DCP: "I wish I had lived in Salem."

[_Doctor Scratch]

Earlier today I received the following request in my PM box:

Dr. Scratch, I am very interested in a commentary on the following post by DCP.

"Agent V." had in mind this very peculiar post:

I would love to have lived in Salem, too.

Fortunately, we have choices. Those who disdain the celestial kingdom can easily opt for the terrestrial or telestial (or for outer darkness).

One can strive to have personal integrity and accountibility, without embracing religion. Calling for the nation to embrace religion implies otherwise and is affront to those who don't believe in a personal God.

Of course it's possible. But if it's even marginally less likely, the cumulative effect upon a society could be catastrophic.

Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. We should indulge with caution the notion that morality can be maintained without religion. Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. A person who works to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, the firmest props of human and civic duty, can scarcely be termed a patriot.

http://www.mormonapologetics.org/topic/ ... 1208903387

Clearly, a number of strange things are at play here. So strange, in fact, that one begins to wonder if DCP is celebrating an early Halloween. In any event, it is astonishingly peculiar that he would announce, in public, and "would have loved to have lived" in what was, in effect, a hardcore, patriarchal theocracy. Bear in mind that his comment is coming in the wake of others' admissions about wanting to live in a religion-soaked culture ala Salem. The other big problem here (ahead---paging Dr. Allusion) is Dr. P.'s suggestion that no religion = social and moral anarchy. This is a stupefying comment from an old Mopologist who really ought to know better.

Later, though, DCP clarifies---he didn't mean that Salem:

Ah. That Salem.

Given your mention of Sodom, I was thinking of the biblical Salem -- under Melchizedek.

In other words, apart from the fact that he was being deliberately esoteric, DCP's position is essentially unchanged: he'd still "love to have lived" in a hardcore, religion-saturated patriarchy. One has to wonder: Why? I suppose he might try to wiggle out of this gaffe by saying that his interest is purely academic---i.e., that he's just interested in all of this as a scholar.

But we know better. One doesn't do that sort of thing in the midst of a discussion on Glenn Beck, of all things.

[_Joseph]

Isn't he a bit too fat to fit on one of those cigarette cartons?

[_Gadianton]

Indeed this is odd, Doctor Scratch, but I have a confession to make. I too, wish that I had lived in Salem, given that any apologist were granted his or her wish to live in Salem. It's one thing to have a hardcore patriarchal leadership enforcing "morality" through terror, but it's even worse to have this kind of government wedded significantly to an apologetic group that begins with the assumption that everything the government does is inspired by god, and now pours all their academic resources into justifying it. I would like to live in such a society in order to pretend that I'm a believer, but with subtle "questions" such that I could oppose apologists living there, while staying beneath the radar to avoid stoning. I imagine that pretty much any apologist in such a society would be very big on stoning critics, thus I'd be careful.

"Salem Scholars Testify" -- lol -- you have to admit it has a ring to it.

(p.s. isn't it unpatriotic to wish that you'd have lived in another country?)

[_JohnStuartMill]

We should indulge with caution the notion that morality can be maintained without religion.

Or we could, you know, treat it as the established empirical fact that it is.

[_Yong Xi]

In other words, apart from the fact that he was being deliberately esoteric, DCP's position is essentially unchanged: he'd still "love to have lived" in a hardcore, religion-saturated patriarchy. One has to wonder: Why?

I sense DCP is prone to considerable male hero worship. He looks up to his ecclesiastical superiors, particularly, those in GA leadership. Daniel senses something in top church leadership that he personally lacks. He seems to respond to their call and needs their approval. Isn't MST a response to Elder Ballard? Ultimately, DCP responds to the firm hand of authority. In another time, another place, he would have loved to have been Albert Speer.

[_DarkHelmet]

Maybe he's a big Days of Our Lives fan.

[_harmony]

Given that he's a Mormon with all the accompanying beliefs in rocks that spell out words, multiple wives, angels with swords, disappearing metal plates, etc., I'm pretty sure neither Salem would have been comfortable for the dear doctor. His religion would have put him at odds with both hierachies. Unless he abandoned his beliefs for the current popular religion, he'd likely have spent quite some time in the stocks, and may have had to run in order to escape the fate of those who consorted with witches.

[_Simon Belmont]

Given that he's a Mormon with all the accompanying beliefs in rocks that spell out words, multiple wives, angels with swords, disappearing metal plates, etc., I'm pretty sure neither Salem would have been comfortable for the dear doctor. His religion would have put him at odds with both hierachies. Unless he abandoned his beliefs for the current popular religion, he'd likely have spent quite some time in the stocks, and may have had to run in order to escape the fate of those who consorted with witches.

You claim to be, as well, remember?

[_Some Schmo]

We should indulge with caution the notion that morality can be maintained without religion.

Or we could, you know, treat it as the established empirical fact that it is.

Yeah, that's what stood out for me too.

Just when you thought Danny boy couldn't be a bigger dumbass...

I wonder how he'd feel about the comment, "We should indulge with caution the notion that intelligence can be maintained with religion."

[_SoHo]

Just as I feel the crumbling of my marriage with each encroachment by the gays on our heterosexual institution of marriage, my sense of morality and adherence to basic socials mores dwindles as I grow more skeptical of the religious beliefs of my childhood. But for the threat of punishment, pursuant to laws established by god-fearing persons for the betterment of all, I would likely spend my days pillaging and plundering and disregarding others. All my agnostic and atheist friends are like this too. It's a good thing the god-people are keeping us in check!