{"id":5656,"date":"2017-08-30T14:04:22","date_gmt":"2017-08-30T21:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/?p=5656"},"modified":"2017-08-30T17:21:06","modified_gmt":"2017-08-31T00:21:06","slug":"what-if-the-choice-is-between-god-and-government-from-where-does-your-authority-derive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/?p=5656","title":{"rendered":"What If The Choice Is Between God And Government? From Where Does YOUR Authority Derive?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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(Brunette here.) Are you skeptical about religion? Yes? . . . me too. Are you equally skeptical of Atheism? (Ditto.) Atheism seems quite popular at present; I take no issue with individual atheists, though evangelizing atheists (evangelists of any sort, frankly) DO irk me. Faith is an extremely personal thing to those who possess it. In tossing religion out the window, does it concern you that God might get the boot too? Recently I’ve come to see that as a problem that affects Americans (and Western cultures) in numerous ways. Once you abandon the tenet of a loving creator, you also abandon the presumed basis of equality, for starters.<\/p>\n

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Consequently, the presumption of equality risks becoming a casualty of the courts, crooked cops, politicians, and academics (i.e., lesser authorities) . . . it becomes Lucy’s football (of Charlie Brown fame) rather than the immovable cornerstone of justice. The idea is that we’re all created equal (by God), so the system must treat individuals as such. That concept is too important to scrap; it’s repugnant to see it done casually out of misguided disdain for religion.<\/p>\n

Equality raises the humble and humbles the mighty, exactly as a loving God might wish, for the sake of peace among men. Take God-given equality away from the equation, and you’ve got what looks much like the world today: noisy people claiming to be oppressed, while in reality acting to oppress others in the search for “equality” as they themselves define it — usually favoring them, whether consciously or unconsciously.<\/p>\n

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I now see God as the ultimate defender of Individualism and therefore Liberty. Yet it seems that so many individualists reject God altogether. Unfortunately, the very authority you may choose to deny God will inevitably end up in the hands of lesser creatures; and (as we’ve seen) often the most corrupt and self-serving sorts. In a society where “In God We Trust” is considered an anachronism, those vile men and women most eager to sully their higher selves for worldly gain tend to rise to the top of societies like so much pond scum. If you’re unwilling to cede authority to God, behold the consequences . . . they’re probably all around you. In your face, too. Just as more guns = less crime, perhaps more God = less (and better) government?<\/p>\n

Government, perhaps more than any other institution, derives benefit from Godlessness. Ironically, religious institutions do too. What need (apart from a community gathering place) has one of a church, mosque, or temple when one can have a personal connection to the Big Guy (or Gal, if you prefer) without requiring any middlemen? Whether it’s a walk with Jesus or a meditation on the Buddha, it’s an often solitary pursuit and a peaceful one . . . no mob scene need apply.<\/p>\n

No middlemen . . . isn’t that the point of a good (as opposed to a tyrannical) God? Either we agree amongst ourselves to act as if there is (or may be) a higher power<\/a>, a supreme authority that none may rise above, or authority becomes a golden ring there for the grasping by . . . well, the grasping. A loving God is the sole authority that offers no incentive — and is instead a disincentive — to wield power over others.<\/p>\n

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A loving God is the internal police force that holds us accountable for our actions, as well as the internal counselor who offers solace and mercy when we screw up, and encourages us to learn from our mistakes rather than damning us for them. God is the internal teacher who shows us the power of truth and the value of forgiveness. God offers us grace and rewards gratitude with a sense of peace and well-being, just as God allows us to punish ourselves by rejecting those freely offered gifts.<\/p>\n

It appears America’s Founding Fathers understood all of this, probably much better than I do. Trust in God, rather than in man-made authority, made America unique and Americans took pride in the society that resulted.<\/p>\n

If human rights aren’t acknowledged as God-given, endless squabbling ensues about what those rights are and who determines them. As with equality, if we fail to accredit God for bestowing human rights and Liberty upon us all, well then . . . the resulting mess visits consequences upon us all. Governments become enabled to take liberties with us and restrict rights. Again, we find ourselves playing Charlie Brown to Lucy’s football.<\/p>\n

