The Solution to Everything.

[golodhgwath]

From now on, politicians need to take vows of poverty. They'll be tonsured, not inaugurated. Their accommodations, food, and health care will be provided by the State, at a level equal to the quality of life of the country's poorest citizens

Comments

[zcatcurious]

It is a fabulous idea: if we are going to have representatives, rather than an actual democracy, we could at least have representative representatives.

[ktl]

They'd do what Arizona legislators do -- get second jobs!

[ktl]

unless of course it was a true vow of poverty, giving everything away and dedicating their free time to contemplation and meditation on the state of the union. that would be way cool.

[golodhgwath]

That is what I meant. No second jobs for them.

...although, I did meet a monk who had a second job. He had a lot of debt, and rather than make him wait until he paid it off, the abbot got him a job that was compatible with the monastery.

[ex_adrian_an622]

http://www.ketv.com/news/14133442/detail.html

[ex_adrian_an622]

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28484
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28626

[golodhgwath]

Do you have something to say about these links? They don't seem related to anything.

[ex_adrian_an622]

I just thought you might get a laugh out of them. The first one is, apparently, real, but of course the last two aren't.

anthropology of religion question

[zcatcurious]

Whom would you recommend as the best people to read on the relationship between popular religion and official (as in the discourse of the church) religion?

Re: anthropology of religion question

[golodhgwath]

Ooh. I'll have to think about that. Popular religion... I like Daniel Pals's book, "Seven Theories of Religion."

From the Orthodox perspective, I like "For the Life of the World," by Alexander Schmemann.

Do bug me again if I don't follow up.

Re: anthropology of religion question

[zcatcurious]

Do bug me again if I don't follow up.

Thanks; will do.

I find myself having to consider a lot of issues in popular religion in particular, and so I am essentially looking for work on typical types, or even schemes, of variation between popular and official: any recommendations of books or articles will be much appreciated.

This is me bugging you again

[zcatcurious]

Um, any other titles?

sorry

[autobeast]

found you again.