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A Statement of Principles: The Conflict Hypothesis

Nope, not the Conflict Hypothesis you're probably thinking of.

Let it not be said that I am against religious freedom, as religious freedom protects my right not to be religious and to speak out against the harm that religion does, as well as it protects the rights of the religious to be religious and to speak out against people like me. Many of my early posts on this blog centered around Dominionism and associated ideologies like Christian Nationalism, Christian Reconstructionism, Christian Zionism, and Christian Triumphalism. I am not alone in identifying these ideologies as fascistic in nature. However, I have not called Dominionists "terrorists" for a good reason: they don't fit the definition. For as loud as they are, fascists can still be countered in the public sphere. They may not listen to reason, but if reason can have the last word, then fascism (including religious fascism) can be fought without recourse to illegal means. There's nothing illegal about advocating fascism in a pluralistic society. What is illegal is the destruction of said pluralism.

A US President once said: "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

I add a corollary: "Those who make freedom from religion impossible will make religious domination inevitable."

As evidenced by my previous posts, I feel differently about the Church of Scientology and its front groups. Rather than grouping them with the likes of Dominionist fascism, I have called the Church of Scientology a terrorist organization.

Religious freedom is a civil right and a human right, but it is not the only civil right. It is not the only human right. Sometimes, religion is in conflict with other rights. It is at these times that I draw a distinction between religious freedoms and other civil freedoms.

A civil society is a secular society. A secular society means that religious freedom is tolerated, as well as the freedom of the non-religious from religion. This is why I will often use the terms "civil" and "secular" in this context. Secularism does not mean outlawing religion, but a civil society requires that the non-religious be protected from the religious as much as the religious are protected from each other.

Atheism is not a religion. Humanism is a religion to some people. I respect these people, because they understand that though I am a Humanist, Humanism is not my religion. It is my worldview or life stance. I belong to no religion.

When a religious sect endangers the civil rights of its own members, and/or the civil and/or human rights of non-members, that sect has crossed the line, and must be called to answer for its crimes. Neither religious freedom or its corollary, freedom from religion, protects criminal activity.

Within my lifetime, I do believe a legal precedent must be set with regard to reasonable restrictions on religiously-inspired activities. All freedoms come with limits. Freedom does not negate responsibility. It does not negate culpability. And religious freedom isn't the only kind of freedom there is. It's not the only freedom that deserves protection. This is my philosophy of Church-State separation. I call it the Conflict Hypothesis.

This has been a statement of principles.

Definition of Terrorism

The following is taken from the Wikipedia article for the Definition of Terrorism. There is no internationally agreed-upon definition of terrorism, however this is the definition used in the United States. Any questions?

The United States has defined terrorism under the Federal Criminal Code. Chapter 113B of Part I of Title 18 of the United States Code defines terrorism and lists the crimes associated with terrorism. In Section 2331 of Chapter 113b, terrorism is defined as:

…activities that involve violent… or life-threatening acts… that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State and… appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and… (C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States… [or]… (C) occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States…"

Update

Dear Reader,

I have removed all references on this website to my actual identity. The reasons for this decision should be obvious.

-You Humble Blogger

Big Brother in Clearwater, Florida

Still don't believe that the Church of Scientology and its front groups are a criminal, terrorist organization?

This twenty minute piece about the Clearwater, Florida police department should change your mind. Separation of Church and State? Not in Clearwater.

Warning: very disturbing.

Great Anti-Scientology Film

In addition to being a total sci-fi geek, I also have a love for independent films that try new things, so imagine my surprise when I discovered this dramatic critique of Scientology, made available for free on-line distribution.

It is a fact-based dramatization of life inside the Church of Scientology called "The Bridge," made in 2006. I urge everyone to watch this 1 hour, 9 minute long film. It's low budget, and some of the acting isn't up to par, but it's innovative in the way that it confronts Scientology head-on. I watched it last night and was not only entertained but educated. This film (yes, I'm pretentious enough to use the word film near-exclusively when applied to indie projects) is to Scientology what Jesus Camp is to conservative Christianity. And it's just as creepy. Kudos to the filmmaker!

I want to reiterate that I am not without sympathy for the people who have been duped by the CoS. This is why I appreciate how the film takes a very human approach to its protagonist, Diane, an insecure young woman who begins to doubt her faith when she realizes the Church isn't sharing the whole truth with her. Diane's story is utterly believable, disturbingly so. Please, watch this movie.

EDIT: Please also note that several weeks after this film began circulating, the Church of Scientology hired investigators to dig up dirt on the director and scare him into silence. Apparently it worked. At this time, there is no mention of this film on the Director's website, bretthanover.com.

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Latest Activity

Barry Greenstein's profile changed Sep. 14, 2008

Barry Greenstein is member #342 of Transhumanist Network. Sep. 14, 2008

Profile Information

Location:: The State of Humanity

About Me:: I am a secular transhumanist. I believe in the Human Being in transition, culturally, artistically, evolutionarily. I am a neo-technocrat too. Check out my provocative blog below.

Website:: http://minerscanary.blogspot.com/

Areas of interest:: Neo-Technocracy, Transhumanism, Secular Humanism, Activism, being a modern day Zarathustra

Area(s) of expertise/knowledge:: Biological Anthropology, Activism, Framing and Coalition Building

Associations/Affiliations:: Center for Inquiry, Secular Student Alliance, Humanist Association of Greater Philadelphia, Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia

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