Ode to Postmodernism

[vashti]

Religion was just a bandaid on a gaping wound of a majority population who didn't know how to think for themselves...

Whether one believes this or not, rational thinking doesn't seem to do much for the widespread feelings of meaninglessness that replaced religion, does it?

Also, I am not sure that large sections of the general population are capable of rational thought.




Speaking of which, Lilwing - stop. you are killing me. Your superiority complex is hysterical and entirely way too premature.

This is for you. Educate yourself.

[url]http://www.ucc.ie/en/CKE29/[/url]

"This course introduces students to advanced level study of literature in English from the Romantic period to the present day.

Locating three key movements in literature and culture since the 1790s - Romanticism, Modernism, Post-modernism - the module examines connections between ideas and aesthetic techniques traditionally associated with those movements."

[doppelgaenger]

Speaking of which, Lilwing - stop. you are killing me. Your superiority complex is hysterical and entirely way too premature.

Haha, go read a book or go to school or something.

[DoesntMatter]

Religion has had its more than fair share of bloodshed. This is not a new argument. Rational thinking does not lead to this outcome. Ultimately, THAT is the solution to human's problems. Not a ressurection of religion.

Rational thinking can easily lead to war in the right situations

[Gribble]

Frankly, I feel the people can believe whatever they want. If religion keeps them complacent and nonviolent (which I'm not sure it does), have at it. Leaders, however, need to be rationally minded above all else. Right now our system does not allow for our most intelligent, most rational and most honest men and women to take office.

We have one, one, openly atheist member of congress, Pete Stark. I firmly believe that the majority of our politicians are atheists. However, only one of them is honest. And if I'm not mistaken he wasn't elected openly atheist, it came out afterward.

It's tragic on so many levels. Let people believe in whatever book they want. Let them listen to their snake oil salesmen on Sundays. But for Christ's sake, let honest atheists have a chance at calling the shots.

We're moving in the right direction. More and more young people are turning to atheism. Before long America's last unheard from minority will begin demanding its piece of the pie. That will be a beautiful day.

[DoesntMatter]

I believe atheists who use their belief in atheism as a measurement for intellectual superiority are dumbasses pretending to be smart. Hence, the vast majority of them who associate atheism with "logic" or rationality

[Gribble]

And I believe you're a sniveling little ****. How 'bout that?

[DoesntMatter]

Yeah, well, you'd be right from these LF posts. My incessant bitching on LF causes me to not really care much in real life about whether or not a girl cares

But I stand by my case

[Gribble]

I know folks who majored in things like astrophysics. They had no time for chicks. They graduated, landed good jobs, then stole the women away from everybody else. Every dog has his day.

[Gigabitch]

I know folks who majored in things like astrophysics. They had no time for chicks. They graduated, landed good jobs, then stole the women away from everybody else. Every dog has his day.

I believe it. There's nothing like an intelligent man (good genes) with a great job and no scandalous history or STI's. What a catch. Bring on the sexy nerds!

[IndiReloaded]

Children need to be taught, at a very young age that they are wanted, needed, valued. Its got to make it into their psyches at a really young age & made to stick. One can throw a couple other base level values in there, but those are the ones that make for healthy humans.

Then things like religion aren't needed. In fact, religion is the antithesis to the above; it taught folks to believe in *else*, not themselves. Anyway, once what I said happens, more generally, then teaching these youth how to interact rationally with the world, and to love it, is all that is needed.

The bright lights, the leaders Gribble mentions, will be rather obvious taken from that basic stock.

[DoesntMatter]

The bright lights, the leaders Gribble mentions, will be rather obvious taken from that basic stock.

Wow, you and me obviously have very different opinions of bright then. I suppose Euler wasn't very bright by your metric. But yes, this is exactly what I mean when people associate atheism or some personal lifestyle with actual intelligence

[DoesntMatter]

More and more young people are turning to atheism. Before long America's last unheard from minority will begin demanding its piece of the pie. That will be a beautiful day.

You do realize how horribly that reeks of entitlement, right? That groups of people simple deserve something?

The concept of deserving something doesnt extend to "groups" how it does to the individual. Ethnic minorities are entitled to more freebie handouts and attention relative to the accomplishments of the groups they identify with than others, as therefore as individuals are getting more pie than they deserve

[Mish]

Whether one believes this or not, rational thinking doesn't seem to do much for the widespread feelings of meaninglessness that replaced religion, does it?

Also, I am not sure that large sections of the general population are capable of rational thought.

I agree. There was no alternative place of social interaction provided that could make people feel as part of something important and meaningful, where they can make a difference. As a result loneliness and alienation are a big part of our modern life. Even when in a group alienation prevails due to the lack of being part of something greater than one self. The feeling of emptiness is a recurring one for many. This may not be very noticeable for western natives, but it is very noticeable to the outsiders or immigrants who had to adapt to this system.

And I agree that subjectivity is not a real substitute for moral standards. Subjectivity has little to do with rational thought. People are not being taught to think rationally, they are being taught to accept that their subjective reality is more important than anyone elses, that they are more special than others, that they can dream any dream and it will become reality and that is at the root of many problems we see today. This is what postmodernism has led us to.

[IndiReloaded]

Wow, you and me obviously have very different opinions of bright then. I suppose Euler wasn't very bright by your metric. But yes, this is exactly what I mean when people associate atheism or some personal lifestyle with actual intelligence

The only person who has implied religious = stupid is you, DM. Minds like Euler were products of their time. And there are always those who can think beyond the current gestalt.

You don't want to acknowledge my point, fine. About what I'd expect. Shrug.

[IndiReloaded]

Subjectivity has little to do with rational thought. People are not being taught to think rationally, they are being taught to accept that their subjective reality is more important than anyone elses, that they are more special than others, that they can dream any dream and it will become reality and that is at the root of many problems we see today.

I agree the above isn't rational. In fact, its obviously irrational. But, who is it that is supposedly teaching these things, Mish?

And I dispute the loss of religion as being the *reason* for people feeling loss of meaning in their lives. Certainly there must be factors, but I doubt that reinstituting religion into society would suddenly give everyone's life new meaning. That experiment would fail Koch's test, I think, so its not the cause per se.

I would actually say that rational pursuit of happiness IS the cure, not a la subjectivism (as you describe, Mish) but more along the lines of Ayn Rands Objectivism. Few people have the courage this takes, tho. And the reason for *that* is what I mentioned about instilling a base sense of worth in our young at an early age.