harryvan,
I don't think that belief in God, or patriotism, have become "negative" concepts. There are simply more people now who are willing to challenge and question any and all beliefs, and reject the ones they don't believe. In other times and places you were told what to believe. There weren't competing beliefs. If you grew up in a certain town and went to a certain church and school, you were taught a certain set of beliefs. You weren't exposed to other beliefs. In our multicultural society today, with access to education, media, and people from other cultures, we are exposed to more ideas different than the ones we grew up with. So some people challenge their own beliefs and change some of them. While there is nothing wrong with the concepts you mention, belief in God, and patriotism, those things taken to extremes have caused people to do lots of bad things without questioning what they are doing. That gives those beliefs a bad reputation. Religious terrorism is done by people who believe in God, for example. A "religious" man murdered a physician because the "religious" man believed that the doctor shouldn't perform abortions. Patriotism, which is giving up personal interests in favor of the interests of our country, is still highly valued, but can also lead to abuses. Lots of patriotically inclined people have justified doing things that are not moral. So thinking that those things are "absolute truths" has its dangers. If something is an "absolute truth" does that mean believing in it justifies violating the rights of others? Some people think so. In my opinion, there are very few "absolute truths" and in any event, there is nothing wrong with questioning everything you believe, even your most sacred beliefs. Your valid beliefs will survive any "test of fire" you can throw at them. The ones that don't, need to be thrown out. Have you ever changed any of your most deeply held beliefs? If not, is that because you are perfectly correct in all your beliefs? Please don't be too judgemental toward people who don't have many "absolute truths." We're all on a spiritual journey. Best wishes.
