This is a reflection on the continuing religious discussions on Daily KOS and the circular arguments that ensue.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” US declaration of Independence
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Preamble US Constitution
Our country’s founding documents are full of religious terminology. --endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights--secure the Blessings of Liberty--do ordain. I used bold on all the potentially religious terms. Somehow the First Amendment is absent of those terms.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. First Amendment
The Daily KOS discussion of religion and politics combines political science, religious beliefs, scientific facts, philosophical discussion, theology, sociological theories, science fiction and fantasy. It’s apples, oranges, tofu, beans, cabbage, liver, all in one delicious dish.
Science easily wins one argument. Our bodies do indeed turn to dust. Really, science isn’t even needed to prove this. Go buy a shovel. Maybe not, I think that research might be illegal and by some accounts, just plain wrong.
So, the real arguments are: Do we have a soul? Are there alternate realities? Are there different timelines? Are there levels of energy that exist beyond our five senses?
Science fiction. Terminator movies. The AI first is “soulless”, then in the next movie is protecting John Conner in perhaps a “soulful” manner. I, Robot. It seems one AI develops a soul.
noun soul — Source Dictionary.com
-
the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.
-
the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul.
Either definition still leads to the question of what exists beyond our physical body. All religious, Spiritual, spiritual arguments are dependent on the idea of a soul.
End of arguments? We can ask the question, What binds us together as Democrats? What makes us different from the Red right? What is our political strategy to find as many votes as possible to elect candidates that somehow incorporates the idea of soul, spirituality? How do we appeal to others that both find Spirituality important and those that are repelled by the tainted historical past and present of organized religion?
Lots of questions. I have personal ideas and so does everyone here. Comments away.