Beautiful insightsboztopiaApril 20 2009, 16:58:39 UTC
I wrote last year that it's a mistake to conflate evangelism with fundamentalism, but I often make that mistake myself whether due to intellectual carelessness or just because I'm rushing to make my point. ;)
I absolutely don't equate people like you with, say, Rick Warren or James Dobson, or (more accurately) their followers. Evangelists should, if they are true, be doing what you're doing, and inviting others to come along with them on the journey. The problem is, as you said, many extremists seek to force order onto their lives, and can only do so by forcing order onto everyone else's life. Worse, this extremism is often rooted in deep-seated psychological trauma that often springs from abuse or scorn, and so they extend the same hatred outward. That's is what will find in me a tireless and implacable foe, and I suspect you are not so different.
I actually do refuse to work at businesses that are ethically flawed, even if it costs me. I always try to enact reform first, though, because it's too easy to just quit. I don't expect
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Re: Beautiful insights2eclipseApril 20 2009, 17:37:09 UTC
this simultaneiously clarifies things a lot for me, and fails to answer my question. i too have companies i will not work for...but what distinguishes them from from the companies you WILL work for? is it what they espouse? because lots of churches that have done horrible things have been through a reformation process (including the roman catholic church) and lots of them have members who fail to act as the church's edicts proscribe. i guess what i'm wondering is where is the line drawn for YOU?
like you, i DO consider myself an enemy to fundamentalist bullies (of any faith). i try to be a tolerant person, but there are limits to my tolerance. fundamentalist bullies find themselves right up there with people who commit genocide, canabalism-for-the-fun-of-it(not as a desperate last resort), gang rapists, mass murderers....these things are just not right
also i really love this kind of post from you. you are good with the big thoughts. i also like hashing them out with you. ;)
I have such high ethical standards that pretty much any job that wasn't completely righteous or fighting the good fight would give me agita. But you pick your battles and make your stands as you can, and learn that it's impossible to be pure at all times.
I worked for the military in several capacities over the last few years, and while it sickened me to be part of the government that was run by Bush and his toadies, I also knew that there were good people toiling away in the bowels of the government, trying to do their jobs right and not let the politics destroy them, so I accepted that and learned to be less judgmental.
I could never work for an oil company, though. AT&T or Halliburton are also pretty much right out the door. :)
I'm always delighted when you give me so much to chew on. Your wisdom and insight are among the many reasons I cherish you as a friend. ;)
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I absolutely don't equate people like you with, say, Rick Warren or James Dobson, or (more accurately) their followers. Evangelists should, if they are true, be doing what you're doing, and inviting others to come along with them on the journey. The problem is, as you said, many extremists seek to force order onto their lives, and can only do so by forcing order onto everyone else's life. Worse, this extremism is often rooted in deep-seated psychological trauma that often springs from abuse or scorn, and so they extend the same hatred outward. That's is what will find in me a tireless and implacable foe, and I suspect you are not so different.
I actually do refuse to work at businesses that are ethically flawed, even if it costs me. I always try to enact reform first, though, because it's too easy to just quit. I don't expect ( ... )
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is it what they espouse? because lots of churches that have done horrible things have been through a reformation process (including the roman catholic church) and lots of them have members who fail to act as the church's edicts proscribe. i guess what i'm wondering is where is the line drawn for YOU?
like you, i DO consider myself an enemy to fundamentalist bullies (of any faith). i try to be a tolerant person, but there are limits to my tolerance. fundamentalist bullies find themselves right up there with people who commit genocide, canabalism-for-the-fun-of-it(not as a desperate last resort), gang rapists, mass murderers....these things are just not right
also i really love this kind of post from you. you are good with the big thoughts. i also like hashing them out with you. ;)
Reply
I worked for the military in several capacities over the last few years, and while it sickened me to be part of the government that was run by Bush and his toadies, I also knew that there were good people toiling away in the bowels of the government, trying to do their jobs right and not let the politics destroy them, so I accepted that and learned to be less judgmental.
I could never work for an oil company, though. AT&T or Halliburton are also pretty much right out the door. :)
I'm always delighted when you give me so much to chew on. Your wisdom and insight are among the many reasons I cherish you as a friend. ;)
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