Comments on: Shallow faith http://www.freeinfidel.com/2009/02/21/shallow-faith/ Humanism, atheism and other freedoms Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:42:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Trish http://www.freeinfidel.com/2009/02/21/shallow-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-5154 Trish Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:45:47 +0000 http://www.freeinfidel.com/?p=158#comment-5154 One thing that struck me in Russia, re the re-emergence of faith, was that there has also been a re-emergence of Stalinism, and indeed Putinism - the belief in an all-powerful leader. The Russians have traditionally almost deified their political leaders, firstly the Tsars and then the Communist overlords who were quick to capitalise on this cult of personality. Owen Jones didn't even touch on this - the idea that people, simply, need something to believe in, particularly when life is full of hardships. Overall this series would have been much more interesting if he'd had an atheist with him - particularly a psychologist atheist - who might have given some much-needed perspective to certain events, which often struck me as hysterical or a show of mob mentality rather than in any way moving or spiritual. Owen Jones struck me as a very nice man, but terribly gullible. One thing that struck me in Russia, re the re-emergence of faith, was that there has also been a re-emergence of Stalinism, and indeed Putinism – the belief in an all-powerful leader. The Russians have traditionally almost deified their political leaders, firstly the Tsars and then the Communist overlords who were quick to capitalise on this cult of personality. Owen Jones didn’t even touch on this – the idea that people, simply, need something to believe in, particularly when life is full of hardships.

Overall this series would have been much more interesting if he’d had an atheist with him – particularly a psychologist atheist – who might have given some much-needed perspective to certain events, which often struck me as hysterical or a show of mob mentality rather than in any way moving or spiritual. Owen Jones struck me as a very nice man, but terribly gullible.

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