For the past three hundred or so years we as a species have lived in an age of enlightenment. An age where we have made vast advancements in not only science and technology, but in politics, literature, humanitarian rights,morality, philosophy, and self realization. However, our greatest advancement was the ability to say what we wanted without fear of ridicule or persecution. It saddens me to say this, but this age of enlightenment is drawing to a close. We will continue to move forward, but only in certain areas. Already our freedom of speech is beginning to regress. There are lawsuits, threats, demands, conflicts of all kinds over what someone has said. The greatest of these come from religious communities, who, in the past wielded great amounts of authority, yet in the passing centuries have fallen. These people demand respect, and claim they are not respected and they lobby to ban things, books, t.v shows, movies any form of creativity which does not follow their doctrines, and yet, when pressed they claim it is their right! But, why is it their right to shut these things out, and not someone else right to tell them to shut up? Did you know Chapters (a chain of book stores) does not carry books on evolution because it offends Christians? Catholic schools have banned His Dark Materials, a trilogy by Philip Pullman because it offers profound ideas and views organized religion as a whole as the antagonist. Where does one draw the line? Why must those who wish to see these ideas suffer because we are afraid of the reprucussions if we speak out against religion. Why should our voices be silenced?
This is correct but we must remember that people/organisations are only as powerful as we perceive them the sooner people realise this the sooner you are able to be free.....
This is correct but we must remember that people/organisations are only as powerful as we perceive them the sooner people realise this the sooner you are able to be free.....
Tell that to all the people who were murdered in history because of the "crime" of blasphemy.
They are the Proles of Orwell's 1984
1984 has some interesting points and explores parts of the mind some people refuse to acknowledge, but seriously? You compare people who do not speak out against what you perceive as wrong to the one of the filthiest, most disgusting kind people imaginable? Even in Nazi Germany no one could quite come close to the horrible existence of the proles.
And let's be honest. 1984 was written over 60 years ago. It's never going to happen to the extremes outlined in that book.
It was merely an example of a lack of freedom. I am not truly comparing today with the situation of 1984. But, we are losing our rights to free speech whether you believe it or not.
It saddens me to say this, but this age of enlightenment is drawing to a close.
Do you really think that it was any better in the past than now.
These people demand respect, and claim they are not respected and they lobby to ban things, books, t.v shows, movies any form of creativity which does not follow their doctrines,
sources,sources,sources. I haven't met that yet. Except if you happen to be in the same religion as they are.
Did you know Chapters (a chain of book stores) does not carry books on evolution because it offends Christians?
I agree there. As a lesbian, I have often wondered why other homosexual people try to attend Christian universities (which are private), and hide their sexuality? Or why GLBT groups rally on these campus? Why be apart of some organization that does not like you?
OP: Everything, including society, must hit a bottom before it can change.
Yes, one can argue that the Enlightenment ended with Napoleon, but one may also argue that it is ending now. In fact as long as humans develop socially and morally we would be continuing this enlightenment, through the gain of wisdom.