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Naturally, I understand why so many have soured on religion . . . having had bad experiences via religious upbringing, and\/or education. Nowhere have I seen more heart-wrenching tales of religious oppression than at ExMuslim TV (twitter account)<\/a> or their Youtube channel<\/a>. The clips are all short and I highly recommend them. Understandably, it seems most ex-Muslims tend to become atheists<\/a> and reject God outright. Many risk their lives in doing so; it’s important enough to them . . . “give me liberty or give me death” ring a bell? Few things enrage me like hearing the slippery term ‘Islamophobia’ used to silence the courageous voices of apostates from Islam: Listen to them, please.<\/p>\n

“Millions of ExMuslims are forced to publicly identify as Muslims<\/a>.” “Am I an Islamophobe? Or isn’t Islam freedomophobe?<\/a>” “I am an ExMuslim because I believe in equality and humanity<\/a>.” “Nothing demeans women more than Islamic law. Beware of its advocates disguised as feminists<\/a>.” “The importance of supporting ExMuslims<\/a>.” “Mum said, ‘You can’t tell anyone else, they will kill you<\/a>.'” Those are all very short clips, but should begin to convey the scale of the problems ExMuslims face. Yes, we need to be concerned about Islam<\/a>, very much so<\/a> — however, the quieter Muslims are the ones likely to be suffering in silence, afraid to risk death and dishonor for expressing very reasonable doubts.<\/p>\n

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Just as gun-grabbers are unable or unwilling to see that responsible gun owners keep their neighborhoods safer, it seems to me that people who disdain or disparage God (and others’ faith in God) are reckless to do so. Sure, religion can be a treacherous thing and attract fanatics, but think of it as a spiritual means of self-defense against an uncertain and sometimes cruel world. Take half an hour to listen to David Wood’s stunning testimony<\/a>, if you haven’t — if you have a heart, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of what religion (and God) can mean to a person. Alternatively, here’s a much shorter version of his story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The faith of our neighbors might shield us, both culturally and spiritually, from the growth, power, and rapacity of government<\/a> — a god of choice for some non-believers. Christians by and large tend to be good self-governors, despite a few radical fringe groups that seem to get all the press these days. Christians, like conservatives, tend to receive a lot of unwarranted abuse and don’t tend to noisily protest — unlike the left with their “safe spaces,” “microaggressions,” and their recent alarming trend of anti-white sentiment.<\/p>\n

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And IF there is a God, perhaps God (this He\/She business gets awkward) DOES care for us as individuals. Perhaps we’re all a bit special in God’s eyes. Imagine you’re a doting parent, yet your kids grow up to be bitter, angry, and disrespectful. You want them to live happy and successful lives, but they choose to get into trouble and then expect you to bail them out. They scorn your gifts and affection, only want money from you, or a new car, or a ride somewhere. A loving parent holds out hope the kids will change for the better with time, and tries to help . . . but it’s up to the sons and daughters to use their freedom wisely.<\/p>\n

In the end, I’ve decided that the brilliant Jordan Peterson<\/a> gets it right in this YouTube clip, “Do you believe that God Exists<\/a>?” Jordan replies, “I ACT AS IF God exists. Now, you can decide for yourself whether that means that I believe in Him.” Jordan has some fascinating insights regarding God and religion. For example, in this YouTube clip with Dave Rubin<\/a>. Or here, where he’s asked about his religious beliefs<\/a>. Maybe “the real reason modern people can’t see God is that they won’t look low enough<\/a>.” I’ve seen other talks, too, and recommend his new YouTube channel here<\/a>, or his Vid.me channel if you prefer<\/a>. YouTube lately has gone on a rampage of censorship, and apparently outraged many users like Peterson, Paul Joseph Watson, Diamond and Silk, Joy Villa, (just to name a few) some of whom will be seeking out alternate platforms.<\/p>\n

