From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@tiscali.co.uk)
Date: Sun Feb 29 2004 - 09:01:30 GMT
Hello Matt,
Thursday 26 Feb you said: "Two, I never said there was a problem with religion. There is only a
problem with conversations that occur where there is minimal hope of agreement on anything of
substance (hopes, purposes, language, etc.) which is what happens when a theist and an atheist talk
about God. Which is why, when it happens on the Capital floor, I ask them to take it outside."
What counts as 'minimal hope'?
Would it make a difference if that central clause were rewritten as 'when a fascist and a liberal
talk about race'?
In other words, are you saying that the (minimal) boundaries of democratic discourse need to be
defended with arms? (ie force people to 'take it outside')
If so, you are making religious discourse illegitimate within a democracy. Which DMB would agree
with, I think, despite his other criticisms ;-)
I don't agree with it. I think that can be demonstrated by pointing out the internal contradictions
that liberal discourse generates, and the necessity of an external reference or input. In MoQ terms,
the insufficiency of any SQ system, and the necessity to remain open to DQ. In the secular language
space what are the mechanisms by which DQ insights can be integrated? (Don't say democracy, because
that simply brings in religion by the back door! Same for free speech.)
I realise I'm joining in with this conversation half way through. But it's something I've been
interested in for a while - I remember starting a thread about the church/state separation about a
year ago...
One other thing. It is axiomatic in Christian thought that being a Christian is not equivalent to
'being good' - I think you're making a parallel mistake re secularism, hence my DQ point above.
Sam
Back from a break
PS poo doesn't taste good.
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