a nyrb essay..interesting, if not revealing about a theological mindset that's informing the christian right-wing nationalism (fanaticism) that's flavoring our political lives
"All social disagreement are basically theological, which means there can be no compromise, ie no such thing as democracy"
I just read it. Fascinating. But of course: a political movement that is, before anything else, religious, will always splinter into factions and never agree on majority rule. Why? Because its members are not only dedicated to an absolute, but to *an imaginary* absolute (i.e., God). Everyone's imagination, and deepest feelings (especially their aesthetic intuitions of what is right and fitting) are different. It amazes me that, to the people Lilla writes about, the solution to the (very real) atomization and anomie of capitalist individualism is CATHOLICISM.--myth, magic, and miracles. Talk about a failure of imagination...
a nyrb essay..interesting, if not revealing about a theological mindset that's informing the christian right-wing nationalism (fanaticism) that's flavoring our political lives
"All social disagreement are basically theological, which means there can be no compromise, ie no such thing as democracy"
Mark Lilla NYRB June 20, 2024
I just read it. Fascinating. But of course: a political movement that is, before anything else, religious, will always splinter into factions and never agree on majority rule. Why? Because its members are not only dedicated to an absolute, but to *an imaginary* absolute (i.e., God). Everyone's imagination, and deepest feelings (especially their aesthetic intuitions of what is right and fitting) are different. It amazes me that, to the people Lilla writes about, the solution to the (very real) atomization and anomie of capitalist individualism is CATHOLICISM.--myth, magic, and miracles. Talk about a failure of imagination...
I have the issue. Thanks. I'll read the piece.