tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226481506470506962.post8372061274832557431..comments2023-10-25T08:44:46.963-07:00Comments on Two Friars and A Fool: Reagan's Unity Principle and The Five FundamentalsAric Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15241157655075444268noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226481506470506962.post-73777494160095907852009-11-30T23:44:27.725-08:002009-11-30T23:44:27.725-08:00That's why you want to come over the darkside....That's why you want to come over the darkside...er...non-creedal church. You know you want too :)Nick Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03265851893310000081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226481506470506962.post-80129195233009826782009-11-25T20:44:15.666-08:002009-11-25T20:44:15.666-08:00I like how the comparison moves into a religious d...I like how the comparison moves into a religious domain.. and this concretizing of an offhand "8 out of 10" (when Reagan could just as easily have said 7 out of 10) is a great example of how traditions systematize themselves. They 1) define an authority (NT, Calvin, Reagan) and 2) convert offhand statements into systematic propositions. Your post is right to note that the systems that come out of such a process bear little resemblance to the original concerns of the authority.<br /><br />Something else I don't see commented on is the emphasis on "times" in his statement. It's not an invitation to compare policy points, but a pragmatic statement that people who tend to vote like me on the issues in front of us are my friends.Martynhttp://www.oldroads.org/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226481506470506962.post-77877056090204559592009-11-25T15:54:05.469-08:002009-11-25T15:54:05.469-08:00As an additional note, I think it's hilarious ...As an additional note, I think it's hilarious that they've taken Reagan's comment "if a someone agrees with me 8/10 times he's my friend" and completely inverted it to "Unless someone agrees with me at least 8/10 times then he's my enemy."Aric Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15241157655075444268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7226481506470506962.post-26012907878227528782009-11-25T13:19:20.989-08:002009-11-25T13:19:20.989-08:00I've seen plenty of instances in which ideolog...I've seen plenty of instances in which ideological purity was required by various liberal & their groups and organizations. I think it is a habit of fundamentalists on either side. The extreme fringes always require unconditional loyalty ... that's why they're fringes.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274395216929104919noreply@blogger.com