Holy Wars

Every now and then I check out trailers for new movies that are coming out. Today, I saw this: Holy Wars.

David, the Naked Pastor reveals a good explanation
of why fundamentalism works for people. Though, it doesn’t work for David or myself any longer. Fundamentalism is a rigid and strong structure which is self-affirming. The self-affirming nature of the system cannot be assailed. Every system, even science and math, is self-affirming (see Polanyi Personal Knowledge). These structures we impose on the world must reify themselves in the wake of new evidence. There does come, however, a breaking point in all systems. It all goes downhill when the adherents of Fundamentalism refuse to allow the evidence and experience that comes to them to override what they believe (Polanyi recounts many stories of scientists where this exact system of belief needed toppling, and they were unable to allow it to happen).

The problem is not with Fundamentalism as such, but the adherents unwillingness to challenge what they believe. It is really interesting to contrast this ideology with what is going on in NYC with the mosque near Ground Zero. I’m a New Yorker born and raised, and I know the people of the city can deal with this issue perfectly fine. It seems to be all the competing interests that are causing problems over this issue.

Ultimately systems of belief (of any field or topic) will be toppled by another that comes after it. The issue of faith and loyalty is not to a specific dogmatic expression – but to the ineffable core which grounds all those expressions, and to the loyalty of your fellow human being.