With the shattering of the religious/cultural consensus of Christianity by Protestantism,
I think a
certain kind of person was left high and dry, at least in the modern West.
Before, you could just say, "I'm a Christian!" And because 'society' was Christian you found a measure of acceptance.
No matter what. It provided a guarantee of belonging.
In our society, we've attempted to make religious devotion and citizenship toyour country two distinct things.
I don't think any of us really realizes how bizarre this is in the course of human history. For some people, this division
is intolerable, offensive. Even some 500-600 yrs of the modern Western tradition, these people haven't adjusted, adapted or gotten used
to it. They crave unity between secular and religious and there's nothing in our world they can grab. So they feel hollow, as if their lives are meaningless.
Today, the best these people can do for the guarantee of belonging they crave is to wrap themselves in the flag.
And it doesn't work the way they want it to because their ideas about faith and nationality don't synch with our political environment.
TBH, I wouldn't mind having a guarantee of belonging, too. A place where my individuality would be respected, no matter what.
But I'm no patriotic extremist. I'm not willing to say, "My country, right or wrong."
I support the Constitution, I love what our country is supposed to represent.
But I hate how the corporations have taken over everything.
Right now, at this point in history, fighting for America means fighting for the corporations, too. Um, no. I don't think so.
You'd have to draft me into the military, and I for one am glad we no longer have the draft.
At least in this place I have a guarantee of belonging.
Right, Sabrina???
Right, guys? Guys? Talk to me here, tell me I'm okay.......
