Miles wrote:
> It's a pretty obvious effect of the incessant individualism
that capitalism incites. These people really aren't a
coherent group. Perhaps we can create different
forms of social cohesion and community not based on
religious ties; right now, though, lack of religious
affiliation--like low levels of political activism or
volunteerism--is a sign of the hyperindividualization of
social life.
and Michael responded:
> Rehabilitating (and internationalizing) the separation of church
and state would be important in any kind of decent left-moving
reform movement.
People saying that they have no church affiliation does not mean that they want the separation of church and state. It simply means they have unattached from a religion that does not allow them to indulge their desires in the way that they wish at the moment. I would bet that these people are as desirous as ever of a final authority that is other-centered. At the moment, they just don't want it to be the church.
> And the agnostics are the main base for developing /this kind of
thing. They've already thought their way through the first wall of junk
consciousness.
Most agnostics I have meant have not done this mental work at all. Most simply drop a belief in dog since it interferes with the satisfaction of their desires. If this conflict did not exist, they would not become agnostics.
Brian Dauth Queer Buddhist Resister and Agnostic