A world of one humanity where opposition is no more

From “political correctness” to “identity politics” we can think of them as being pretty much ideological; moreover, designed to end injustices based on sex, race, class, and other injustices still coming onto the social radar screen.  Offering what can only be described, at times, as bombast, these ideologies have not as yet risen to the level of philosophy—and are not expected to.  Lacking thus philosophical precision, recriminations and wrangling become almost the norm when, for example, issues of race or gender are discussed.  Frustration and overzealousness add to the problem. 

Taking stock in what has been said, ideologies such as “political correctness” or “identity politics” can be defended as criticisms of various aspects of culture—not a call for its abandonment promoting, instead, anarchy.  However the truth of the matter, these ideologies are, nevertheless, attempting to construct a new reality different from the older reality which they are attacking.  We can see the vague outlines even now: a world of one humanity where opposition is no more in which we all coexist, peacefully, in a new, brave multicultural reality—happy like the Teletubbies. 

This means also that Buddhism needs to be reformed.  The spiritual elitism between those who are awakened and those who are not needs to be looked at and changed to make Buddhism more open in which all are treated as equal.  To over simplify this somewhat, Buddhism has to be socially relevant to the values of multiculturalism which we need to keep in mind demands a homogenization of acute cultural differences including religious differences.  The appropriateness of this vision, however, is seriously flawed.  What is really being said is weak religions will be changed while those who strongly identify with their religion; who will pushback, will be allowed to practice their religion and even be accommodated.  We see this already in the EU.  Christianity, a weak religion, is gradually disintegrating while the stronger religion of Islam grows.

Buddhism which, like Christianity is a weak religion, has shown signs of losing its original message.  Presently, it is morphing into “secular Buddhism”that is really "humanistic Buddhism" in which the transcendent has been all but expunged in which human happiness is the end.  This humanistic touch also opens up Buddhism to a more dominant and powerful religion like Islam.  Buddhists will, over time, give up their religion rather than stand their ground.  Yes, there is real danger on the horizon for Buddhism.  Things are about to get much worse.

Comments

[Boddhiratna]

Good article!

The author is correct in the assessment of the current crisis. Let's say, if a vessel of pure water is contaminated by dirty water, then the whole vessel is now dirty.

More to the point....strong Christian or Buddhist practice are things of the past. Today's Buddhism is about meditation to relieve the stress from job, a job with a high income so one can keep and maintain that big Benz or Bimmer :)

For the Christians who are taught to forgive, with deepest sincere, their worst enemies. Muslim are taught it is OK to kill 'Infidels' (non-Muslim). Infidels are to be 'beheaded' and their bloods sacrificed.

Islam's tendency to wage violence against non-Muslim/Infidels makes it incompatible with Christians or Buddhists ideology......and as thus, Islam needs to be in its own border to practice their own.

Further, what some of these commenters below fail to understand is, according to numerous internet sources, the drive of mass Muslim migration to the EU is engineered by a few who runs the world puppets (leaders of US and EU included).

One of the real intention, again according to real info/non-MSM media, is to destroy cultures. It is one of the thinly veiled method of race genocide (inter-marriage of Muslim to white). There are many other reasons, and they are on the net if one knows where to look.

As light and darkness are diametrically opposed, the people that wishes harm (and do harms) to the world are out there. They are the psychopaths in power, in religions, in finance, in education, in the military....etc... One last thing they want is an awakened mass of humanity where the light shines upon all.

In order to keep that from happening, they lies. People can do themselves a favor by waking up to Truth. That is the least they can do, to save their souls and hopefully making merits for better rebirth in the next life :)

Boddhiratna

[David Brainerd]

One thing I really wonder at on the compassion front is if Buddha's compassion for animals is being interpreted right. For instance in the Dhammapada he says "all beings want to live so strike none with a stick." Does this really mean never kill an animal, even if its attacking you? Or should it be interpreted in light of the Sutta about Buddha going for alms snd encountering a group of boys poking a snake with a stick just for fun, which ends with Buddha declaring that those who molest beings who are minding their own business will find no peace in the next life. It also seems an overconcern for animal life contradicts reincarnation. If I squash the mosquitto that's biting me, its just gonna be reborn (same with killing a Muslim terrorist) and in fact I've jump started the possibility it will have a better reincarnation this time. But someone will then say "why is muder wrong?" Because unlike a moswuitto and a Muslim terrorist, a normal human has a chance of achieving good karma or even enlightenment that you are cutting off and making them start over.

[thezennist]

The blog is pretty much ironic as the title suggests. The justice we want that sounds so impressive (but only on the surface) is belied by a lack of substance. Wanting to reform our culture for the better, without destroying it, is belied by trying to create a kind of childish reality in its stead. The fate of Buddhism (and even now Christianity) is that with all of its seeming compassion towards the mundane world which is suffering, it has lost the transcendent. It believes in 'nothing' which makes it weak and ineffective.

[Susan]

Sometimes I wonder if you're pathologically depressed. Or this is just underlying normal condition of atheists. Maybe we should all give up hope & just jump into the sea? Let the so-called transsexuals inherit the earth. We "cis" have had our day.

[David Brainerd]

Reading this again, I see I effectively read your post backwards the first time. Oops. That sentence "The appropriateness of this vision, however, is seriously flawed" hid itself from me apparently.