| Apr 25 @ 10:23 PM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion
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southernlass
Posts: 2,240
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I wasn't sure where to put this thread, so I hope it's all right that I placed it here.
You see, I was thinking about something a moment ago, when I was reading over in RELIGION and noted PeaB over there having a go at Iam. It isn't the first time that this occurred to me but for some reason it seemed worthwhile to discuss it. I was thinking about how much we often think we know one another and how we often stereotype one another and each other's views and perceptions. I was thinking about how we tend to generalize whole groups of people based upon their labels too. Let me give you an example:
I realized, when I was thinking about this that PeaB is what I would refer to as a "liberal," but the amusing thing about this is that PeaB is also apparently a rather spiritual individual who may actually have something in common with "Christian," though I can't be sure because these days not too many people desire the label.
At any rate, the point of this thread is to inquire whether or not anyone else has noticed that when we're talking politics or religion, we can find ourselves on the very same side in RELIGION with someone who is our enemy over in POLITICS
Or in other words, we might fight someone tooth and nail here in POLITICS because we're a conservative Republican or Independent and they are a liberal Democrat, but get us over on the RELIGIOUS forum and suddenly many of us are on the same side! I find this quite funny but also it's in many ways intriguing.
It shows that one simply cannot just define people as easily as one might think. And it also gives all of us hope that in the battle between Liberals and Conservatives, maybe there actually IS the possibility of a meeting of minds!
But don't tell anyone, because you know Libs are supposed to hate Conservatives and we're at war in this POLITICS forum. (chuckle) 
[Edited on 4/25/2009 10:41 PM]
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| Apr 25 @ 10:47 PM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion |
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jamminjerry
Posts: 4,085
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you present a most excellent point! my Teacher would probably say" go figure" at all the folks that claim to follow his words. in one sense my Teacher can be called conservative because of his adament stand on the 10 commandments. and yet, he can be considered a liberal radical because of his opinion of the rich man. i have asked elsewhere if there is any documentation anywhere that my Teacher had said anything that could be remotely twisted to be considered positive in his opinion of the rich man. not much natural about my Teacher's opinion of the rich man, its all spiritual. we be jammin.
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| Apr 25 @ 11:06 PM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion
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Jankia
Posts: 11,912
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I dont really see debating in either section of these forums as taking sides so much as presenting the truth in how you feel personally about different topics.
Heck...I can share a like mind with the same people for most everything until the fan gets dirty. For some reason, when that occasionally happens the like minds are in the past and that single unlike one dictates the future.
It would be interesting if many of us could meet in person because on here we discuss politics and religion that either isnt discussed often in public or when it is... its not generalized to the point it is on here.
We know our local friends religious denominations or if they dont have one but we dont know the specifics about there beliefs.
We know their political party but not their specific stance on how our country is run.
In these forums we know both of each...but we still dont know the person.
Personally knowing a person leaves alot more room in accepting them for what they are when you can be different...respectfully. 
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| Apr 25 @ 11:39 PM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion |
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Peabianjay
Posts: 1,790
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*gasp* I've been named in the 2nd line in the 1st post of the thread! Now, I feel special. 
All things are relative.
Generalizing is very risky.
I've frequently seen people refer to "Godless liberals", which is amuses me, since it can be taken two ways. Either "I think all liberals are godless", or "I'm only talking about the liberals that are godless".
I'm only a liberal from an american point of view. Most of the world would consider me conservative/centrist. But, even then, it's a huge generalization. Most of us have a wide variety of differing opinions on sundry topics whether dubbed "political" or "religious". We find ourselves catagorized based on the general picture.
That is, given 5 topics, if I take a liberal stance on 4, and conservative on 1....people will call me liberal. Fine.
Unfortunately, that often leads to people assuming I also have a liberal POV on that 5th topic. A fallacy resulting from the inaccurate assumption that people so catagorized all have identical beliefs on all topics. A ludicrous conclusion....yet the accusation is very common.
Not all conservatives love guns.
Not all liberals want to "murder babies".
Not all conservatives favour torture.
Not all liberals are environmentalists.
Not all conservatives are Christian.
Not all liberals are athiests.
Guess what, people? We're people! (Most of us, anyway.) Few (if any) of us conform 100% to the labels that are often applied.
Read the fine print.
May contain nuts.
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| Apr 26 @ 1:38 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion
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southernlass
Posts: 2,240
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That was an excellent way to sum things up, Peab. And I agree with you.
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| Apr 26 @ 1:57 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion |
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Peabianjay
Posts: 1,790
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I didn't comment on the "hatred" issue.
