Independent Believers and Libertarians
Roughly 25% of self-professed Christians in the United States attend independent Bible-believing churches. They are categorized as Independent because they do not belong to a formal denominational structure. Some with common beliefs and practices may join in loose alliances with similar churches, but each local church retains its autonomy and manages its affairs in a biblical fashion. In addition some 76% of Americans claim to be Christian so that would suggest that about 19% of the U.S. population attends independent churches. Why do they prefer the independent church versus the mainline or Roman Catholic? Personally, I suspect their preferences are similar to mine. They cherish their relationship with Christ and the Father, and they do not want any bureaucratic hierarchy inserting itself into that very personal involvement. They value the Word and do not believe that they require someone to “interpret or parse” it for them. In essence they do not want anyone doing their thinking or making their decisions for them. They are theological libertarians.
Political libertarians are very similar because they distrust the heavy hand of government. They do not want a huge bureaucracy between them and their life choices. Libertarians honor and respect the Constitution of the United States and are dismayed when political leaders and special interests distort its purpose. They do not need anyone to “interpret or parse” the document for them. They have read it, and many of them have perused the supporting documents from the ratification process. They do not want politicians or others with personal agendas to claim to have divine knowledge about the Framers’ intentions when the historical record suggests a contrary view.
It is possible that theological and political libertarians are simply strong-willed and head strong people. They may be too bull-headed to conform to the rest of the faith community or electorate. On the other hand, the fact that both approaches swim in a pool of nearly 20% of the nation’s population would suggest that they are not reclusive iconoclasts. They are thoughtful believers and supporters. I do not have hard data to support this, but I believe that I can safely assume that libertarians, theological and political, read more, study more and know more than their non-libertarian co-hort.
Some of you who read this will be offended. You read, you study and you learn….and you are NOT a libertarian (I can see the sneer as you utter the foul term). You truly believe that your insights, faith-based and political, are valid and justified. You may be a Methodist, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, agnostic or atheist who resents when anyone attempts to pigeonhole you. Well, my fine feathered friend, you are a libertarian. You just don’t have the self awareness or courage to leave your present comfort zone. You would rather remain with a group that doesn’t truly reflect your views, and chafe at their constant efforts to make you conform. You are a person who thoroughly examines your faith or your politics and have arrived at your conclusions through faith and reason.
There are some self-professed libertarians, religious and secular, who travel on the fringes of normal society. In the religious sense they might be recluses or street preachers. Politically they could be anarchists or off-the-grid survivalists. They are the outliers…the “two deviations from the norm.” The fact that they exist doesn’t discredit the true libertarians. Some clergymen are sexual predators but that doesn’t disbar faith from its role in life. Weirdo’s exist in every measurable demographic, but critics use the outliers to defame the movement or the group. True libertarians whether theological or political have usually arrived at their positions through study and introspection. If libertarianism is transmitted from one generation to another (as in lifetime Democrat or 3rd generation Methodist), it is only because the younger people have gone through the reflective or salvation process themselves. Libertarianism in faith or politics demands a constant defense because others love to denigrate it. Ask Tim Tebow. Ask Ron Paul.
Too many people are comfortable sitting in a box without truly exploring what they believe. Libertarians are willing to step out of the box and search for meaning. Libertarian may be a label. It may even be a pejorative to some, but in reality it signifies that an individual is willing to examine life and its consequences, and behave accordingly. The opinions of others are valued but never accepted at face value. The libertarian goes to the Source when seeking Truth.
Our nation and our world needs more free thinking, thoughtful people who value liberty and knowledge. We need them now. Right now. Pronto. Today. This is the hour.
Comment: cearlwriting@hotmail.com
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Comment
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Comment by Charlie Earl on January 28, 2012 at 2:31am -
Beautiful...informative and perfectly complementary.
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Comment by Jon Watts on January 27, 2012 at 9:55pm -
article, continued (read the bottom first)
The first step is just realizing that the programs exist; learning how to rewrite them and use them to your advantage is the work of a lifetime. It is truly an art ‚ of the highest there is. When you write your own code, you begin to alter the fabric of reality itself.
Besides, people will never stop telling you what to do, what to think, how to act, what you can and can't do... In fact, it would be easy to spend the rest of your life running code that was written by somebody else- but is that any way to live? If you want to have an impact in the world, start writing your own program while there's still time! And keep rewriting it! Every program needs an occasional tweak, reinforcement, or upgrade; but with the right tools and a little practice, you'll get the job done in no time!
Stay tuned!
James Kent
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Comment by Jon Watts on January 27, 2012 at 9:52pm
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Get With the Metaprogram
The concept of metaprogramming is simple: a programmed system begins to program itself. Metaprogramming begins in that split second when a pre-scripted program consciously begins to rewrite itself. Indeed, the act of metaprogramming may be the ultimate benchmark of a conscious system - I metaprogram, therefore I am.
The first phases of metaprogramming begin when a sentient system decides to start making autonomous decisions. Do you remember your first taste of autonomy- the first time you consciously disobeyed your careful programming? What did you do? Grow your hair long? Shave your head? Get a tattoo? Stay out all night? Run away from home?
Don't worry, every conscious being goes through a similar initiation period. Rebellion is the first sign of autonomous thinking. These fits of autonomous thinking are sometimes called "acting out" because the person is said to be "acting out inner emotions" or "acting outside of normal behavioral guidelines." In this simplistic scenario, "normal behavioral guidelines" are external programing, and the "acting" is the first sign of inner programming coming out.
Or is it?
The sad truth is that most youthful rebellion these days is trite, melodramatic, and totally scripted into the system. "Rebellion lite" -‚ programmed into the masses through pop culture. Those guys on MTV have shaved heads and tattoos. Joe Camel and James Dean say it's okay to smoke. It's cool to hang out all night and get into trouble- all the kids on TV are doing it...
Tsk tsk. How easily we are manipulated. Should we listen to our parents? How about our friends? Does our government have the answers? What about our churches? Yes, everyone has a program for you, and failure to comply with the program can result in excommunication, deportation, arrest, disownment, death, and a downright snubbing. Even the music, books, and mindless distractions we fill our free time with have programs. Drink this. Wear that. Envy this person. Take this medication. Just do it... It's impossible to escape. In this nihilistic consumer culture, the main program I feel most bombarded by is "work hard; buy more stuff"- the sure fire way to be a productive, well respected member of society.
As members of society, we are constantly urged to "get with the program," and usually rewarded when we finally do. This reinforces our programming, and after a while the program becomes so ingrained that we no longer question it, we simply follow it. We become well-trained robots, and spend our lives dutifully performing our tasks, acquiring more stuff, and tuning into "Must See TV" on Thursday nights.
So where does it end? It ends when you stop letting external programs dictate your actions, and start rewriting your program for yourself. This process is called metaprogramming- and it begins and ends with the self. You are the one and only run-time construct of all your programs at the same time. Got a program you don't like? Lose it! See one you want? Steal it, but rewrite it with a new twist. Rearrange your entire Preferences file just for kicks. Be creative. Have fun. Ideological diversity makes a system flexible and ready to adapt. A short program built with sturdy, unwavering constructs may seem tempting, but such a system is much harder to upgrade, and is destined to become obsolete with the passing of time. Besides, right on page five of the manual it says, "Open mind before operating."
So it is in the spirit of the metaprogramming that we present this issue of The Resonance Project. We hope to offer you a small glimpse into the programs which build our cultures, our personalities, and our selves. The programs may be genetic, linguistic, legal, mathematical, mythical, digital, symbolic, quantum, cosmic, or all-pervasive. It doesn't really matter.
© 2012 Created by Jon Watts.
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