Anarchy is Godliness

[Zazaban]

Ah, one of the anti-rationality types. This makes for good entertainment.

Yup

[Guest]

First of all, define "God." Is the capital G important here? Are we talking about Yahweh? I don't believe in Yahweh. If we're talking about something else, please explain. If we're talking about some nebulous concept of "the infinite unknown," then, OK, I believe in... that.

The first step is defining terms. Why was this not done? Oversight? sneakiness? something else? Give me details so I can weigh in.

Define God?

Is this impossibility similar to the impossibility of defining anarchism? If so, how? If not, why not?

I didn't mean "define God" in the ultimate sense. I meant for you to tell me what YOU meant by "God" when you wrote it in the opening post.

If I were defining "anarchism" I'd have to mention the fact that it means different things to different people, but has a few common threads that run through all the interpretations which ties them together under that common banner. But If I'm defining "mutualism" I can get more specific.

Likewise, if I'm defining "god" in the sense of a common header that includes everything from Apollo to Zeus, then the definition will be necessarily vague. But if I'm defining Yahweh I can point to the Bible.

Take it as you have received it. Nature, nothing, etc.

"Take it as I received it" isn't helpful. We could agree that God exists, only to later discover that you meant Yahweh and I meant the Flying Spaghetti Monster. But if I don't believe in Yahweh and you don't believe in the FSM, then our agreement was a misunderstanding.

Do you exist?

I think so.

Now, please define "God" as you intended it when you started the thread.

[Garnier]

Well, by now we've heard that pedophillia & religion/church are ok. I wont be a bit suprised if vana posts something like 'the state is ok, is anarchy!.
Then what are we talking about?

Anarchists are free to develop theit own kind of spirituality or not if they chose not. Be it along monotheistic,pagan or new age line, it's anyone's guess.
But to claim that the church is actually anarchic is loonacy...

[Dimitri]

I am surprised at how many anarchists seem to have fallen for, passionately, the mainstream MTV creeds of agnosticism and atheism.

God is central to anarchism.

The pioneres of anarchism were largley devout, if not fanatical, Christians. Anarchism also has strong connections with Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

Why are so many anarchists preaching the Godless dogmas of capitalism?

Can you backup why god is central to anarchism?
Claiming there is a god means setting an hierarchy and means "authority".

Read a few of your responses all I can say is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T69TOuqaqXI
Enjoy..

[Francois Tremblay]

Ghosts do not exist.
Santa Claus does not exist.
Leprechauns do not exist.
Gods do not exist.

They were all made up by people who wrote stories down to scare children, explain the universe, or just make up stories. The Bible is a book, compiled by a bunch of old guys more than 1500 years ago, made up of a bunch of little stories that people wrote to promote their idea of religion against everyone else's.

[Marja]

Well, many of the first Christians got executed by the Roman state.

One may wonder what they were using these stories for. Fragments of this early layer survive, in Q, in the older parts of the Pauline corpus, and in the older parts of Mark.

Most religious texts are literary works, intended, like poetry or allegory, to express truths, primarily about spiritual experiences and also about moral choices. Historical and biographical sections may be true to history without being true history; the rest doesn't even try to be history. Early Christians knew that and did not even agree that the earth was created; modern Christians introduced literalism in the 16th and 17th centuries. Dawkins et al. are arguing against a very recent deviation from historical Christianity. It's like arguing against Rothbard and taking it as an argument against anarchism in general.

[Insecuritykiller]

Yeah if you want to know the answer just ask me.

[African_Prince]

I am surprised at how many anarchists seem to have fallen for, passionately, the mainstream MTV creeds of agnosticism and atheism.

God is central to anarchism.

The pioneres of anarchism were largley devout, if not fanatical, Christians. Anarchism also has strong connections with Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

Why are so many anarchists preaching the Godless dogmas of capitalism?


The kingdom of God is within you.

- Tolstoy

My understanding is that most of the early anarchists (like Mikhail Bakunin) were atheists or agnostics. I wouldn't say that Leo Tolstoy wasn't an anarchist but it would make sense for an anarchist to be an atheist. God is an authority figure, anarchists should reject all forms of authority, including 'benevolent' paternalism.

[Saturnine]

Actually, Anarchism arguable goes back to the Tao Te Ching.

[jack]

Actually, Anarchism arguable goes back to the Tao Te Ching.

It's stupid to claim people like Thoreu, Lao Tzu, and the Greek Sceptics as anarchists because they didn't promote anarchism, didn't give it any economics, or really do anything for it at all except say "guvment sux" and leave it at that. They weren't anarchists, anarchism didn't come around until the mid 19th century. That's like those that claim Spartacus and Jesus as socialists or anarchists, it has no basis.

Also, atheism and anarchism are inseperable.

[Yarrow]

atheism and anarchies are very separable. i may believe in gods, and still choose my authorities.

[jack]

atheism and anarchies are very separable. i may believe in gods, and still choose my authorities.

What are you, some kind of pagan?

[Yarrow]

no. but you may believe in gods as well, whichever and however many you like.

[jack]

no. but you may believe in gods as well, whichever and however many you like.

Erm, no?

What do you beleive in then anyways.

[Zazaban]

no. but you may believe in gods as well, whichever and however many you like.

Erm, no?

No? Why not?