Category Archives: Institutions and buttonholes

Do symbolic orders form “closed systems” that depend on a “buttonholed” meaning that may or may not veil its own history. Can an “institution” be defined as a symbolic order or “language” that rules out mapping onto other symbolic orders or “languages”? This topic is addressed in chapters 7, 8A, 11, 12 and 13.

10/21/16

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.2 CQ

[All interventions by the postreligious (enlightenment) sovereign religions are ‘we win and you lose’ for traditional religions.

Once intentions are more consequential than consequences, then consequences may be blamed on scapegoats.

When the intervention improves the actuality, it verifies the ideological slogan.

When the intervention worsens the actuality, it verifies the ideological slogan.

What slogan?

We are the good ones who must identify and destroy the bad ones.]

10/20/16

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.2 CP

[In contrast, non-indoctrinated observers see corruption.

Progressive intervention increases dependency (that is, bondage) and denies responsibility. Progressive interventions substitute words, promises and laws for responsibility. Responsibility is rendered bad, in concert with the slogan-word, ‘entitlements’.

Recipients are entitled. All others are are demeaned whenever they suggest that recipients are not entitled.]

10/19/16

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.2 CO

Summary of text [comment] page 75

[In addition, the single actuality in an intersection may be contextualized by a content-level normal context.

When Progressives try to do good through central government intervention, they impose a context that influences this single actuality. They impose a normal context as part of their sovereign religion.

That normal context brings a potential into relation with the actuality of ‘what is good and what is bad’. For Progressives, that potential always contains ‘the possibility of enhancing sovereign power’.

How?

The so-called benefactors of Progressive sovereign power are rendered good, in concert with the slogan ‘welfare is for the good of single parent households’.]

10/17/16

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.2 CM-2

[How does this denial unfold?

Let me first state the method in terms the message underlying the word ‘religion’.

How do Progressives deny the consequences of their programs?

They place intent into the normal context of thinkpro-object3V.

They veil lawessential3H with lawdenial3H.

Remember that the single actuality of the intersection is ‘what is good and what is bad’.

Intentions are good. The bad results are not due to the program itself.

This intersection is then broadcast as the message underlying the Progressive sovereign religion.

The immediate response of any Progressive to those who observe the consequences (and dare to report their observations) of the Progressive ordinate system is simple: “You hate poor people.”]

10/13/16

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.2 CL

Summary of text [comment] page 75

[For example, consider the case of the Progressive’s ordinate system with respect to welfare for ‘poor families headed by a single person’. At no point in the past 50 years have Progressives come to terms with two facts:

  1. Progressive interventions to aid ‘poor families headed by a single person’ generates ‘poor families headed by single persons’.
  2. Single parenthood is a prime contributor to childhood poverty.

Assistance has merely shifted the role of fatherhood onto the sovereign state.

What?

The state does not cause the conception directly. However, it assumes the role of the husband as the female’s helper who ‘the female puts in charge in order to demonstrate her fidelity’.

How could ‘helping poor people’ produce such perverse consequences?]

09/6/16

Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.2 BN

[Oh, and speaking of Much to Do about Nothing.

Slavoj Zizek recently published a book entitled Less Than Nothing.

So far, I have barely made a dent in it.

The book starts with the ancient Greek philosopher’s views on nothing.

Zizek aims to elucidate a positive nothingness.

A void fills to the brim, even overflows, with nothing.

Oops, that sounds like American mainstream television.

Zizek is more than fun.]