A new religion??

[MarEng]

As I sift through the various political messages posted here in The Bilge, I am struck by the faith being placed in men or parties of men. Our Democrat friends feel that if they can just get Bush out, things will be great. Our Republican friends feel they must stop Kerry at any cost or he'll ruin the country for sure. Put this kind of faith in a man called the Pope or Jim Jones or Hare Krishna or Jack Welch and it becomes religion. (Nobody is truly an atheist - we all just pick different gods).

The venom and angst that surrounds these political discussions is anything but constructive and certainly takes up much time that could be spent on more important things like our kids, grandkids, neighbors or maybe even building boats. What is comforting is that if you know how the story ends, all of this is of little consequence.

Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matt 28:18) Which politician or business leader can make that claim? If you have any interest in what this may mean for your life and how it makes the troubles of this world seem insignificant, I'd be happy to spend a little more time in The Bilge to discuss it.

(Apologies to our Catholic brethren, by no means do I place the Pope in league with some of the others listed, but I think he helps make the point.)

[LeeG]

MarEng,,the fun part I find in when the urge to blame is taken as far as it can with fact finding is an appreciation for everyone who is working to make a difference,,on "both sides".
Getting one person out or one person in won't change the flow of history but it'll make a difference as to whether that person is able to ferry across the stream, attempt swimming upstream, or merrily spin downstream. Either way the water is always there.

[George Roberts]

Some gods are cuter than others.
http://www.robertscpa.com/grandkid/072104_sprinkler.JPG

[Osborne Russel]

While some on principles baptized
To strict party platform ties
Social clubs in drag disguise
Outsiders they can freely criticize
Tell nothing except who to idolize
And then say God bless him.
Bob Dylan (1965), "It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding"

The emotional need of the bulk of the populace -- of primitive mentality -- for a symbolic hero is the same now as it ever was, only now it takes the form, in this country, of the presidential election. The office of King/Empereor/Fuehrer/Shogun etc. may have been eliminated, but human nature has not changed. The only important thing that has changed is that people no longer have an excuse to be ignorant. No matter how badly they want a King, in order to resolve the complexity of the world into a matter of simple allegiance to a sovereign, they can't have it. The constitution forbids it.

[LeeG]

Love of life , Georges post for example, is good enough for me.
Otherwise devotional activities with stuff can work in a pinch.
ouch

[Meerkat]

Originally posted by George Roberts:
Some gods are cuter than others.
http://www.robertscpa.com/grandkid/072104_sprinkler.JPGA child of a lesser god? ;)

[Leon m]

Originally posted by MarEng:
If you have any interest in what this may mean for your life and how it makes the troubles of this world seem insignificant, I'd be happy to spend a little more time in The Bilge to discuss it.

.)How bout we just talk about cheese instead. ;)