Theocratic Living and Design

Readers:

I have been absent for a spell and I am sorry for not providing you with my thrice-weekly rant. However, I see my apology is unnecessary because Auditus filled with void with some good humor and clear thinking related to our ongoing argument with Michael Eden. I really do not think I am up to equaling Auditus’ post on the matter, but I will offer up some thoughts inspired by his own.

Some years back a friend of mine who labels herself an evangelical Christian asked me about my religious views. When I told her that I was happily agnostic she questioned my intellectual commitment because, to paraphrase her, thinking about God is the most essential of questions. I disagreed with her then and I more strongly disagree with Eden and other evangelical folk now. For me trying to argue about one’s faith and attempting to persuade others to change their views on the subject is often a colossal waste of time. Why so, you ask? The reason is that arguing about disprovable faiths gets in the way of living. What I mean is that, for me at least, the point of life is trying to figure out what one can do, how to best live with oneself and others, and what sort of a positive change can be made in the circumstances into which we are cast. I find the idea of a text that purportedly conveys all the answers to life’s questions is anathema to free thinking, self-direction, and intellectual curiosity.

And to digress further, living in a religious plurality should mean that we do not compel others to accept the markers and quotations of another’s (or any) religion in our courthouses, capitals, or public squares. For people like Michael Eden, his bible and his Christ should always be given pride of place, yet never would he allow a competing religion the same honor. I want to argue that none of these faith-based trappings be added to any public structures or places, though I do not have an issue when the marker or quotation was added many years ago and thus has a long and, one hopes, uncontested history. If people want to decorate their private property, their vehicles, and themselves with such ornaments then feel free. When it comes to public spaces, however, I say we should adopt the policy of keeping a neat house. Such a house would be free of the religious decoration favored by folk like Michael Eden. Were he allowed to design and control our public spaces then we would quickly find ourselves inhabiting the monochromatic and stifling land of theocracy. Why don’t you pray over that one, Eden? As for myself, I will go about the business of living and trying to understand existence on my own terms.