Propaganda and Religion
What was his point?
What was mine?
I think they are closely aligned, religion and propaganda. But, I think at heart, I am in large part a sociologist, perhaps another part is anthropologist - of the arm chair variety. I’ve studied media, yeah, academically. How can anyone NOT study media now? It is pretty much all we have, the only way we can stay in touch.
When I read all of Antoine de St-Exupery’s flying stories, I was in heaven even when my chair was uncomfortable.
Wind, Sand and Stars was the first I read, then Night Flight, then Flight to Arras, then Southern Mail. oops, I lied. First I read The Little Prince mainly for the pictures and even in my 20’s I did not understand the story. Maybe I didn’t understand it because I was so much on my own planet (that’s was supposed to make you smile).
I mean… tell me twitter is not a weird place to live for a few hours - arguably a very controlled environment for the mind? And, a fertile ground for propapanda to explode into chaos. I wrote something meaningless in reply to @profundity and then I just fell asleep. It was really late and though twitter at 11pm may keep some folks awake, it generally makes me feel better. So, now that I’ve had 3 cups of strong Trader Joe French Roast, I’m ready to dissect Ephesians 4: 1-6, as follows:
“
1 -As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 - Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 - There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--
5 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 - one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 - But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
I have so many questions! I know that William Wilberforce was an abolitionist, but I’m not sure this tweeter was referring to him (William) or to the University or the Wilberforce School network in this country…?
Have you read Ibram A. Kendi, or any person of color on the subject of racism? Racism is not about religion. I don’t think Christianity has any greater standing than any other religion.
Why is it that people who are vulnerable to cults and lies find a way to justify their beliefs as religious? That’s what scares me about cults, lies, religion and propaganda.
Why is it that slavery in the US was for many many years kept in place by people like Cotton Mather?
Have you thought about who has power over whom, and why?
I suggest listening to this song (sometime) by the Flaming Lips “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power) 2006. One of my favorite protest songs, ever. Here are the lyrics:
"The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)"
If you could blow up the world with the flick of a switch
Would you do it?
If you could make everybody poor just so you could be rich
Would you do it?
If you could watch everybody work while you just lay on your back
Would you do it?
If you could take all the love without giving any back
Would you do it?
And so we cannot know ourselves or what we'd really do...
With all your power
With all your power
With all your power
What would you do?
If you could make your own money and then give it to everybody
Would you do it?
If you knew all the answers and could give it to the masses
Would you do it?
No No No No No No Are you crazy?
It's a very dangerous thing to do exactly what you want...
Because you cannot know yourself or what you'd really do...
With all your power
With all your power
With all your power
What would you do?
Thanks for letting me vent my little tirade. Maybe more of a tirade against twitter than anything else.
