[Michael]
Again exemplifying why I insist on distinguishing theism into the
most inclusive definition (in your terminology, the esoteric only)
and the rest, which I would refer to as "theistic practice" or
"theistic cultural manifestations" or "religions"...
[Arlo]
And this is terminology I don't accept, namely because "mystical
esotericism" does not infer nor demand nor point to a "god". "Theism"
is a "belief in god, a god or gods", and is quite different from the
mystic esotericism I am talking about. I know you want to make this
distinction, but I don't understand why you burden yourself with a
word ("theism") that has historically and culturally pointed to
something else. Theism is theism. It is "god". That is NOT mystical
esotericism. "Theism" is one (of many) human historical-cultural
responses to Quality, which when taken with other such responses
comprimise the entirety of the Mythos. Where "Theism" points to a God
(even if its an indescribable, unknowable God), mystical esotericism
points out that God is but one face of the Void. You seem to want to
conflate "God" with this Void, but that is incorrect, "God" is only
but one of its many, countless, historical, cultural masks. But if
all we have is this terminological difference, that's not too bad I suppose.
[Michael]
But you seem to be suggesting you think humanity can operate any
differently by adopting an MoQ over SOM?
[Arlo]
So did Pirsig, I'd wager.
[Michael]
How will changing the accepted metaphysics to something *less*
tangible, obvious, or in line with what human perceptions lead us to
believe is the case make people be relatively any less sheep like
rather than *more*, or obviate the need for an "initiate" group?
[Arlo]
My point here was in citing Hall's belief that the human condition is
one where the mass of people will always be like sheep. By the way,
this contention was also held by the Apostle Paul, who had said that
they are children, to be fed with milk, while the latter (the wise)
were men to be fed with meat. I go back and forth in my agreement
with Hall, finding such elitism not my taste, but then looking at the
world and seeing so very many falling deeper and deeper into the
sheep-like role Paul described. We are thousands and thousands of
years advanced from our pre-historic roots, but has the human
condition changed? Do a greater percent of the human population
understand love, art, beauty, Arete, agape, honor, devotion than in
the past? Do a greater percent of the modern population understand
the mystical esotericism of the Void than a hundred years ago? A
thousand? Ten thousand? The cynic in me says no. But much of this
lies at the root of SOM, and a cultural revolution where this
foundation is altered may make a world of difference. I mean, if I
didn't think so (at least partly) I wouldn't be here.
Consider, if every Pastor, every Priest, every Rabbi, every Imam,
every Shaman, every Monk, every Preacher-of-Any-Sort, led of each and
every service with "all this is an analogy", would teach their
audiences that the dress-of-language in this story is simply a
theatrical ruse to get them to contemplate that which is always
beyond words, always beyond our vision, and (importantly) that all
people in all times under all manners of historical language,
geography and custom are pointing to the same thing, and that their
particular choice of name (Yahweh or Odin or Allah or Avalokitesvara
or White Buffalo Calf Woman) is unimportant, that the question to ask
is not whether "Jesus resurrected and Odin didn't" but to ask what is
it about the human condition that resurrection stories have been used
across history and the globe to point towards? Would the world be
better? My vote would be yes, I'd wager so. (Of course, Hall (and
Paul) would say such a world is impossible, that invariably the
masses will reflock to the exoteric doctrines offered by those seeking power.)
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