Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Quote of the Day: It’s Not Just About Politics
The article in the New York Times, like its companion piece in the Washington Post, is one long dog whistle. Its warning is not about Judge Barrett herself, who will fold into the life of the Supreme Court, but the possibility that others who share or are attracted to her active religiosity might be rising out there in the country to pose a threat to the secular dominance of America’s cultural mores that began some 60 years ago.
The new counter-belief system back then argued that shared community values grounded in religious belief—or virtue of the sort evident in the Barrett family—imposes unnecessary constraints on personal or private behavior.
Why this tension should have divided eventually into liberal versus conservative isn’t immediately obvious. There still are many liberal traditionalists. But it did. So now the possible appearance of a “conservative Christianity” needs to be delegitimized, or canceled, before it spreads. Perhaps it is a sign of the dominant culture’s lack of confidence in the durability of its own value system that its main tool of opposition isn’t argument but suppression and condescension. — Daniel Henninger
This observation by Daniel Henninger grabbed my attention: that the tension between secularity and religion seemed to have divided into the positions of the Left and Right. I agree with him, but I believe the reasons are clear. I believe that the dogma of the Left has rejected most of what the Right stands for: the importance of values, belief in G-d, the sacred, community, responsibility, compassion, and kindness—in other words, everything that religion represents. Of course, the Left has created a religion of its own, one that distorts religious values and creates division, hatred, and violence.
Unless and until we can bring the beauty, benefits, and meaning of religion back into the mainstream, the Left will continue to desecrate its purpose.
Do you see any signs of a restoration of religion in our times?
Published in Group Writing
Susan it’s even more profound than that. ACB’s woman’s life of raising seven children, getting degrees and rising to the SCOTUS proves the lie that women need abortions to rise to the top.
As to your question, do I see more religiosity in our culture? I don’t know. I see two divergent paths, a polarization. One path being super secular, if not atheist. A second path of those striving to go deeper into their faiths. This country is so split on many things. The one thing that gives me hope is how Donald Trump has been unequivocally and vociferously pro-life and has not only survived but perhaps been sustained by it. Past Republicans were so mealy-mouthed about it, half-hearted it made you wonder if they were only saying it to appease their base.
Yes Jim but you can’t get a McRib at Chabad and therefore John Yoo will never darken its door. Heh.
Suzy,
That’s because he never had a real Shabbos kiddush lunch with plenty of bagel & lox, hot cholent, challah, and a nice chocolate layer cake for dessert (chocolate with chocolate icing with extra chocolate hidden in there somewhere, you can never get too much chocolate). Of course, there is gefilte fish, salad, some herring & crackers … etc. etc. You can have your choice of a small shot of chilled vodka or black label scotch.
Even a hard case like John Yoo would love it. It’s Dr. Epstein that would be the problem. He wouldn’t ever want to leave.
Regards,
Jim
So true!! Just so you know, @colleenb wrote the clever remark about John Yoo! I think I’m going to make an early lunch . . . ;-)