Bertrand Russell: "In Every Walk Of Life, Independence Is Punished By Failure"

Dear Fred,

I just stumbled on the above quotation and no sooner did I recognize myself in it than you came to mind.

My "relationship" with Russell is curious: I am a student of comparative religion while Bertrand considers religion a dragon in need of slaying:

Russell has always impressed me as plenty smart enough to realize that "the mythic" plays a decisive - even necessary - role in the human psyche and human affairs.

But he remains relentlessly utilitarian, an unbending champion of science and rationality.

Out of Russell's one-sided psychological fragmentation (psychological dis-integration?) emerges an intellectual spotlight more focused and illuminating than traditional "balance" would (or could) be.  

Setting "the mythic" aside, Russell provides extraordinary insight - insight made more penetrating by the focus enabled by "illuminating ignorance."

And so, while a resounding majority of human beings assume that divine punishment is not only true but sacred -- Jews, Christians and Muslims are ever eager to prove their personal salvation by damning "others" -- Russell casually states "the obvious" which, like "the purloined letter," is so easily overlooked:

Are Highly Religious People Less Compassionate?

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/12/reprise-are-highly-religious-people.html

Conservative Christians Delight In The Punishment And Pain Of Others

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/09/conservative-christians-delight-in.html

Punishment Rarely Reforms But Instead Tends To Reinforce Wrongdoing

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/12/punishment-rarely-works-to-reform-but.html

All 3 Abrahamic Religions Should Be As Ashamed Of Themselves As They Are Now Self-Certain

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/02/all-3-abrahamic-religions-should-be-as.html

The Age-Old Normalization Of Warfare Through Stupidity, Ego And Religion

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-age-old-normalization-of-warfare.html

Abrahamic Religions Must Deal With Their Own Bronze Age Atavism And Not Just Window Dress

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/02/abrahamic-religions-must-deal-with.html

Time For Catholicism To "Shelve" Traditions And Texts That Represent God As A Terrorist

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/06/time-to-expunge-catholicism-of.html

The United States Is A Singularly Cruel, Vengeful Nation. Solitary Confinement For Kids

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2014/05/america-is-singularly-cruel-vengeful.html

The Bible's Apparent Promise Of Armageddon Is Conservative Christianity's Excuse To Do Nothing

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-bibles-apparent-promise-of.html

In future, when you feel the whispering doubts of "failure," introduce the more revealing doubt: "Why did my peers embrace the nation's All-American "whore of the Apocalypse" - the "bitch goddess, success." 

Pseudo-Success And The Undoing Of America

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/03/pseudo-success-and-undoing-of-america.html

And who represents this yuge, rigid imago of "economic success" better than the world's premier asshole, who -- if he gets his way -- will "undo it all" and not inconceivably provoke Armageddon to avoid being "found out" as the fatuous, bloated ego he is? 

And the Christian dimwits will cheer!

Pax tecum

Alan