File spoon-archives/lyotard.archive/lyotard_2003/lyotard.0311, message 105


Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 18:19:39 -0500
From: hbone <hbone-AT-optonline.net>
Subject: Religion etc.



Steve wrote:

> The reality of my position is that Pascal's Wager like the metaphysical
> arguments of Aquinas, St Thomas and others attempting to justify God's
> existence and faith/belief all fail to impress.  For faith and belief in
> god derive from death, fear and terror...  when there is more terror in
> the air god becomes more popular - this is evident  both in Jabes and
> Levinas - underlying both is a relationship to 'terror' that can only be
> alleviated by faith and belief.

Key words are "faith" and "belief".   The first Marxist was very strong on
faith
and belief in his "project",  and  so are present-day activists.

In my mind, these words, and also words like "desire",  "project", "voice",
are appropriate with respect to human intelligence.  Such expressions of
attitudes and dedication apply to atheists and theists alike.

IMHO Marxism and science are God-substitute ideologies that often inspire a
"religious" fervor in their disciples.

This weekend I was steeped in TV documentaries of the event of 40 years ago,
and particularly a lengthy Frontline story of the life and death of Lee
Harvey Oswald.

Oswald called himself a Marxist, but said he was not a Communist.   He was
in many respects bold and ingenious, wanted to be a leader, but apparently
didn't have the necessary personality and intelligence.  The Marines, at one
point rated him a "sharpshooter",  later he was only a  "marksman".

If Hollywood had produced a movie of  a fictional character and story
identical to the events of Oswald's life, no one would believe it.

regards,
Hugh



   

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