Forgive me if this has been posted about already, but with the obvious association of agnosticism with reason, skepticism, and rational thought, I'm interested in the general disposition and reactions of the agnostic community toward the current US sociopolitical environment and strife. I personally see what I would characterize as a widespread "infection" of irrational tribalism, and all the debilitating symptoms that come with it, between two sides that are actively pushing the moderates and centrists out of the discussion. I'm unsure of where this disease, and the multifaceted issues it's a reaction to, is leading us.
Are any of you also worried?
7
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.The fringe groups are always the cause of war.
The right has created most of this by repeatedly reducing funding for public schools. Ignorant people are easier to manipulate. They didn't count on the ignorant left becoming as stupid, and as violent, as they are.
JacarC
Level 8
Mar 21, 2019
0
Moderates and centrists are the enemy of the right and left - because they are to the right of the leftists, and to the left of the right. I was always told growing up, don't try to break up two dogs fighting - since most of the time they turn on you in the process.
jondspen
Level 7
Mar 20, 2019
0
@BeerAndWine See...you equate left/right with morals, as well as adjust the the center based on these extremists. I base center and moderate views based on logical and reasonable examination of the situation, and finding a middle path through it. I can honestly say that the majority of people think what Hitler and the Nazi's did was radical, and most people were moderates in social and political beliefs who also opposed it. And no, it was technology that brought much of women rights - and it was moderate and central minded people that valued respect and dignity for all (mostly white) that ended slavery in the US.
@BeerAndWine Well - I think we are looking at "radical" from a different POV. I look at radical as something beyond society norms. Murder is radical, regardless of the society or morals. While I think you define radical as the extremes of a bell curve of current views of a society - and since society views are always changing - the definition of radical changes over time. I agree that from this POV, you are correct. Things that were normal before are odd now, things that are odd before are normal now. My problem with that is you put the emphasis on a constantly moving target, and as such can never have a constant center. Also, if the left is 3 standard deviations from the center, but the right is 103 standard deviation from the center, your outliers greatly adjust where we should meet in the middle. I think that is the big problem today - each side goes further and further out, hoping that the compromise lands to their side of the middle ground.
The vast majority of people on this site believe that Trump is a lying, greedy sociopath and that the Republican Party has lost any semblance of a moral backbone in supporting the boorish lout. There is reason to worry, but we can defeat him and his racist, reactionary,and zenephobic supporters
wordywalt
Level 9
Mar 20, 2019
1
That sums the issues up nicely. I am extremely concerned that the world has the potential to devolve very quickly into something incredibly ugly. History has repeatedly shown us, that we can go from living peacefully with our neighbors, to widespread violence. (https://genocideeducation.org) We have seen, that, in many cases...the rest of the world will sit back and watch, as though it will never affect them in any way. The rise in xenophobia and tribalism is dangerous. The more that people feel threatened by environmental and economic difficulties, the more danger we are in globally. The more we devolve into tribalism, the more chance there is of another genocide. I still have hope that the world will make different choices and find a middle path, but at this point I have no idea which way we will go.
LB67
Level 7
Mar 20, 2019
3
Well said.
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