Good god!
I just found this pretty amusing:
"Ever the forlorn optimist, Shawn floats the possibility that humanity might survive by availing itself of the moral codes embedded in traditional religions.
Chomsky cuts right through those dreamy clouds.
'You can find things in the traditional religions which are very benign and decent and wonderful and so on, but I mean, the Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the literary canon. The God of the Bible--not only did he order His chosen people to carry out literal genocide--...but was ready to destroy every living creature on earth because humans irritated Him. That's the story of Noah. I mean, that's beyond genocide--you don't know how to describe this creature. Somebody offended Him, and He was going to destroy every living being on earth? And then He was talked into allowing two of each species to stay alive--that's supposed to be gentle and wonderful.'
Even God can't put anything past Noam Chomsky."
"Ever the forlorn optimist, Shawn floats the possibility that humanity might survive by availing itself of the moral codes embedded in traditional religions.
Chomsky cuts right through those dreamy clouds.
'You can find things in the traditional religions which are very benign and decent and wonderful and so on, but I mean, the Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the literary canon. The God of the Bible--not only did he order His chosen people to carry out literal genocide--...but was ready to destroy every living creature on earth because humans irritated Him. That's the story of Noah. I mean, that's beyond genocide--you don't know how to describe this creature. Somebody offended Him, and He was going to destroy every living being on earth? And then He was talked into allowing two of each species to stay alive--that's supposed to be gentle and wonderful.'
Even God can't put anything past Noam Chomsky."
5 Comments:
I can't believe I'm agreeing with Chomsky, but it's true.
During the Black Reign run, I remember us talking about how the God of Israel is just this crazed, desert deity. He's a very despotic creation.
It is, however, worth crediting the early Christians for softening this harsh God. I mean, the God of the New Testament is pretty different from the God of the Old Testament. Hell, in Genesis alone there are like three different God personas
It's interesting too that when it comes to religion, there's no true, indigenous Western tradition. Sure there are sprinkles here and there (the Pope=Rome's Pontifex Maximus; X-Mas trees), but all the old Greek, Roman, Celtic, and Germanic gods and religions died out so that a continent full of whities could worship an ancient Middle Eastern Sky God.
Light starter for maybe an involved conversation about Chomsky, but I'd be curious to know why the Right (and much of the Left) despises him so. What I've read of his is mostly factual reporting, it just happens to be about stuff that we don't like to admit to doing. I mean, he's not really a crazed ideologue or anything (from my experience), he's just got no illusions about how we do business and weild power in this country and around the world. That's always been my take anyway. Let's chat.
I actually don't feel right to go off on Chomsky in a big debate simply because I haven't read any of the guy's books. I think I've read the odd essay of his and read untold responses to his works. My personal, guy feeling is that he's anti-American and often wrong on his history. But that's me, and like I said, I'm ill-informed on my Chomsky.
Anyway...
I think the big reasons why he's divisive are because
1. He's a moral relativist who often writes of America being just as bad as the bad guys.
2. He's not a trained historian, philosopher, or political scientist, but rather a linguist who writes about this stuff. I vividly remember three profs I had at USC rolling their eyes at Chomsky's name. One would often give inspired rebuttals to Chomsky's latest musings. I think some view Chomsky as a sort of "jumk academic," or maybe "pop academic" is more like it.
3. The kids like him, and base their ideologies around him while ignoring other profs.
4. He makes a lot of money selling books on subjects that other academics would kill to make money on.
I actually think 4 is the biggest reason for anti-Chomsky folks.
That's supposed to read "gut feeling".
Argh. And that's "junk academic." I suck today.
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