A Return to Reason
May 28, 2007 4:40 pmI have indulged myself – intellectually for the last several years – with the entertainment of a postmodern ideology; one that dismissed convictions of truth for one that – as an alternative – adopted perspectivism.
In other words, I dismissed with a monolithic conception of reality, where a single truth prevailed over other versions – which, subsequently, would have assumed the qualified stature of ideologies – in favor of an epistemology of pluralism, in which perspectives stood along side other perspectives, and the trick was not to relegate others in an adoption and endorsement of a single narration of reality. It seemed to me – at still does – to be a posture of humility; a promotion of egalitarianism, which entailed tolerance and inclusion while leaving space for separation and difference.
However, under the influence of the last 6 years of consistently unsuccessful domestic and foreign policies, emanating from a regime that fancies itself as faithed-based, with a President who obviously has no concern for pending environmental turmoil, who, after all, claims that evolutionary theory has yet to acquire empirical substantiation, I am beginning to question my questioning of reality.
I am indeed to the brink of abandoning whatever pretenses I have had with respect to postmodernism; simply because what previously seemed to be emancipatory now appears indulgent, irresponsible, dangerous, and, in fact, preposterous.
In order to understand the depth of my concern, one merely needs to read the following extract from a popular blog on atheology, http://atheistrevolution.blogspot.com/, which contains descriptions of a new museum that is being erected in Kentucky:
According to Reuters,
Here exhibits show the Grand Canyon took just days to form during Noah’s flood, dinosaurs coexisted with humans and had a place on Noah’s Ark, and Cain married his sister to people the earth, among other Biblical wonders.
It is not that I mind people believing in such oddities; it is more a concern for a society that appears to be increasingly coerced into displaying a deferential behavior toward this nonsense. I do not think that it is a stretch to suggest that if we want to preserve our civilization, then it might be necessary to contend with the problems we are facing with a more effective form of knowledge than Biblical Fundamentalism.
If we are going to adequately address global warming, then perchance we should not endorse to children, who might use this museum for educational purposes, Biblically compliant renditions of science and natural history. I can only hope that I am already dead if we are going to risk having as the next generation’s Secretary of Energy an individual who believes that the world is only 6,000 years old.
The Bush Administration has exhibited the consequences of faith-based decision-making, and the prospects for this country – if we are to continue along such a trajectory in our cultural evolution – appear rather bleak. Perhaps, a sobering return to reason and reality at this juncture of our nation’s history is more than called for.
Russell Cole [send him email]
If you enjoyed this post,
Subscribe to the Free Midwest Populist Party Newsletter
Please consider a donation of $1 or more
to help keep this website active.
Spread the Word:
7 Responses to “A Return to Reason”
I say we return to Biblical standards in this ungodly and wicked nation. I say we abandon the lie of postmodernism and embrace the the Word of God for what it is, THE revealed tuth from God to mankind. Postmodernism is a lie from the devil himself and all those who believe such non-sense are pawns of the devil himself. THe Word of God is Holy, Pure and just as applicable for today as it was 6,000 years ago. May God have mercy on this wicked and ungodly nation.
Don’t give up on the Bible, yet. Read it yourself; several different translations, to give yourself the REAL Word of God! It alarms me that a “historical” museum (be it creationism-based, or not) gives as absolute truth that Cain ‘married’ (WHO married them?!) his sister! NOwhere in Genesis does it even IMPLY this! However, it DOES say that he (Cain) asked God to do something so that he would not be killed during his exile. HELLO?!?! HOW could he be killed, if there were no other people on the earth?!?!?!? PLUS, if people know their Bible, God wasn’t/isn’t very happy when people slept with their immediate kin. Check it out for yourself, there’s a bunch of cool stuff in there.
Tess
)
Thanks for the link. I agree completely about Bush and the dangers of faith-based decision making. To the two previous commenters, I would say yes, everyone should read the Christian bible. That would create many more atheists, benefiting America greatly.
“A Return To Reason” was well done, but most readers would not understand its terminology or philosophical perspective. The decrease in our American educational standards is inversely proportional to the increase in biblical fundamentalism. Faith now reigns over reason, continuing the ancient debate: “Credo ut intelligam” instead of “Intelligo ut credam”.
The lowering of general curriculum standards extends even to the universities as political expediency replaces general scholarship, and technical specialization replaces cultural improvement
Russell, thanks for the thought-provoking post.
Just remember that Fundamentalism is religion’s panicked response to Postmodern skepticism and our ability to understand the Bible as one myth among many. Religion at its worst is monolithic and totalitarian. Science at its best is skeptical and open-minded. The important thing to keep in mind is that being tolerant of other views does not mean you have to remain passive when those views are harmful, antagonistic, or just plain wrong.
What are you atheists complaining about now…you sound just like the religious fanatics you accuse of taking your right to believe in nothing (which to me isn’t reasonable or rational). I’m agnostic and you know what it’s alright.
Get over it, religious people are going to do this, just like you’re going to do what you’re doing…complain. You’re just as much a part of the problem as they are. So stop putting yourself up on a pedestal and preach about how your thoughts and your ideas of reality are the truth and condemning those who think differently.
Try to understand that there is a difference between the humbled religious man and the crazy extremist. I can’t believe that you say Bush is a man of God just because he says he is (it’s just a face people, just a face) lol. Oh, and that some rednecks in Kentucky represent all religion…does this really scare you? Damn you guys would have coward back in the 1800’s.
Religion has shaped our world today, we owe it something. It has been the history maker, for better or worse…it doesn’t matter its history. It will be with us forever, and people will continue to misinterpret its core message…for peace, love, and tolerance. Don’t let some fundamentalist mix the message.
Just remember war will always be around, its human nature…doesn’t make it right, but it’s not religions fault. War is not caused because a man said love one another and thy God. Get over it…just be happy you’re alive!
I will only point out that I have read as many translations and as many gospels as possible, and the only thing I became convinced of was the fact that antiquity possessed a genre of literature that should not be considered equivalent to the conventional grammar dictating the construction of the modern day biography. If one looks at the literature produced by early Christians, intertextually in totality, he or she will become convinced that the authors of these accounts were only loosely inhibited by any constraints that might result from a responsibility for historical accuracy. Rather, the authors took liberties in their renderings of the life of Jesus in order to frame their own didactic messages. There are only about 5 convergences of similarly identified ‘facts’ from Jesus’ life to which the Biblical gospels reference. Therefore, it is perfectly allowable to blame the messenger, because in reality we have no idea what Jesus really did, nor what he actually preached.
Care to comment?