Has politics replaced religion?

[razz]

I think politics is filling a couple of voids.

One is affiliation. The “bowling alone” thesis. As families fracture, traditional forms of civic and social involvement decline and organized religion fades, people turn to politics for an (I think illusory) sense of belonging to a like-minded tribe. Various forms of media make it easy to self-sort in this way.

Another is meaning. As faith, tradition and other value systems are deconstructed, demeaned and diminished, we are left with the thin gruel of politics as a substitute. We confuse ideology with morality. The self-righteousness of the Moral Majority finds new expression in call out culture.

In the absence of stronger roots to anchor our sense of self, we can exaggerate politics to the point where we might feel it necessary to terminate relationships. I think that is very sad.

A good summary of key points.