- 30 Sep 2018 22:43
#14950112
@Political Interest
In regards to the reflective life being the only life worth living to me, to have other minds out there who feel somewhat likewise and share their own reflections, it is a treasure. I can only compare it to moments like Socrates and his friends having the same sort of discussions albeit on a more refined plane for them.
As I was, but more than that, fearful and unadventurous. But about the time I first left PoFo, I started journeying, and found myself not only outside my comfort zone in my region of the United States, but even to Europe and Russia, Siberia even. The fear went about that time, same time as my conversion to Orthodox Christianity formally. I'm in my late 40's, but better late than never.
This goes a long way towards explaining the Trump phenomena in America, but also Duterte in the Philippines, etc...
I noticed that in Russia, although the momentum is going the other way, conversion rather than dropping out. Part of the situation there is a mistrust of the ''official'' Orthodox church in Russia, going back not just to Sergius and the present gang, but also further back to Patriarch Nikon in 1666 and the split which led to the Raskol, which led to the ''Old Believers''. I will say that I am more than just sympathetic to that grouping, btw.
I think it has to do also with an over eager reflex on the part of some clergy to identify with the modernist Capitalist order, which makes the 2/3rds of Russians and other East Europeans who want some kind of USSR 2.0 back, a bit suspicious.
And the lesser the gap between the two factions, the more it seems they attack each other on superficial or personal details of the individual politicians.
In 1988, I voted for the first time, George H.W. Bush versus Governor Dukakis of Massachusetts. The sole reason then that I voted against Dukakis and for Bush is seeing Dukakis in that US Army tank, looking like such a dork. It's that superficial in American politics with most American ''conservatives''. I of course have changed, lol.
Reality is what it is, but we can be fooled by our limited reason, or by despair in an existential sense. But i've made the conscious effort to trust better than I have in the past.
I don't think the demographics will change all that much, as native Europeans will convert to Islam unless they are devout Christians.
The Far Left in Europe? I think in Western Europe, identified as they are with bringing down everything, they will join the Muslims and convert. The Left in Eastern Europe will be one of the components of national-patriotic forces that will protect that region from being swamped.
I hate to say it, and I hope I'm wrong actually, but as Balthasar Gracian said; ''Hope is a great falsifier''.
It was more substantial than modern neo-paganism, in that it was embedded in a larger way of life, whereas the later phenomena is more counter-cultural as you indicate.
But I was speaking about a larger ''Paganism'' which is the default setting of natural mankind, in any religion or none. They want a kind of business relationship with God or the gods, Buddha, Allah, and so forth, to ask for earthly blessings or avert earthly disasters, else otherwise the Deity or deities are ignored, and if belief is damaged, scornfully mocked and ''disbelieved'' in. ''Faith'' never truly enters the equation to begin with. Most people are this way in this world, i'm sad to say I think.
I first noticed something of a curious intersection between the West, Islam, and Capitalism, when I heard President Ronald Reagan quote Ibn Khaldun. Later, I saw Reagan and other Rightists praise and support the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan fighting the Soviet Union, and the Iran/contra affair which saw them supply Iran in it's war with Iraq.
Later, I looked at Hitler and Fascism's favorable thinking about Islam, and researched the thoughts of Islamic Scholars on free enterprise and Capitalism, including Grover Norquist and his ideas on Islam/Capitalism.
I've come to the conclusion therefore that at some point, Capitalism and Islam will merge, specifically the Right Wing/Libertarian factions that are increasingly Anarcho-Capitalistic. I see nothing on the part of either party that would prevent it, and every reason why Islam and Capitalism help mutually reinforce each other perfectly.
I could and will go into more details later, but for now I hope it's a good starting point.
Thank you my friend, it is much appreciated.
In regards to the reflective life being the only life worth living to me, to have other minds out there who feel somewhat likewise and share their own reflections, it is a treasure. I can only compare it to moments like Socrates and his friends having the same sort of discussions albeit on a more refined plane for them.
I try to be balanced but I am a naturally anxious person.
As I was, but more than that, fearful and unadventurous. But about the time I first left PoFo, I started journeying, and found myself not only outside my comfort zone in my region of the United States, but even to Europe and Russia, Siberia even. The fear went about that time, same time as my conversion to Orthodox Christianity formally. I'm in my late 40's, but better late than never.
It would appear that the masses are growing tired of these types of politicians. The days when establishment politics was absolute and undisputed seem a very long time ago.
