Week 31: Batman

Dear Avid Reader,

Bob Dylan is a really great artist.

You should totally check out his albums.

Where Does He Get Those Wonderful Toys?

Fundamentalism. Huge problem. Big problem. Why? Because there is no room for humanity in hardcore black/white philosophies that's why. Fundamentalism means that the believer is able to understand the world entirely and fully and can act on behalf of the holy (i.e. there is a right way to live and there is no other option). The faith of the fundamentalist then turns into rule following and some really terrible ideas like street-corner evangelism.

I hate rule following. Maybe I just don't think they apply to me. Yeah, that's probably it. At any rate, I believe in people enough to think they will come to the right conclusions and most of the time they do. I'm just a dreamer that way I guess.

Have You Ever Danced With The Devil In The Pale Moonlight?

But in Batman we have the idealized version of fundamentalism. Batman is a vigilante. He takes the law into his own hands. This is justified because Batman is an ethical person that doesn't make many mistakes. But because this kind of person doesn't really exist, vigilantism is illegal in the real world. But for some reason fundamentalism is totally within the law.

Am I saying fundamentalism should be illegal? What am I talking about? Follow me into the Batcave.

Never Rub Another Man's Rhubarb

No, fundamentalism shouldn't be illegal, but like vigilantism, fundamentalism is about action. No sitting on the sidelines when operating in the extremes. Something is believed so strongly, that one can't help but start doing. Unfortunately for everyone else, the underlying beliefs aren't shared by the greater society. One shouldn't rob, but is beating up alleged robbers a good strategy to deter crime? Folks should be as compassionate as the best of scripture leads us to live, but is confrontation the best way to educate people of these truths?

Hello Vinny, It's Your Uncle Bingo

I guess what I'm saying is I'm annoyed with strong-arming. Even if it's for the best of intentions. And the trouble is that these paladins of belief are so easy to fall in love with. Who wouldn't want to live in a world where the paragons of right roamed the streets and protected us? It would make for an easier world to live in.

I covered why the existence supervillians would be great in my Enter The Dragon essay. So it follows that the same would be true for superheroes. But so long as the heroes have to be picked from among us humans, it will never work. We are too flawed. We would make too many mistakes and emotions cloud judgements.

My Face On The One Dollar Bill

Fundamentalists are people, and people are fallible. People just make for crappy instruments of divine will. So one must make damn sure they are working on behalf of God, lest they start accidentally doing evil things. Like killing people. Whoops.

And these crazy people need to understand, they are really doing the easiest form of religion, not the hardest. Purity is actually easy, it's love that's hard. Strap that truth bomb to your chest.

Now, most of the peaceful nutjobs that we have in this country are not even close to being as dangerous as terrorists. Not even close. But rather than bother pedestrians downtown, why not listen to those Dylan records I mentioned. Blonde on Blonde is the best.

Until Next I Blog,

James