I'll never understand

I'll never understand,
the need to find the cloud
around a silver lining
the rooting around the remains of victory
trying to catch a whiff of defeat
the relentless search among crisp newspapers
for the train wreck that never happened.

The second chapter of Jordan Peterson's bestseller - 12 Rules for Life - is about why we denigrate our own lives. I found his postlapsarian explanation wanting, but it is nonetheless an interesting observation.

Well, 81, I could go all theological on you--and I'm probably going to do it anyway. I'm a Calvinist through and through, and it's because we are totally depraved. We are evil through and through, from before birth. Grace happens, but it's not our doing. This is why were are so prone to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Halbert -

Right you are about the influence of the Calvinist tradition on the development of the American psyche, from precolonial times onward. Telling us that we're all in fact a bunch of bad, unworthy dudes, and if we know what's good for us, we'd better play it straight and narrow, so that when we get into heaven, if we get into heaven, we'll be in a respectable and proper place, but one where we're still expected to play it straight and narrow.

The effect of the Calvinist world view on American history and culture is probably much greater than most people realize. But every now and then there have been groups like the Freethinkers or the Hippies who say we can do better. So then we try that for a while.

But yes, much of what we are as Americans still has much of its roots in the doctrines of Calvinism.

Easy on the religious mentions - remember the last couple of weeks.

Thanks for all your comments. It is thought that's been on my mind for awhile and I don't have an answer for.

Andrew

Right on, Andrew!

Andrew,
Well said.
I'll never understand why bad things happen to good people.
Wings