Excellent and thoughtful, but where are we going from here? Even the religion of Disney is faltering. It has tried to become a religious and moral force beyond its more humble aspirations of appealing to the religious instinct in humans. And it seems to be failing.
I think that humans are waking up to the reality that exists behind that religious instinct that lies within us. I think that we are rejecting the institutions and institutional thinking that has used that human instinct, consciously or not, to build their structures and power. Some or even most of them began with the best of intentions.
I think the jig is up. But where do we go from here? Into a doom loop of cynicism in a vacuum of meaning? Or do we really explore behind the veil of our religious instinctual drive? I’m an optimist and believe the latter. The strength of our universal religious impulse is too strong to be denied. But I still don’t know where we go from here and how we get there.
Hmmmm... Doc, I really like your writing, passion, and utter sincerity, but to me (of course) this one seems off.
1) At least this Catholic does believe, quite strongly, that words mean something
2) The Catholic Church does teach that it is the one true religion - many would not agree, ok - but that is what it teaches: cfr. the most recent official document on this, “Dominus Jesus”
Its a small world after all. From Catholicism to Professional Wrestling to Disney World, its all a small mental leap. Nice article, I enjoyed reading it. And imaging Hulk Hogan saying "You're Anathema, Brother!"
This reminds me of Umberto Eco's Travels in Hyperreality (earlier translated as Faith in Fakes), in which he discusses the role of Disneyland in America. But you update it nicely.
Definitely feels difficult to find solid ground to stand on these days.
The total lack of reverence I see at Mass(people showing up with shopping bags; others wearing shorts, tanktops, and flip-flops) really makes you question whether 'religious' people actually believe what they profess to believe.
On the other side, the secular crowd isn't faring much better. My most educated friends and family absolutely bought into everything that happened in 2020 and still, to this day, don't question 'Science'. People in lab coats that work at Fortune 50 mega-corporations are entirely infallible in their eyes.
Even further, I have 'prepper' friends that distrust the government and all politicians, yet can't fathom that the Baby Boomers would lie about hitting golfballs on the Moon. You can't claim to stand to oppose the system if you fall for the biggest myths the systems puts forward!
At the end of the day, I think most people are just LARP'ing in everything they do. But it's probably always been that way...
Excellent and thoughtful, but where are we going from here? Even the religion of Disney is faltering. It has tried to become a religious and moral force beyond its more humble aspirations of appealing to the religious instinct in humans. And it seems to be failing.
I think that humans are waking up to the reality that exists behind that religious instinct that lies within us. I think that we are rejecting the institutions and institutional thinking that has used that human instinct, consciously or not, to build their structures and power. Some or even most of them began with the best of intentions.
I think the jig is up. But where do we go from here? Into a doom loop of cynicism in a vacuum of meaning? Or do we really explore behind the veil of our religious instinctual drive? I’m an optimist and believe the latter. The strength of our universal religious impulse is too strong to be denied. But I still don’t know where we go from here and how we get there.
Thank you.wow.spot on.
Hmmmm... Doc, I really like your writing, passion, and utter sincerity, but to me (of course) this one seems off.
1) At least this Catholic does believe, quite strongly, that words mean something
2) The Catholic Church does teach that it is the one true religion - many would not agree, ok - but that is what it teaches: cfr. the most recent official document on this, “Dominus Jesus”
3) Pope Francis didn’t canonize these Coptic martyrs, but included them in the Roman Martyrology. You might say this is nit-picking and rhetorical acrobatics, but it is a valid distinction. (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-05/pope-francis-tawadros-ii-coptic-orthodox-martyrs-egypt.html)
4) I would be happy to discuss this with you, if you are ever so disposed.
Salvo meliore iudicio.
Anyway, I’m still subscribed. God bless your work!
Its a small world after all. From Catholicism to Professional Wrestling to Disney World, its all a small mental leap. Nice article, I enjoyed reading it. And imaging Hulk Hogan saying "You're Anathema, Brother!"
This reminds me of Umberto Eco's Travels in Hyperreality (earlier translated as Faith in Fakes), in which he discusses the role of Disneyland in America. But you update it nicely.
Definitely feels difficult to find solid ground to stand on these days.
The total lack of reverence I see at Mass(people showing up with shopping bags; others wearing shorts, tanktops, and flip-flops) really makes you question whether 'religious' people actually believe what they profess to believe.
On the other side, the secular crowd isn't faring much better. My most educated friends and family absolutely bought into everything that happened in 2020 and still, to this day, don't question 'Science'. People in lab coats that work at Fortune 50 mega-corporations are entirely infallible in their eyes.
Even further, I have 'prepper' friends that distrust the government and all politicians, yet can't fathom that the Baby Boomers would lie about hitting golfballs on the Moon. You can't claim to stand to oppose the system if you fall for the biggest myths the systems puts forward!
At the end of the day, I think most people are just LARP'ing in everything they do. But it's probably always been that way...