violence and incompetence
Hi, my name is plonkee, and I’m a science fiction geek.
I’m a big fan of science fiction novels, and I particularly like the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. One of the major characters in the series Salvor Hardin lives by the maxim that
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
It’s funny, but I’ve always heard that you get more conservative, traditional and right wing as you get older, whereas I seem to be getting more pacifist.
There rarely seem to be reasons to justify personal violence - maybe self-defence is one. In general, I think “do as you would be done by” is a good idea, and so I dislike the hitting of small children in much the same way as I dislike them hitting anyone else.
I am also of the opinion that if the state does not approve of private citizens killing each other, then it shouldn’t do the same. This means that I am strongly against the death penalty and would be even if death row sentences were never overturned.
But, I haven’t quite got to the conclusion that conflict between countries is always unnecessary. I mean, often it is - I’m not a fan of some of the latest conflicts that the British armed forces have been involved in - but I don’t know that I can say that it always is.
I wonder whether my thoughts on violence will alter further as I get older. Have anyone else’s views changed gradually in this way, and if so, how do you feel about it?
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How Hypocritical Am I Really Being?
Do you avoid religious celebrations?
I don’t. In fact, I’ve no objection at all to going to church, my non-Christian worship experience is pretty thin. I’ve been to friend’s weddings without a qualm, Christmas services, even regular Sunday church services with my extended family. You might think that this is ok, as these could be construed as “special occasions”.
However, whilst I’m at church services, I have no hesitation in joining in, even though I don’t believe what I’m saying. I really enjoy singing and will happily sing hymns that I know, and hymns that I don’t know. If there are responses that I know (or there are words to follow) I normally take part. I draw the line at taking communion when it’s offered, but will gladly shake my neighbour’s hand at the appropriate moment.
Generally, few people would realise that I was an atheist unless I told them. Which, of course, I never bother to. I feel a bit uncharitable going “you know it’s all made up, don’t you?”. A bit like you don’t tell children that there’s no Tooth Fairy - it’s just not the done thing.
I mostly think that this is a little hypocritical, but I don’t think it’s harming me. And really, everyone else is there for themselves. If I turn up, I don’t think it really matters whether I join in, or stay silent. But, maybe I’m not a proper atheist if I can stomach church (or even, heaven forbid, take pleasure in it). Maybe I’m wrong to say things that I don’t think are true, just because I see no great harm to me in them.
What do you think? How hypocritical am I really being? Leave a comment and let me know.
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What About the Teachings of Jesus?
So I was talking the other day, about the CS Lewis question on Jesus’ position in life. But, the historical person of Jesus - who may or may not have existed, said various things and died - is, in my mind, kind of separate from the teachings that are attributed to him.
I don’t think we should dismiss the teachings attributed to Jesus just because of their provenance. I don’t see how that would be either rational or reasonable. I think we should ideally judge ideas on their own merits, not on our like or dislike of the people that said them.
I’m personally interested in the sayings and parables attributed to Jesus because they form a strong part of my cultural identity - I grew up listening to Bible stories - and also because I think some of them are illuminating. I don’t think that they are the be all and end all of humanity, of course.
What I think they definitely are, is odd. If you strip away any interpretation of what they mean, they aren’t very straightforward. I appreciate this in the way of a curiousity, and it can make them much more striking. But definitely still odd - like the Kingdom of God is like a someone who invites a someone off the street to a wedding feast and then throws him out for not being dressed smartly enough (Matthew 2:1-13).
What do you think about the sayings attributed to Jesus? Do you ignore them as religious claptrap? Do you think they have value but are vastly over-rated? Do you try to live by them (if that’s even possible)? Leave a comment and let me know.
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