Originally Posted by
tailfins
There's a grain of truth to the premise. It's why I lost interest in conservatism. It's not enough to defend traditional marriage, favor prayer in public schools, be against evolution, etc., etc., etc. It's the demand of extreme conformity on even very trivial matters. I refer to them as the modern day Pharisees. I read conservative analysis of issues and agree with most of it. However, when I see a culture that demands conformity, it's time to run, not walk away. That was the thing that made me throw up my hands and give up on living in the South, seeking out the most un-Southern place I could find. My first major employment after leaving Tennessee was in Cambridge, Mass. Being a non-conformist in Tennessee is much more difficult than being a Republican in Cambridge.
You're tying religious beliefs to conservatism. I contend the link isn't strong.
The premise of the film - it's spot on. Who was it that said "Truly following God is based in the desire for knowlege. To know Him. Religion is based in the desire to control."?
Moving from uber-left-wing Seattle area to LA (Lower Alabama) was a shock for me. Initially I thought I was moving back to 'My People' - reasonable conservatives. What i got was the kind of conservative that boggles my mind. The folks actually organized Protests (marching, signs, etc) against a particular restaurant who was applying for a liquior license. The local pastor of a BBC (Big Baptist Church) lead the way. Sickening to me; and I bet that sorta thing (the protesting of the restaurant) not only grieves the Holy Spirit, but makes Jesus cry.
“… the greatest detractor from high performance is fear: fear that you are not prepared, fear that you are in over your head, fear that you are not worthy, and ultimately, fear of failure. If you can eliminate that fear—not through arrogance or just wishing difficulties away, but through hard work and preparation—you will put yourself in an incredibly powerful position to take on the challenges you face" - Pete Carroll.