How to spot an ideologue. Polyphony - or cats' chorus? Politics of grievance. | MercatorNet | March 24, 2017

March 24, 2017

Do people still have car stickers? I had a “Nuclear free New Zealand” sticker on the rear window of my first car for a while, but resisted efforts to have me advertise other causes after that. Flaunting a slogan to people you will never meet may annoy them rather than convince them that there are some good arguments for it. It’s more likely to communicate that you have a fixed, ideological position on an issue and that nothing will change your stance. I was going to say, “change your mind,” but that suggests it was thought-out in the first place, which is precisely what’s lacking in ideology.

This is the issue that Randall Smith addresses today in our Public Discourse essay. At a time when the air is thick with slogans, he helpfully distinguishes the characteristic marks of an “ideology” versus a “principled position.” Here’s a taste:

One way of always being right is to stop up your ears and scream. The other way is by doing what Socrates did: spend a lot of time patiently talking to others, testing your own ideas and listening to the best evidence from others to see whether your thoughts and words correspond to reality in all its fullness and complexity.

Amen to that.

Which reminds me: some, perhaps many of us will be attending a church service over the weekend. And a Sunday service means music – singing, choir, instruments – which may bring joy, or, in some cases, a certain amount of pain. Apparently, it was ever thus. In her third article on music in the Reformation era, Chiara Bertoglio gives a sample of the often hilarious critiques of church choirs in the Renaissance period – complaints that, for me at least, strike a chord.

I do recommend Chiara's articles, which are based on a book she has written for this Reformation anniversary year and is due out next month. 

Carolyn Moynihan
Deputy Editor,
MERCATORNET

How to spot an ideologue By Randall Smith Ideology and the corruption of language. Read the full article

How the Virgin Mary brings together different faiths in Pakistan and India By Donna Fernandes A famous Indian shrine is at the epicentre of devotion. Read the full article

Polyphony? Or cacophany? Prelude to a reformation in church music By Chiara Bertoglio ‘Bleating’, ‘howling’ and ‘whinnying’: Renaissance critics on church choirs. Read the full article

French fertility declining, but still highest in the EU By Marcus Roberts France's population could outstrip Germany's in time. Read the full article

The politics of grievance is a dead end By Ronnie Smith Scotland, clinging to the EU, currently illustrates the point. Read the full article

What’s the secret of the world’s happiest countries? By Carolyn Moynihan Judging by a new study it might be as prosaic as popping a pill. Read the full article

Parental leave for grandparents By Shannon Roberts Cuba is desperate for babies. Read the full article

Africa is topping the right lists By Mathew Otieno The continent ranks ahead of the world in some good things too. Read the full article

Addiction or compulsion: our love/hate relationship with technology By Heather Zeiger Is existential angst driving us to connect? Read the full article

Sticky competition spoils maple syrup harvest By Jennifer Minicus A new Pumpkin Falls mystery Read the full article

MERCATORNET | New Media Foundation
Suite 12A, Level 2, 5 George Street, North Strathfied NSW 2137, Australia

Designed by elleston
New Media Foundation | Suite 12A, Level 2, 5 George St | North Strathfield NSW 2137 | AUSTRALIA | +61 2 8005 8605