That was an uplifting read. Thanks, Chris. It's hard to believe there's something like a consensus, both in official science and across secular culture, that dogmatically denies the possibility that life has meaning, while ignoring the mystery of consciousness altogether . . . I mean, if I believed that neither me nor anything I perceive is real and that life is born out of mindless chance, I might want to kill myself. But some people I know proudly believe this stuff. A friend told me recently that he was watching The Matrix with his twelve year old son, who turned to him at one point and said he thinks that Neo and his crew are dumb for choosing to live in reality. If given the chance, he'd definitely take the blue pill. For him it was a no-brainer. My friend said that his son's unexpected insight inspired a eureka moment. He realized that of course he'd gladly take the blue pill too! Reflecting on this little anecdote, I wonder if maybe it goes some way to illustrating the allure of the idea that the mind is little more than a cosmic movie projection. That way, we don't have to think too much, take big risks or even be accountable for our actions; and best of all, we can avoid heavy pain and suffering.
There has undoubtedly been a shift in the zeitgeist with regards to illusion and truth... the purported loss of faith in truth makes appeasement with illusion seem desirable. Yet, and here is the rub, this apparent loss of faith is accompanied by the most shockingly resolute political commitments. The desire for escape has a long history, but seldom before has it exerted such a grip upon popular culture in quite this way. This paradoxical coexistence of certainty and illusion is not, perhaps, new, but it is certainly manifesting in new and troubling ways!
Many thanks for sharing your anecdote and your thoughtful comment!
That was an uplifting read. Thanks, Chris. It's hard to believe there's something like a consensus, both in official science and across secular culture, that dogmatically denies the possibility that life has meaning, while ignoring the mystery of consciousness altogether . . . I mean, if I believed that neither me nor anything I perceive is real and that life is born out of mindless chance, I might want to kill myself. But some people I know proudly believe this stuff. A friend told me recently that he was watching The Matrix with his twelve year old son, who turned to him at one point and said he thinks that Neo and his crew are dumb for choosing to live in reality. If given the chance, he'd definitely take the blue pill. For him it was a no-brainer. My friend said that his son's unexpected insight inspired a eureka moment. He realized that of course he'd gladly take the blue pill too! Reflecting on this little anecdote, I wonder if maybe it goes some way to illustrating the allure of the idea that the mind is little more than a cosmic movie projection. That way, we don't have to think too much, take big risks or even be accountable for our actions; and best of all, we can avoid heavy pain and suffering.
There has undoubtedly been a shift in the zeitgeist with regards to illusion and truth... the purported loss of faith in truth makes appeasement with illusion seem desirable. Yet, and here is the rub, this apparent loss of faith is accompanied by the most shockingly resolute political commitments. The desire for escape has a long history, but seldom before has it exerted such a grip upon popular culture in quite this way. This paradoxical coexistence of certainty and illusion is not, perhaps, new, but it is certainly manifesting in new and troubling ways!
Many thanks for sharing your anecdote and your thoughtful comment!
Well stated, Chris:
"Yet, and here is the rub, this apparent loss of faith is accompanied by the most shockingly resolute political commitments."
Seems like there's a need for faith and commitment, like a psychic limb.
What a terribly disturbing tale... something for a horror story for sure!