I suppose many things. Supposition means to think. To start with a conjecture and take that hypothesis to an end in one’s own mind.

Evangelism markets those thoughts to the world.

Reactionism responds to those ideas.

It is a circle. It is a discussion, rather, it could be a civil discussion of ideas and beliefs. Sometimes, maybe many times, it is not.

—–

My term – reactionism – merely means reaction and what one does with their reaction to the stimulus of an idea. In Miriam Webster – my favorite authority – 1a: the act or process or an instance of reacting; b: resistance or opposition to a force, influence, or movement; especially: tendency toward a former and usually outmoded political or social order or policy. – This from their web pages.

There are, of course, many ways to react to ideas and the evangelical marketing of them to other folks with different beliefs or no interest in those ideas. I personally am uninterested in what wine pairs with which dish on the menu of a nice restaurant. I personally am resistant to hyperbole – “OMG” in SMS text messages – and the like, but that is just me. I personally am resistant to the extreme negativity of comments that appear on various social media platforms and at the same time fascinated by what total strangers will say to one another when they are not speaking in person. And yet, I do not equate disagreement with disrespect of another person as some do.

Violence and termination of another person’s life for an idea is disrespectful disagreement in the extreme.

I did not know Charles Kirk. We do not know if the person who killed him had gone mental about his ideas or was merely testing his/her/their prowess as a sharp shooter. We may never know the reason, and yet, as human beings, we long for the answer to why.

Jesus Christ was killed for his ideas. Julius Caesar was killed for his ideas. Abraham Lincoln was killed for his ideas. Mahatma Gandhi was killed for his ideas. Medgar Evers was killed for his ideas. Robert F. Kennedy was killed for his ideas. Martin Luther King was killed for his ideas. John F. Kennedy was killed for his ideas. Written history is full of examples. No doubt prewritten history is also. Those ideas live on in religions, movements, political parties and other organizations. Ideas cannot be killed. The messenger can be given the opportunity to do so by a reactionary.

So the question remains; why?

Only He knows the answer. … And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. (Max Ehrmann)

I will add: Do not be envious of other’s happiness. Rejoice with them and celebrate it.

Carpe Diem.