05-28-2008, 12:00 AM
For me, the interesting part is that we cannot see our proximity to perfection. only our deviation from it. It speaks of "original sin" and locks you
into the first proposition. (using one's acknowledgement of his deviation from perfection as a test of Christian Faith) You have to accept a theology
before you can deviate from it. I see a logical loop being expressed here, something that by definition cannot be legitimately questioned.
That mankind is intrinsically and fundamentally imperfect is just an idea, but it's part of the Western Culture philosophical bedrock. We buy these ideas
in bulk from our ancestors. They become such ubiquitously invisible ideas that I doubt any of us could name two other ideas on par with Original Sin, even
though we base our understanding of the world on such ideas.
The worst of it is that it is a beautiful sentiment that we should be mindful of our imperfection. We can be more accepting of public authority and easier to
deal with in general if we feel flawed. We have a vested interest in selling these ideas to our young, so we tell them how flawed they are in Bible stories and
every day life. I don't mean to indict Christianity as social control. I wish to point out how important social control is to society, and how social
control mechanisms permeate our subconsciousness in the form of religious icons and archetypes.
into the first proposition. (using one's acknowledgement of his deviation from perfection as a test of Christian Faith) You have to accept a theology
before you can deviate from it. I see a logical loop being expressed here, something that by definition cannot be legitimately questioned.
That mankind is intrinsically and fundamentally imperfect is just an idea, but it's part of the Western Culture philosophical bedrock. We buy these ideas
in bulk from our ancestors. They become such ubiquitously invisible ideas that I doubt any of us could name two other ideas on par with Original Sin, even
though we base our understanding of the world on such ideas.
The worst of it is that it is a beautiful sentiment that we should be mindful of our imperfection. We can be more accepting of public authority and easier to
deal with in general if we feel flawed. We have a vested interest in selling these ideas to our young, so we tell them how flawed they are in Bible stories and
every day life. I don't mean to indict Christianity as social control. I wish to point out how important social control is to society, and how social
control mechanisms permeate our subconsciousness in the form of religious icons and archetypes.