This goes a long way towards explaining the Trump phenomena in America, but also Duterte in the Philippines, etc...
There must be some cultural and spiritual factors which produce higher levels of religious interest in certain parts of the world, especially when we compare them to the West. Having said that it is important not to discount the fact that a lot of people in the former communist countries remain secular or only nominally religious.
I noticed that in Russia, although the momentum is going the other way, conversion rather than dropping out. Part of the situation there is a mistrust of the ''official'' Orthodox church in Russia, going back not just to Sergius and the present gang, but also further back to Patriarch Nikon in 1666 and the split which led to the Raskol, which led to the ''Old Believers''. I will say that I am more than just sympathetic to that grouping, btw.
I think it has to do also with an over eager reflex on the part of some clergy to identify with the modernist Capitalist order, which makes the 2/3rds of Russians and other East Europeans who want some kind of USSR 2.0 back, a bit suspicious.
From what I can see of America the gap between conservatives and liberals is quite narrow now. The differences seem very superficial. In Britain there is almost no gap at all, both the conservatives and the "liberals' if such a comparison is possible, agree on almost all common points, free markets and social liberalism.
And the lesser the gap between the two factions, the more it seems they attack each other on superficial or personal details of the individual politicians.
I remember that years ago I asked a question on this forum about why conservatives like free markets when they lead to all of the awful excesses we see in modern societies today. Of course I was much younger and didn't understand it in such terms but that question reflected how unimpressed I was with centre-right convervatives.
In 1988, I voted for the first time, George H.W. Bush versus Governor Dukakis of Massachusetts. The sole reason then that I voted against Dukakis and for Bush is seeing Dukakis in that US Army tank, looking like such a dork. It's that superficial in American politics with most American ''conservatives''. I of course have changed, lol.
For me it is not a fear that what I believe may be incorrect but an inability to accept reality in some circumstances.
Reality is what it is, but we can be fooled by our limited reason, or by despair in an existential sense. But i've made the conscious effort to trust better than I have in the past.
Do you believe the demographic shift will be so dramatic as to produce such drastic changes in population composition? And what role do you think the far left will play in all this?
I don't think the demographics will change all that much, as native Europeans will convert to Islam unless they are devout Christians.
The Far Left in Europe? I think in Western Europe, identified as they are with bringing down everything, they will join the Muslims and convert. The Left in Eastern Europe will be one of the components of national-patriotic forces that will protect that region from being swamped.
I agree with you about conversion. A lot of the mercantile liberal Westerners will easily convert because they will think the alternative is not worth the effort. Afterall if they stand for nothing then it is easy to embrace the alternative.
I hate to say it, and I hope I'm wrong actually, but as Balthasar Gracian said; ''Hope is a great falsifier''.
Well even the old paganism was based on much more substantial ground. A lot of Neo-Pagans today just seem to make up their own religions. It is almost like hipsterism.
It was more substantial than modern neo-paganism, in that it was embedded in a larger way of life, whereas the later phenomena is more counter-cultural as you indicate.
But I was speaking about a larger ''Paganism'' which is the default setting of natural mankind, in any religion or none. They want a kind of business relationship with God or the gods, Buddha, Allah, and so forth, to ask for earthly blessings or avert earthly disasters, else otherwise the Deity or deities are ignored, and if belief is damaged, scornfully mocked and ''disbelieved'' in. ''Faith'' never truly enters the equation to begin with. Most people are this way in this world, i'm sad to say I think.
I have some ideas about Islamism and the right which might interest you. I will wait to hear your ideas first, though.
I first noticed something of a curious intersection between the West, Islam, and Capitalism, when I heard President Ronald Reagan quote Ibn Khaldun. Later, I saw Reagan and other Rightists praise and support the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan fighting the Soviet Union, and the Iran/contra affair which saw them supply Iran in it's war with Iraq.
Later, I looked at Hitler and Fascism's favorable thinking about Islam, and researched the thoughts of Islamic Scholars on free enterprise and Capitalism, including Grover Norquist and his ideas on Islam/Capitalism.
I've come to the conclusion therefore that at some point, Capitalism and Islam will merge, specifically the Right Wing/Libertarian factions that are increasingly Anarcho-Capitalistic. I see nothing on the part of either party that would prevent it, and every reason why Islam and Capitalism help mutually reinforce each other perfectly.
I could and will go into more details later, but for now I hope it's a good starting point.