Religion, Something To Think About In Seattle
Conventional wisdom says that one shouldn’t discuss politics and religion in polite company, for one is bound to offend. Well, there’s an awful lot of political discussion here so we might just as well jump into the other as well.
I imagine that most people would think a discussion about religion inappropriate on a blog dedicated to female domination and fetish. I disagree. I disagree because my readers and I are sexual adventurers and I think it is fair to post about the fact that some denominations are welcoming of sexual adventurers. Most are not, but some are, and this post will talk a bit about those that are or would be welcoming to people like me, people like us.
In any event, I’ve spent a good deal of time thinking about religion this week and thought that I would write about some of those thoughts. If the thought of a dominatrix writing about religion might offend you please just skip this post and scroll down to the pervy stuff.
It seems to me that creeds and dogma are the source of much evil within our world. The view that ones own beliefs are positively correct and will lead one to heaven while everyone who disagrees with them will spend eternity in hell does tend to make one a bit fanatical in the drive to make society reflect that belief. Certainly untold millions have died at the hands of the ‘true faith’ whatever that may be in any given location.
Luckily for those of us in the United States our nation does not allow a blending of church and state.
It also seems to me that a belief that faith alone is the key to salvation can lead to evil for it negates any need to live a good life and make a positive contribution to ones fellow man.
I think that, as I look over the spectrum of western religion the liberal denominations have this correct. Unitarian-Universalism, Unitarianism, liberal Quakerism, liberal Reform Judaism. These denominations avoid creed, avoid dogma, and stress the importance of doing good for oneself and ones fellow man.
Unitarianism as it presently exists is I think a wholly American creation. Certainly a religion embraced by our nations founding fathers, indeed three of the first six Presidents of the United States were Unitarian.
I believe that the absence of dogma within liberal religion prevents these denominations from encouraging much negativity in our world, but I also think that the liberal denominations are far from perfect. I’ll restrict my comments to Unitarianism, and it’s current mainline Unitarian-Universalism, but I think that they hold for the other liberal religious denominations as well.
It seems to me that the UU’s have confused the concepts of liberal religion with the concepts of liberal politics. They are in many ways preaching socialism. They work for freedom and justice in the social realm, but work for totalitarianism in the economic realm. I think that this is their failing.
I think that liberal religion instead should have in its history embraced classically liberal political thought instead of modern liberal political thought. Classic liberalism embraces freedom, liberty both in the social realm and the economic realm. I wonder how a religious movement embraced by so many of our founding fathers could have turned away from at least half of the liberties they fought for and I regret that the error has been made. I believe that I could embrace liberal religion if not for this error, if not for liberal religions embrace of economic socialism.
I’ll end this post by pointing out that I am not a religious person. I don’t participate in any organized religion, nor do I advocate that anyone else do so, or not do so. I believe that religion is an individual choice. This post, and the thought that led to it is simply an intellectual exercise on my part. The post was not, and is not intended to offend, simply to discuss the relationship between religion and liberty, a relationship that in my view could enhance individual liberty, but which unfortunately has worked to destroy individual liberty throughout the vast majority of history.
Comments
Luckily for those of us in the United States our nation does not allow a blending of church and state.
:laughs:
Oh, you're such a sly joker!
I'm thinking about those southern states in which soccer moms have been fined for selling dildos at "naughty nightie" parties. Or where laws on the books in South Carolina have caused people to lose their jobs over co-habiting without marriage.
No, it's not exactly the establishment of a state religion, but allowing such religious convictions to overshadow the laws is almost as bad.
UUs - at least in Conn - do preach some degree of socialism, but they get their pedigree from early Christianity which advocates various communal practices. This makes sense, when you think about it, because religions that developed in areas in which followers could be arrested or killed should also develop ideologies to facilitate group survival.
That said, I've been tempted to visit a local UU service, just to see how they are. I think that people should practice any way that they want to - as long as they don't interfere with my own right to *not* practice.
Oh, and what's wrong with writing about something non-fetish/kink/sex on your blog? Didn't you tell me a while back that it would be dull if we stuck to one subject all the time?
Posted by: Tom Allen | March 22, 2009 3:10 PM
"Luckily for those of us in the United States our nation does not allow a blending of church and state."
But imagine your leader (or ours here in Canada for that matter) not being some sort of Christian. And they have to be the right sort of Christian as well. How many US presidents were RC's? I know Kennedy was, were there others?
Posted by: ezsmile | March 22, 2009 3:15 PM
tom,
You are certainly correct in saying that many of our social laws are based upon religious views.
I, like I imagine you, would like to see those laws change, those 'crimes' be decriminalized.
Those laws are however I think far different from a state religion. We are not forced to support clergy with our tax dollars as in many nations, we are not forced to attend services as people were in the past, and in some places still are. We are free to believe, or not believe as we choose.
I too have been tempted to visit a UU service or two, but I do prefer reading about such things to participating in them.
It would indeed be dull if this blog was all femdom all the time. Alas though, one does need to have enough of the good stuff!
;-)
M
Posted by: Milliscent | March 22, 2009 3:26 PM
ezsmile,
Alas, such a thing can not be imagined for as you point out, it could not happen.
This nation will not elect an atheist under any conceivable circumstances, and a member of any other of the 'great religions' would fare not much better I imagine.
I believe that President Kennedy was the only Roman Catholic President.
M
Posted by: Milliscent | March 22, 2009 3:30 PM
God gave us the ability like no other animal on this planet to enjoy sex, to orgasm, to feel things....It was a bunch of old men who proclaimed that sex was a bad thing.....they controlled women.....they controlled their world and the did so via sexual repression....My opinion only.....I believe God grants us the ability to do with what we want and with whom we want....I think basically the Ten Commandments are good things for us to live by..I do not think my wife commits adultry because she has sex with other men because I know and approve and I certainly do not covet my neighbors ass...albiet she has a nice ass for a middle aged woman.....and single to boot
Posted by: bdenied | March 25, 2009 10:50 AM
bdenied,
You are certainly correct, then as now.
People who are afraid of sex use religion as a reason and means for controlling it.
Let's just be glad that they have lost the culture war!
M
Posted by: Milliscent | March 28, 2009 5:48 PM
Hi Mistress,
I have been reading some of your older posts because like other people, I go in cycles when my needs drive me to communicate with people who understand me. Like many people whom you know, I have shared a great deal with you about myself. You probably understand me better than I do. Many of the events in my life hae caused me to think a great deal about life and the afterlife. Cancer, being stabbed, shot and combat have all shaped my personality and beliefs. If Heaven does exist, then at least the promise of afterlife or the threat of burning in hell help keep our society from falling into chaos, for this reason alone, I am grateful for organized religion, I do believe in God, but probably not like most people. I believe that perhaps Heaven is simply that to which the soul most apsires. It therefore takes the form of the soul's greatest yearning. If Heaven exists, then each soul will find Heaven to be what it most desired it to be.
Traci
Posted by: Traci | November 24, 2009 8:55 PM
Traci,
I am pleased that you read my old posts, it is good to know that they are not dead to the world.
I do agree with your thought that perhaps the threat of divine punishment helps keep people in line, but only to a point. It seems that the whole absolute forgiveness bit could allow folks to do evil now, and seek forgiveness tomorrow.
M
Posted by: Milliscent | November 29, 2009 2:22 PM