There are many people here (and in R&S forum) with whom I disagree on various topics. We have differing opinions, values, beliefs, and experiences which lead us to different conclusions. There are many that are perfectly comfortable accepting such differences, with respect. (WebMonster, for example, has politely voiced his disagreement with me on several fronts....without resorting to childish insults.)
Unfortunately, there are also those that are hostile towards those with a different view point. Sometimes verbal ("You're delusional!") and sometimes worse ("We should invade & destroy every country with different standards.").
There's no harm in variety, no harm in disagreement. There is harm in obsessing over the differences to the point one party, or the other, feels that their opinion must be imposed on the other via force, rather than comprimise and co-operation.
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| Apr 26 @ 2:56 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion
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southernlass
Posts: 2,240
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 Well said! And now I'm off to bed!
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| Apr 26 @ 3:46 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion |
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WebMonster
Posts: 1,307
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Pleasant dreams SouthernLass.. 
Enjoy your snooze time. 
Tomorrow's altogether another day..
Yet another shot at the mysteries of life...
-WebMonster 
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| Apr 26 @ 8:59 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion
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eyesofastranger
Posts: 931
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I thoroughly enjoy iams posts> he's no dummy. I know he won't attack my ideas cuz he full well knows it would have no effect on my ego.
That's kinda my point. If your looking at pixels that form letters that came to you fron a distant personality???? And these words hurt? You need to do some thinking about who you are and become firm in what you believe and stand for. Then it becomes just opinions and not the sticks and stones from the playground.
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| Apr 26 @ 9:12 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion |
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Loreli
Posts: 25,417
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When I was growing up, I was told I should never discuss politics or religion.
It just made me more interested to learn (almost) everyone's point of view when I got older.
Excellent post, Peab....I agree.
The thing that's hard here, are page long rants (that really belong in blogs), bringing up subjects that have been proven or dis proven (baiting), or outright name calling over and over forever. It's as if once some people get on a bad side of certain people, and are never forgiven or agreed with-no matter what.
We shouldn't get pushed to the point that we get that upset, but we're human. Some don't even have to be pushed...
Everyone is entitled to their own faith or belief, everyone has the right to vote without harassment.
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| Apr 26 @ 10:28 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion
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WebMonster
Posts: 1,307
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I probably see it a bit differently. 
I'd much prefer someone post their own personal observations and views about a topic, even at some length if warranted, than to duplicate exhaustive articles from some web site somewhere, which may or may not be accurate anyway. I don't personally come here to read imported data from other websites, unless necessary to support a point. I'd prefer to read individual participant's points of view.
While I agree it gets a bit overly intense here at times, I'd still far prefer to read opinions, than lengthy copy and pasted articles.
Just a coupla cents worth is all..
-WebMonster 
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| Apr 26 @ 10:45 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion |
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Peabianjay
Posts: 1,790
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I totally agree, WebMonster.
Links are nice, and short quotes to highlight specific points, but the cut & paste of multiple paragraphs & full documents simply disrupts the discussion.
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| Apr 26 @ 10:52 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion
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WebMonster
Posts: 1,307
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Exactly Pea!  I hate to see a thread, for instance, opened up with a big long article, and no, or hardly any, individual commentary by the poster themselves, who brought it up. Give us your take on the subject.
Link to it, briefly summarize it, as you said, and give your viewpoint on the topic. Not just a big long article, with or without a link. Much more interesting that way. Forums are about exchanging ideas and points of view, not just published web-data..
-WebMonster
[Edited on 4/26/2009 11:11 AM]
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| Apr 26 @ 11:21 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion |
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Peabianjay
Posts: 1,790
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I suddenly have this incredible urge to cut & paste a gigantic article on forum etiquette.
Must....resist....
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| Apr 27 @ 1:39 AM |
LIKE MINDS? The Amusing nature of politics and religion
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Paralegal_at_Law
Posts: 5,872
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Five star General Douglas MacArthur regarded Communists and pacifists as threats to the national security, and he drew no distinction between them:
"History teaches us that religion and patriotism have always gone hand in hand, while atheism has invariably been accompanied by radicalism, communism, Bolshevism, and other enemies of free government. . . I confidently believe that a red-blooded and virile humanity which loves peace devotedly, but is willing to die in defense of the right, is Christian from center to circumference, and will continue to be dominant in the future as in the past. "pacifism and its bedfellow, Communism," he would say, "were equally reprehensible."
American Caesar Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964 By William Manchester.
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