congress supported Seth Moulton? And can you name one nationally prominent democrat politician who has said that the school closures were way too long, lockdowns don't work, and the covid vaccine shouldn't have been mandated ?
When I read Lyons essay I thougt, “they are not strong Gods, but bloody idols”:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/pRvchqexE96mbCB4f/political-idolatry
The human longing for eternal existence is the natural portal for the smuggling of idolatry: a rock, a tree or some arbitrarily defined tribe (nation, race, even gender) can outlast your life, so it is natural to put those trivial but durable objects over the daily miracle of (mortal) consciousness.
But nothing really exists but you (your conscious mind, your cartesian self, your res cogitans) and other conscious beings. The public life is instrumental: the government, the flag or the garbage collection service are necessary, and consequently worthy of the sacrifice of blood and treasury, but their value is to make the private life possible. It is in private life where we find what matters: romantic love, family life and the quest for knowledge, enlightenment and creation.
I absolutely agree that we need an open pluralistic society where divergent, intellectually diverse views and politics are not merely tolerated but seen as essential. Robust even heated debate over ideas is essential to making the best decisions- as a society, through the messy process of politics, elections, legislation.
So, although a registered democrat, I voted for Trump in 2024. I was shocked and red pilled by the covid authoritarian paradigm. A virus doesn't cancel the bill of rights and democratic debate. I saw credentialed scientists, like Jay Bhattacharya, censored on social media when they criticized the lockdowns and school closures. The government mandated a brand new mrna vaccine platform with NO Long term safety studies. But discussion of this was taboo in all left or center left media. Also taboo is questioning the transgender ideology as it pertains to children.
We know from the case Murty vs Biden that the Biden admin pressuring social media companies to censor speech criticizing their covid policies.
Fast forward. Now I am very disappointed that the Trump team is censoring both Pro Palestine speech and anyone who makes mean comments about Charlie Kirk. However, I do see a lot of MAGA people and Republicans criticizing and pushing back. Whereas with the Democrats I didnt see any tolerance for divergent views. Remember when Seth Moulton said he didnt want his daughters playing high school sports against biological men? Has ONE democrat said anything critical of the Biden admin vaccine mandates? Or of gender surgeries on children?
"Remember when Seth Moulton said he didnt want his daughters playing high school sports against biological men? Has ONE democrat said anything critical of the Biden admin vaccine mandates? Or of gender surgeries on children?" Perhaps, Ms. Williams, you've been getting your information in the wrong places.
I would be very happy to be wrong about this. Can you name which other democrats in congress supported Seth Moulton? And can you name one nationally prominent democrat politician who has said that the school closures were way too long, lockdowns don't work, and the covid vaccine shouldn't have been mandated ?