379 - You’re Not That Different From Your Political Opponents
Feb 20, 2025
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The discussion dives into the complex relationship between human behavior and religion, arguing that criticisms often reveal universal human traits. It also explores how discipline and freedom interact, shedding light on historical examples of societal extremes. By promoting self-awareness, the conversation empowers listeners to recognize their tendencies and find balance amidst opposing views. Overall, it challenges the notion of ideological differences, emphasizing our shared humanity.
Oppressive behaviors seen in religious contexts are universal human tendencies that can arise in any ideological framework.
Balancing caution and openness is vital for societal health, as both extremes risk either stifling growth or creating chaos.
Deep dives
Human Behavior Beyond Ideology
All behaviors criticized in religious contexts, such as oppression and violence, are fundamentally aspects of human behavior that can manifest in any society. These behaviors reflect common patterns of interaction among people, regardless of ideology or belief system. Recognizing that these issues arise from inherent human tendencies instead of solely religious influences allows for a broader understanding of societal dynamics. This perspective emphasizes that similar patterns can emerge in secular contexts, highlighting the shared nature of human experiences and actions across different cultures and belief systems.
Finding Balance in Society
The balance between caution and openness is essential both in individuals and societies for healthy functioning. Just as the body has mechanisms to protect against harmful elements while also incorporating beneficial ones, societies face similar challenges in integrating different opinions and behaviors. Individuals within a society may lean toward exploration or caution, leading to diverse expressions of these traits in various roles within the community. Finding equilibrium is crucial; excess caution can stifle growth, while too much openness can lead to chaos and vulnerability.
Modes of Being in Contemporary Society
Modern behaviors, such as cancel culture, echo historical patterns like moral puritanism present in religious contexts, illustrating that societal excesses are not confined to one ideology. The tendency to impose restrictions reflects an ongoing struggle between maintaining order and embracing freedom, revealing the dual nature of human behavior. Furthermore, technological advancements have amplified both oppressive and liberating possibilities, necessitating vigilance against the extremes on both ends. Understanding these patterns cultivates humility and awareness, reminding us that the potential for both oppression and decay exists within all societal frameworks and individuals.
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Understanding Human Behavior Through the Lens of Religion and Society
For the past few decades we have heard from the new atheists just how horrible religion is, that religion is responsible for all these terrible things like the inquisition and witch burnings - but what if I told you that there are patterns or structures behind this kind of behaviour that are simply human, and are not unique to religious people, nor to your ideological or political opponents, but exist fundamentally in all identities.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/SQSDCcFKSrQ
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The Symbolic World Goes to Middle-earth! Join Richard Rohlin for his new course on Tolkien and Universal History. As always patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for a 10% discount. Apply your unique discount code at checkout. Read more here: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/tolkien-and-universal-history In his famous Letter #131 to Milton Waldman, J.R.R. Tolkien described his Legendarium as an attempt to create a vast cycle of stories. These stories would be dedicated to his home country and as such this concept has often been described by Tolkien scholars as a “Mythology for England.” This course will take this concept a step further by examining the Legendarium as an attempt at a work of Universal History, one which uses both ancient and modern storytelling genres to reconcile conflicting visions of English, European, and Western identity. We will then apply those methods to contemporary storytelling efforts, revealing how Tolkien opens the way to a return to cosmological and legendary Christian storytelling tradition.
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Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
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