[lbo-talk] power of religion ( 77% of Americans support the cretinous judge)

[Dennis Perrin]

> Doug, while I share these sentiments, I also think that the power of
> religion lies not in its doctrine, but in its organization.  The
> doctrine is like the football team name - the team wins or looses not
> because the bird they adopted as their logo is more powerful than other
> birds (say eagles and ravens), but because it has better organization.
> Spitting on the team's mascot, (an eagle or a raven) is not the best
> strategy to win a game either.
>
> Likewise, criticizing religious beliefs and doctrine will not do you any
> good in a fight against organized religion.  Much of organized religion
> in this country is not about beliefs and doctrine, but about authority
> and social control - it is basically a fascist/nationalist ideology in a
> multi-ethnic state, where common ethnic roots would not have the same
> appeal . . .
>
> Wojtek

Nice analogy, Woj. And high school football itself is reinforcing the point
you've made. Here's a piece I wrote on the expansion of public prayer at
high school football games from my brief time at Ironminds.

<http://www.ironminds.com/ironminds/issues/000919/outofbounds.shtml>

DP