The Virtues of Nationalism (ritual, Earth, blood, evolution, America)

[doppelgänger]

What is "Nationalism"?

What relationship does it bear to religion?

Is nationalism a true way of viewing the world?

Are there organizations that can operate outside the bounds of "nationalism"?
If so, then if the world is thought of and principally organized as a group of "nations," how can the people of the world protect against the excesses of such organizations?

Is nationalism compatible with religious ideology? Is it compatible with human spiritual experience?

Why do we have nationalism and do we need it?

[doppelgänger]

Bump!

How do you feel about the following statement from William Lloyd Garrison's "Declaration of Sentiments" of the Peace Convention of 1834?

Our country is the world, our countrymen are all mankind. We love the land of our nativity only as we love all other lands. The interests, rights, liberties of American citizens are no more dear to us than are those of the whole human race. Hence, we can allow no appeal to patriotism, to revenge any national insult or injury.

[lunamoth]

"The earth is but one country, and mankind it's citizens." --Baha'u'llah

I love that saying and had a stamp of it that I used on all my letters when I was a Baha'i.

luna

[Random]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

What is "Nationalism"?

A disease which infects the hearts of men. It is an affirmation of the erroneous belief that one sub-species of humanity is better than another sub-species of humanity.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

What relationship does it bear to religion?

Sacred plots of land is a common theme in religion. Under polytheism the land and the idenitity people associated with it was sacred beacuse the Earth was worthy of reverence and consecrated by Royal blood and a lineage of kings: in monotheism, God is subbed for King and all lands were consecrated by being under His dominion ammounting to the same thing.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

Is nationalism a true way of viewing the world?

No, it is a purely divisive one.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

Are there organizations that can operate outside the bounds of "nationalism"? If so, then if the world is thought of and principally organized as a group of "nations," how can the people of the world protect against the excesses of such organizations?

The U.N. and Red Cross operate amongst all nations but are supposed to be beholden to none. However, yes, there are societies that operate beyond the boundaries of nationalism: secret societies, and the people of the world cannot protect against the excesses of these organizations: but for the earnest efforts of a few rebellious souls who stand for true justice and fight for the forces of Light and Truth, you would be living in a Nazified world order right now as opposed to one slowly coming to fruition.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

Is nationalism compatible with religious ideology?

Zionism: examine the relationship between Israel and Judaism.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

Is it compatible with human spiritual experience?

NO.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

Why do we have nationalism and do we need it

Because the human race of the recent past and present required a strong tribal identity to survive events post-traumata (13,000 BCE). But there will come a time soon when we will correct the divisions of our fractured psyches as individuals and a species, and the malady of nationalism will be cured. We don't need it.

[Capt. Haddock]

Nationalism: A 19th century European variant of tribalism based on a model of political organization that suggests every ethnic/linguistic group should have its own exclusive patch of turf with contiguous borders, a flag, an army, an anthem, a national airline and an entry in the Eurovision song contest.

[Capt. Haddock]

oh, and pretty postage stamps that people can collect.

[doppelgänger]

What role might evolution have played in shaping nationalism or tribalism?

What is the biological advantage to an individual organism identifying itself with a tribe or nation-state?

[Capt. Haddock]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

What is the biological advantage to an individual organism identifying itself with a tribe or nation-state?

Some animals are social animals. They pool together for safety, for cooperative hunting, gathering and child-rearing.

[autonomous1one1]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

"The earth is but one country, and mankind it's citizens." --Baha'u'llah

I love that saying and had a stamp of it that I used on all my letters when I was a Baha'i.

luna

Great, Luna, thanks. It would be nice if some of our national politicians would take on more of this view. The question of 'what is good for humankind of the world' would come up sometimes instead of always 'what is good for our country' only.

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by autonomous1one1

Great, Luna, thanks. It would be nice if some of our national politicians would take on more of this view. The question of 'what is good for humankind of the world' would come up sometimes instead of always 'what is good for our country' only.

Is that even possible? They represent one category of people in a carved up world and wouldn't be in power if they didn't "bring home the bacon," would they?