I've been trying to convey this idea to people (how much woke-ism reminds me of the puritanical Christianity of the early US and how much we may as a nation have lost our religion but not our religiosity), but you do it so much more eloquently. I love your Substack. You always come up with something fascinating and enlightening.
Great article. Antonio Garcia Martinez expressed a similar concept in his theory of the conservation of religion: "religion is never created nor destroyed in any society, but merely conserved in various guises."
Also, I thought Yglesias called his substack "slow boring" because it is slow and boring! Which it is! Which is why I unsubscribed. Good to get the correct reference.
Thank you for this. I would add that this analysis also explains a lot of the "irrational" behavior of the woke mobs. They have elevated Progressive ideology to a secular/crypto-religion with its own set of dogmas, rituals and saints. Anyone who dares to question or oppose the dogma is branded and castigated as a heretic, a blasphemer. Makes perfect sense when you view it that way.
FAIAP North Korea's concept of "Juche" is a political religion. In fact, it's so religious in its methodology that political analysts have compared it to a communist-reformed Christianity in how it's set up. That Kim Il Sung's uncle was a methodist minister who later left the faith and joined the communists points to a possible origin. What's scary about Juche is that despite the extreme poverty and horrible conditions it causes it's a self-reinforcing belief system that enthralls the population in a never-ending revolutionary revival ruled over by virtue-signaling elites. This could be us, if we're not careful.
Thank you for writing this; It succinctly captures and expresses that which I've sensed for years now. I would argue that ironically, most of the individuals described in this piece would be repulsed by the thought that they are acting in a "religious" manner.
I've been trying to convey this idea to people (how much woke-ism reminds me of the puritanical Christianity of the early US and how much we may as a nation have lost our religion but not our religiosity), but you do it so much more eloquently. I love your Substack. You always come up with something fascinating and enlightening.
Thank you so much! That's such valuable encouragement to keep writing.
Great article. Antonio Garcia Martinez expressed a similar concept in his theory of the conservation of religion: "religion is never created nor destroyed in any society, but merely conserved in various guises."
https://www.thepullrequest.com/p/the-holy-church-of-christ-without
Hi, I'm new, sent by Freddie deBoer. I strongly recommend https://theupheaval.substack.com and https://paulkingsnorth.substack.com for sharp analysis from a similar point of view on the relation between contemporary politics and religion.
Also, I thought Yglesias called his substack "slow boring" because it is slow and boring! Which it is! Which is why I unsubscribed. Good to get the correct reference.
Yes, others have expressed similar thoughts, but this is the best essay so far on what I call the religion that persecutes heretics.
Excellent succinct, explanation.
I appreciate this so much. Fantastic writing, fascinating research, aptly expressed. Cheers.
Thank you for this. I would add that this analysis also explains a lot of the "irrational" behavior of the woke mobs. They have elevated Progressive ideology to a secular/crypto-religion with its own set of dogmas, rituals and saints. Anyone who dares to question or oppose the dogma is branded and castigated as a heretic, a blasphemer. Makes perfect sense when you view it that way.
FAIAP North Korea's concept of "Juche" is a political religion. In fact, it's so religious in its methodology that political analysts have compared it to a communist-reformed Christianity in how it's set up. That Kim Il Sung's uncle was a methodist minister who later left the faith and joined the communists points to a possible origin. What's scary about Juche is that despite the extreme poverty and horrible conditions it causes it's a self-reinforcing belief system that enthralls the population in a never-ending revolutionary revival ruled over by virtue-signaling elites. This could be us, if we're not careful.
Some of your best writing, mate
Thank you for writing this; It succinctly captures and expresses that which I've sensed for years now. I would argue that ironically, most of the individuals described in this piece would be repulsed by the thought that they are acting in a "religious" manner.