15 Comments
May 22, 2023Liked by Yoshi Matsumoto

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.

Expand full comment
author

I don't know that anybody knows where to go from here. Our present mode of existence, arguably, was created with the collapse of the old world after WW1 and its final death after WW2. It might take a similar level of societal destruction before any sort of "reset" to anything else is possible. As you say, the religious impulse will always be with us, but it is easily channeled into many things. I think, perhaps, the creation of new "gods" in the form of artificial intelligences may be coming in the future. Such would be the perfect sort of god for a technology worshiping people.

Expand full comment

Agreed, but I wonder if we are coming to a point where the religious impulse is no longer satisfied by such superficial and human constructs. AI is terrifying because it resembles human consciousness in such a superficial way and as our own human consciousness has been marginalized, co-opted, and denied, it seems to be much more powerful and substantial than it is. The terrifying aspect of AI is that too many people will embrace it as a god. Modern humans have been seduced to see our tools as gods and surely AI is the most powerful and seductive tool yet devised. I do think that that evolutionary point we have reached was inevitable, and here we are.

I remain an optimist and I believe we are coming to a major fork in the road in human evolution, much like the axial age. I am very mindful of the risks and challenges we face. The metaphor that keeps coming up for me is an irresistible force meeting an immovable object - something has to give. I still think humanity will triumph - iron is forged in fire.

Expand full comment

Thank you.wow.spot on.

Expand full comment

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!

Expand full comment

I think what you’re missing here is that religion isn’t dogma or law. This entire article is based on this foundational belief that true religion is theological laws. That’s not the case.

Religion is far more symbol, myth, and ritual that express and embody the core beliefs of a community.

You’re right that the catholic church has pissed on itself theologically multiple times. True. And that would be essentially destructive if all the church is is a storehouse of theological rules.

But it’s not. It’s the mythology of the saints and the scriptures, the rituals of the sacraments, and the symbols of the churches, crosses, art... etc.

The truth is that the Church isn’t what it said it was. But it is still what it was made to be and will continue despite Vatican ii’s disastrous implementation and terrible, scandalous leadership. The mystical body will continue.

Expand full comment

Very interesting. I suppose we would have to clarify a lot of terms to see if we are on the proverbial “same page”, but I like your comment. The Church is definitely not a collection of rules or laws, and I also believe “it still is what is what made to be” despite constant human error and inanity.

Expand full comment

Ha. Sorry Fr, I meant for this comment to go to the main thread. I was replying to the author, not you.

Expand full comment

Hey Mr D’Ambrosio: providential “circumstance.” I was speaking in spiritual direction with one of my directees this morning and she told me she was reading a book in her Catholic book club: “Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life”, by a certain Marcello D’Ambrossio! I was obviously surprised: didn’t know you were such a scholar and writer. Good luck and prayers for your present and future work.

Expand full comment

Anyway, I suppose that is you, or is it a namesake?

Expand full comment

That's my Dad. Haha!

Expand full comment

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!"

Expand full comment
author

Thank you. The Hulkster is actually very religious, so I am told.

Expand full comment

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.

Expand full comment

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...

Expand full comment