You might like to know that I am a radical leftist, have been all my life, grew up in a radical leftist household. I was taught from childhood that money, status, position, tribe, meant nothing, just as Albert Nolan describes in Jesus Before Christianity. My father was raised in an evangelical household; my mother's mother took her around to various churches and my mother chose the Lutherans because they had the best music. Our household was basically secular, which I am grateful for, because I don't think little children can comprehend adult concepts such as sin, heaven and hell, the devil, etc.
You are right that no form of government can ever be anywhere near perfect, but I see much more compassion and humanity in Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, etc, and I think some of that is due to the lack of neoliberalism, a societal concept in which we are all discrete units with no interests in common. Some is due as well to a more active religious life; the Orthodox religions do not believe in individual salvation, only community salvation. We could use some of that!
Very good message - clear perspective.
You might like to know that I am a radical leftist, have been all my life, grew up in a radical leftist household. I was taught from childhood that money, status, position, tribe, meant nothing, just as Albert Nolan describes in Jesus Before Christianity. My father was raised in an evangelical household; my mother's mother took her around to various churches and my mother chose the Lutherans because they had the best music. Our household was basically secular, which I am grateful for, because I don't think little children can comprehend adult concepts such as sin, heaven and hell, the devil, etc.
You are right that no form of government can ever be anywhere near perfect, but I see much more compassion and humanity in Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, etc, and I think some of that is due to the lack of neoliberalism, a societal concept in which we are all discrete units with no interests in common. Some is due as well to a more active religious life; the Orthodox religions do not believe in individual salvation, only community salvation. We could use some of that!