by JDHURF » Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:36 pm
Zeugma is presenting a perfectly ahistorical narrative. Totalitarianism comes from the very concept of an unalterable, invisible, divine authority subject to no evidence or appeal (the divine right of Kings, etc.). The history of religion in politics is the history of totalitarianism, oppression, mass murder and fascism. This has been the particular history of Christianity ever since Constantine decided to emblazon the Roman shield with the Christian cross.
I would like to see some compelling evidence that democracy breeds anomie when all of history and recent history in particular shows the opposite: the lack of democracy breeds unrest and anomie. Religion itself certainly breeds anomie: the Crusades, the Inquisitions, the pogroms, the witch trials, the jihads, Israel-Palestine and on and on and on.
The fundamental problem is the willingness to believe anything without good reason. That is the fundamental problem. Once one takes that leap, anything is possible. The answer is not more blind, dumb faith, the answer is more reason.
There's lately been a noticeable hint of fascist ideology in Zeugma's posts, which is not surprising given his reverence for Nietzsche and Heidegger.