Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
When I look around America, the land that held so many promises when I was a child, I see several dominant "political and social" religions, most of which have grown stronger as I have evolved into an oldish man:
America-is-the-land-of-opportunity Religion. LOOR
The Liberal Democratic Religion LDR
The Conservative Republican Religion CRR
The Trickle-Down Religion TDR
The Progressive Trickle-Up Religion PTUR
The Materialist Religion MR
and finally, but not least
The Religion of Science RoS
and finally, but not least
The Religion of Science RoS
There are several religions under each of these religions, for instance, the traditional Christian and Mormon Religion seems to fall under the Conservative Republican Religion (CRR). The Muslim Religion is still struggling for its place, but may become the first secular religion to fall under the Progressive Trickle-Up Religion.
The hierarchy I have assumed with traditional religions falling under the New American Religions is done because I see our faith stronger in these political manifestations of religion than I do in the traditional religions. The political parties do not look for guidance from the traditional religions, but instead the traditional religions more or less spend their time justifying the behavior of the political leaders of our country that espouse their religion. Perhaps you see it differently.
There is an integral philosophy that sees the growth of humanity evolving from survival and mythologically based religions, through traditional religions to the individual to the collective acceptance of all. Each religion serves a useful purpose in the evolution of humanity and all are valuable to the extent that belief in them is helpful to the followers of the religion. They all represent a point of view that emphasises certain truths and beliefs at the expense of other points of view. In reality, man is barely capable of recognizing that their beliefs are simply a story to explain the world to their mind that is being flooded with sensory perceptions and ancient survival instincts. I realize that may be a radical thought that does not fit with your view, your story of the world -- and that is okay with me -- I am not here to advocate my story over yours.
Let’s look at a couple of the religions more closely: The Conservative Republican Religion. They love their country and have fond memories of a simpler world where traditional rights prevailed. They see our great days as being behind us and unless we can somehow turn back the clock and restore traditional values: people go to church, only men have wives, America’s might is right, America is Almost Always Right, Reading, writing and arithmetic should be taught in schools and should be targeted at the gifted, being born in America makes you better than those born on the wrong side of river, America First, and men lead and head up the house and the church. They believe we should not overtax the rich because they picture someday being the rich. They usually also believe in the religion that America is the Land of Opportunity. They see abortion as murder and homosexuality as a sin on the whole. In general, they hold the America of their youth as being dear and all would be good if we could restore America to those times. They tend to see man as inherently a sinner and flawed, and that the life we have is fundamentally the one we deserve. The believe hard work will bring success, although this belief has started to waiver because they believe the liberal religion has mucked up things too much.
The Liberal Democratic Religion sees themselves as evolved, compassionate and caring for all humanity, except possibly those that practice the Conservative Republican Religion. They believe the potential of humanity is determined primarily by the opportunities individuals are given and that even the hardened criminal needs to be loved with compassion. They believe in a world where the fruits of our country should be more evenly distributed to all humans, especially those that have lacked opportunity because of lack of opportunity, or good parents, or poor education, or poverty. (The Progressive Trickle Up religion believes we should be more like the Scandinavian countries, or Denmark, where it is the state’s responsibility to feed, clothe and shelter all men from the bounties generated by our modern technology and industrialization.) Gays, other religions,other races and immigrants should not only be accepted but their diversity celebrated as a path to making everyone’s life better.
I define righteousness as the belief that one’s religion is more helpful to the world than all other religions.
I believe the condition of America is due to extreme righteousness by the vast majority of Americans.
Do you wonder about my religion?
