James' first discussion of the day and as usual, some good quality callers to the show saying why they either support the action against this marine or why they don't.
My interest was in the "we are better than them" line from James. If we (meaning those embracing western ideology), are better than them, then we have to be better than them all the time and not change our morals when it suits us, one caller suggested. Having moral superiority and moral high ground, two things James suggested we have here in the UK, are what I am struggling with.
Do we really have the moral high ground in western society? I'm not just considering the absence of barbaric killing as an indicator of a better society, because we do our fair share of barbarism just not on our own shores. I'm looking at all of society across the board.
I'm looking at our teenage pregnancy rate... our prison system... our binge drinking culture... the sexualisation in our music culture that young kids copy.. . our ability to ignore the most vulnerable people in our society... elderly... disabled... orphans and mentally I'll.
Are we morally superior? Are we better? Do we have freedom? Or are we in the west, trapped in our own version of slavery to capitalism and commercialism. How is that freedom? That's just another form of dictatorship with the allusion of freedom of choice.
It's not as black and white and that's the reason we can't stomp into another country, take down a despot then attempt to change their system of governance claiming our western democratic way is better. Imposing on them something that will never work and leave pridefully thinking we've done a good job.
Since becoming a Muslim and experiencing the morals taught from an Islamic point of view. Proper Islam, not some half-ass version spouted by some armchair scholar or misguided nom. It reinforces my decision that I made a few years ago to revert and I look at the lost western society in which I live and feel sad.
The UK constantly puts itself in other countries' business with a prideful superiority that has proven to be illegal and disastrously wrong on more than one occasion. We side with evil dictators when it suits us financially, leave despots in power when they have nothing we need, like oil and then we wonder why we get kickbacks and bring trouble to our yard.
We are not better, we are no better and we have enough affairs of our own to be dealing with, getting right, treating right those in our own country, to be meddling in the affairs of dragons.
Do your views,perspectives,come from YOUR heart ,the essence of who you are. Or do they first have to go through the filter of the doctrines that you adhere to. When conflicts arise, how do you resolve them. Do you betray your adopted faith that you depend on, or your inherent self. I could never follow without question any doctrine, simply because once you are chained to someone’s beliefs you must by definition rule out any natural growth in your ever expanding self
ReplyDeleteMe and you going to butt heads on this grandad. When have you experienced me following anything without question. I have questions, about everything, including my religion. If you have them bring it, I will answer anything I can from my heart, from my doctrine and give any discrepancies as well.
ReplyDeleteI am stunned that you have such a restricted view given I know you a little bit and how you think. Is it possible to hold two opposing views and continually ponder each? That is room for growth and my own thoughts, Islam allows for this quite graciously actually. It is more flexible than you imagine.
How do any of us know who we are, least of all me uh? We all grow and change every day and my views are a collection of my experiences and what makes sense to me intellectually. We all have choice. No one is chained to any belief, there is no compulsion in religion and it's 2016!
I hear you,I hear you, forgive me but I can't see how you can have a genuine 100% FAITH and at the same time be so selective. James suffers from a similar dichotomy,the cake and eat it syndrome,I call it; or another term he is playing with lately, cognitive dissonance, where the mind will unconsciously cleverly move the goal posts to ease the discomfort of inner conflicts xx
ReplyDeleteHaha... ok good point. Islam doesn't allow for selective faith. Some Muslims are selective about what they will adhere to and what they won't. It allows for absolutely doin the best with what you have right now. For instance... I accept that listening to music is forbidden. I used to live music and find that difficult but I do adhere to it. Do I agree with and follow willingly? No I struggle with that like i wrestle with a lot of aspects of Islam. But my heart follows in faith and adheres to the instruction nevertheless.
DeleteReligious or not, we all have inner conflicts and we all have areas of life where we do our best but constantly question ourselves. That doesn't disappear when you choose to follow a religion. Not if you're a secure person and are able to be honest about the parts of life you struggle with.
You telling me you have no struggles what so ever about the possibility of the existence of God grandad?
"You telling me you have no struggles what so ever about the possibility of the existence of God" Er..... yes I am. I'm totally indifferent to the concept of God.But I am acutely aware of the insidious conditioning I was put through as a child concerning a fictitious character called Jesus and his Dad, God; need I go on. Human beings who are notoriously led by their feelings which in turn are easily manipulated and exploited by figures of authority and power who are always a on the look out for individuals to control and own. Cults and religions may be a vehicle that attracts those who are in desperate need of answers to the mischievous questions put forward by a mind teases sand torments a poor desperate SELF
DeleteDude, seriously. You're an old man and you still express yourself in this ridiculous stream-of-consciousness way with no filter or thought.
DeleteWith respect, grow up. Your short existence is evidence enough that you are not here to pontificate sweet nothings to justify your ego. You are for a short time for a reason. Go from there. If you walk with sincerity, you'll find it, and it'll be Islam. Peace out.