Liberalism or Progressivism is a quasi-religion and has a distinct set of moral values and vices, different than most other religions.
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Envy or covetousness is an important moral value for liberal-progressives. It's what they have instead of justice. Pretty much every other religion views envy as a vice.
For liberal-progressives, the rich are objects of hatred. Their wealth is viewed as a moral evil causing suffering on the part of everyone else. Rich people can, though, obtain absolution by advocating liberal pro-government policies and higher taxes. They don't need to actually pay higher taxes themselves or ever intend to (see Kerry and Buffet). Cheating on their taxes is perfectly acceptable (see Rangel, Geithner). Just like Christian salvation by faith, the liberal-progressive rich obtains complete and total absolution from the sin of wealth by the proper faith. No works involved.
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Denial of the concept of sin as found in other religious traditions is another liberal-progressive moral value. It's not a matter of tolerance of sin or forgiveness for sinners, it's necessary to deny that the traditional sins are wrong.
In fact, the very concept of sin in found in all other religions is considered a moral evil. To liberal-progressives, sin shouldn't even be shunned. Sinful acts are just legitimate lifestyle choices and disapproval of sin is itself a moral evil. The greatest sin is believing in and disapproving sin.
[ Consider the judge in the recent same sex marriage case. He declared that moral disapproval is no basis for laws. But it's perfectly clear that he wants the law to be based on his moral disapproval of those who disagree with him on same sex marraige. ]
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Liberal-progressivism seems to be a moral value system that is turned upside down as compared to other religious traditions.
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They have other moral beliefs that are unrelated to other religious traditions though:
Government is good, private business is bad. After all, private business is driven by the profit motive, the impure desire to become wealthier. Even if a private businessman isn't wealthy, he's still morally polluted because he's trying to get wealthier. On the other hand, government bureaucrats and liberal politicians are viewed as morally virtuous.
American exceptionalism. Many Americans believe in this:
(From John Winthrop: "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us." to Ronald Reagan: "I've spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity.")
Liberal-progressives have their own idea of American exceptionalism. They believe America is exceptionally bad. Conceived in sin - irredeemably racist, capitalist and war-mongering from its beginning until the day liberal-progressives can transform it into a thoroughly secular socialist country.
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Some ways that liberal-progressivism IS like some other religions:
Some religions have purity laws involving what one eats or wears or comes into contact with. Liberal-progressives do have their version of these things. Organic food, vegetarianism, the belief in the uncleanness of genetically engineering and nuclear power and fossil fuels are examples.
Also the green myth seems to be almost consciously modeled after Christianity:
... environmentalism mirrors many of the structures of Judeo-Christian beliefs. We are a fallen people – we have eaten from the tree of knowledge, and because we can do what we like, we do. We over-consume, over-pollute, drive other species to extinction, pour chemicals on the earth, live badly, create mountains of poisonous waste, farm other species in foul battery conditions, fill them with anti-biotics and over-eat unnaturally. We have fallen from grace, and there is a judgement day coming – we will suffer God’s wrath in the form of rising seas drowning us, disease, hurricanes and tempests, starvation, all the Biblical Plagues of Egypt.
These mythic structures – grace, harmony with nature in Eden, fall from grace into a state of sin – mirror religion. How can we be saved? By salvation through sustainability, by walking not driving, by voluntarily cutting back on consumption and waste, by eating organic food happily produced, by holidaying at home, by recycling, even perhaps by not washing. And by forcing these forms of behaviour on others, because whether or not we believe, we must be made to behave as if we do. We must confess our sins. Carbon must be taxed, the more heavily the better. We must picket coal-fired power stations even if that means our lights go out.
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And global warming has taken it to a whole new level, the danger perceived is so immense, so terrifying, literally the wrath of God, of the climate system, will be unleashed upon us unless we repent and learn how to live in harmony with our planet, our God.
From: noconsensus.wordpress.com
PS: There was a time when all humans ate organic food, there were no pesticides, no herbicides, everything consumed was locally produced, all technology was sustainable and renewable. What was life like in this "golden age?" As a rule, nasty, brutal, and short.
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Liberal-progressivism is a unique and very different system of moral values.
As thoughts come to me, I may be adding to the above. We'll see. |
