Another great analysis from Dr. David Wood, looking at a letter George Orwell wrote (before writing 1984). In it, Orwell explains how the silencing of speech we might disagree with leads to totalitarianism. Wood does a very nice job in tying it all to current events. Food for thought in any case.
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Comments
(Old Spike)
This guy has a brilliant analytical mind and is on the fearless personality and autism spectrum, but he also derives too much self-validation from his constant attacks on the Islamic religion, which he typically frames as a rational debate or an expose of what Islam actually teaches. I don't know that his approach is, on the whole, net helpful as opposed to fueling tribalist division.
11:00 Orwell couldn't have anticipated Twitter, which is what has brought the regular people under the possession of the idea, or the ideology.
(Site Administrator)
Others have accused him of Islamophobia, however, he is also very careful to back up everything that is said by referring directly back to Islamic sources (Qur'an and hadiths). In short, he argues that Islam is indeed a religion of peace, so long as it remains in the minority (in any given country). Things change when it becomes the majority religion. He also argues against the hippocracy of having a religion that unlike others seems to be unable to bear any form of critique or scrutiny. Fair points.
(Site Administrator)
RE. Twitter, I think you're absolutely right. And only history will tell if their CEO overplayed his hand, here.
(Old Spike)
Great Post.
And excellent points are raised.
Ghandi I would consider an exception to being a "dangerous" leader to rally behind. As his method was peace through pacifism. His belief in peace was so righteous that it emboldened him to speak fearlessly against agressors.
An end justifies the means approach is a very important paradigm to avoid. I agree with that 100%
It's also important to dissect different beliefs and ideologies and distiguish the exact points where they become dangerous. Patriotism vs fascism. Nationalism vs racism. cultural preservation vs racial superiority. Systemic poverty vs self induced poverty. Equality through elevation of the disenfrachised vs equality through denegration of the priviledged. We are living in a time where all of these beliefs are being blended together, which I believe is dangerous and false.
I think his assessment of Islam is fair, but also that it applies to most religions. While it is the minority, the views remain flexible and adapt to the listener to gain converts. As the religion grows in power it becomes more fundamentalist, and as church and state blend their powers, violent enforcement becomes inevitable.
Here we go. News Priming people for the upcomming "home grown terrorist" psy op to catapult the 2nd Civil war.
(Site Administrator)
Thanks, TBS, but you do have a tendency to lob all religions into the same basket/category. Don't get me wrong, I realize this comes down to one's individual life experience, so I'm not invalidating your opinion. I'd just want to point out that we shouldn't assume that all religions are equal, at their core.
I'm just gonna add this here since these 2 guys (Drs. Jordan Peterson and David Wood) get their points across rather succinctly and better than I ever could.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD8OzyjtMcM
(Old Spike)
Of course. I did mean many religions. Not all. I am a follower Christ by personal choice. Not catholic, or even denominational. I am searching for a church that follows the bible closely. In the meantime I search through different ministers online.
I believe when faith becomes an establishment, it is susceptible to darker agendas of man.
Christ was very clear about not preaching with flattery, or other doctrines than directly from the bible. To me that is a good sign of a proper minister, that he is not selling out to anyone who would listen, but preaching from the source. The other signs are is he wealthy? He shouldn't be. Does he live his life according to the teachings of Christ, or is he a worldly person outside of the church. It helps narrow the teachers considerably.