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Here’s a fantastic introduction to Jordan Peterson’s incredible work if you’re unfamiliar with him: Postmodernism: How And why it must be fought<\/a> (12 min.) . . . he speaks of “The paramount importance of the individual and the divinity of speech, that’s something to sell!” (to young people who are searching for meaning in life.) He packs so much into that short speech, it’s like learning what’s wrong with today’s world in a nutshell. If you know students who’ve been indoctrinated by the left, and wish to red-pill them, turn them on to Jordan Peterson’s work. Here’s J.P.’s Twitter<\/a>, or find his other social media accounts at JordanBPeterson.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In an interview I’ve been unable to find again for this article, Jordan describes his concept of God — I’ll attempt to sum it up: God is the spirit of humanity, across time and space, encompassing not only billions of different individuals, but the many stages of you and your own life. (<\/em>That’s a clumsy attempt, in my own words, to recapture the gist of what I heard. He’s eloquent and well worth listening to; one reason it’s so hard to recall which particular clip that was from . . . I’ve listened to many.) \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

You’re a very different person at 40 than you were at 20, or at 2, and you’ll be a changed person when you’re 80 . . . and if you’re on an intellectual journey, rather than stuck in whatever ideological rut you were born into, you might have very different ideas from one stage of life to another. You’ll likely have confronted and discarded much in the way of nonsensical ideas, and embraced perspectives that would once have seemed alien. You’ll have learned from your experiences, to put it simply. So God, in a sense, is the sum total of human potentiality, including yours. It’s a theory I find intriguing.<\/p>\n

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In “Discourse with moderate Muslims<\/a>,” Jordan says, “War is what happens when discourse fails . . . truthful discourse, that’s the hope for the salvation of the world.” Between the slippery and naive left’s approach of coddling Muslims with ‘the soft bigotry of low expectations,’ and the fervently hostile approach of some on the right to Islam, there’s the middle course of discourse. And I agree with Jordan, it’s the only way we can continue to coexist and come to terms with fellow humans of incompatible ideologies — drop the ideologies for the sake of dialog and the future of humanity.<\/p>\n

The problem is not that people believe in a God, it’s what God the individuals believe in . . . and man’s various concepts of God are certainly NOT created equal. (Don’t they all claim to be superior?) They range from the wonderful to the horrifying, so it’s vital to distinguish between the traditions and retain the ability to discuss them. That’s why Sharia is so treacherous; no criticism is tolerated. The less criticism is tolerated, the more thoughtful criticism becomes urgently necessary.<\/p>\n

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So for heaven’s sake, reject God if you choose . . . but don’t badger others to relinquish their faith. Can it hurt to suppose that there MIGHT be a God, a creator who loves us, and ACT as though God has made us all equal so we don’t have to endure all the detestable squabbling about who’s most oppressed (a contest Maajid Nawaz has dubbed “oppression Olympics”)? If you won’t acknowledge that Liberty (free will) is God-given, how are you going to defend it against gangs and governments, short of war? Did God make you a sovereign individual, or is a cursory nod to God too high a price to pay for individual sovereignty? For human rights?<\/p>\n

Can you at least give God’s existence the BENEFIT OF A DOUBT for the sake of retaining civilization, for the future of humanity and our home planet? Can you conjure up some gratitude for God for the blessings of Life, Liberty, Individual Sovereignty, and Equality, or is that too much to ask?<\/p>\n

MAGA . . . Make America GRATEFUL Again!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Brunette here.) Are you skeptical about religion? Yes? . . . me too. Are you equally skeptical of Atheism? (Ditto.) Atheism seems quite popular at present; I take no issue with individual atheists, though evangelizing atheists (evangelists of any sort, frankly) DO irk me. Faith is an extremely personal thing to those who possess it. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[69,21,78,77,60,86,61,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-brunettes-rants","category-free-speech","category-individual-liberty","category-islam","category-jesus","category-judicial-tyranny","category-religion","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pWqFl-1te","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5656"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5723,"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5656\/revisions\/5723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vinsuprynowicz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}