Indoctrination and beliefs...

 

Our Bunny put out an interesting OP about “best songs to learn by.”  His “School House Rock” was a good example.  That song deals with the FACTS about how a congressional bill becomes a law in the U.S. Government.  Now, to rain on Bunny’s parade. 😢  Apologies, Buns.

Learning by song is one way to learn; a form of repetitive indoctrination of the self.  That got me to thinking about the slippery slope of “learning.”  When does learning become a dangerous thing in the wrong hands?  With time, learned behavior can become learned, albeit false, belief.

I can think of two pretty good examples right off the bat:

  • The Pledge of Allegiance, and

  • The Lord's Prayer

The often-hollow words contained within these doctrines can roll off the tongue with ease and little thought.  What is being said in those two examples can inadvertently become lifelong subjective beliefs, no questions asked.  Things get lost in (no thought) translation.  Let’s take a closer look.

 

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE


 "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all". 

That might be a great sentiment, but is it true?  Do people really pledge their allegiance?  Not just to a flag, but to the bigger idea (ideal)? 

One nation?  Geographically yes.  At least so far.

Under God?  True for some, but not all.  

Indivisible?  Now we are grasping for straws.  

Liberty and justice for all?  That’s in the eye of the beholder.  Does everyone get the same liberty and justice?  If you believe that, you are not paying close enough attention.


Is the same thing true with The Prayer?  We’ve seen how that can be “abused.”  


Forgive us? 

Lead us not into temptation?  

Deliver us from evil?  


Are we responsible for ourselves, or not??  I don’t know but there seems to be a LOT of room for “mistakes/screwups” there.  Is The Prayer just a “Get (us) out of jail free Card?”


Okay, I’ve beaten this horse enough.  Now the question:


Do you see people, writ large, taking these two creeds seriously?  Do you?  Make your case.


(by PrimalSoup)

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