Joseph Bailey41 said:That’s exactly it... nobody and nothing exists "outside" because it's simply impossible. Everything that exists is defined by its relationship to something else. I don't think we're necessarily talking about that suffocating, almost parasitic kind of clinging—just basic interconnectedness. It's a concept that science, art, and spirituality can all weigh in on; it really just comes down to what resonates with you personally. For some, religion provides that framework for relating to other people, the world, and life itself. But that hasn't sat well with everyone for a long time, and you can't exactly turn back the clock on history. In my opinion, we don't need to try and transcend our physical reality; we just need to stop being stuck in our own mental trenches. We have to accept that there isn't one single, universal truth for everyone, other than the fact that we are all human.
You're hitting on several different points here... that "basic connectivity" is definitely the goal, but in today's world, it's pretty rare to actually feel that (on an individual level, at least).
It depends on how you see things, and there are definitely other factors at play... traditional religions—specifically Christianity—are basically sitting there as an "upgrade," a "relic," or just a "ceremonial add-on" to this whole thing...
The Wealth of Nations... and as a "relic," they mostly just maintain a certain balance and act as a reminder of the past (and the future).
If McCarthy is right, then practically nobody is "outside" of this religion in the modern world, or maybe just a tiny handful of people.
I won't get too bogged down in the article/book itself, but the author (who's a Christian) covers a lot of ground, even touching on "left-wing romanticism" instead of—well, maybe a more compromised—"Christian socialism."
In my opinion, it's not about transcending material reality so much as getting out of our own heads—accepting that we don't all share one single truth, other than the fact that we're human.
To me, the ability to "transcend material reality" seems like a fundamental part of being human... from the first crudely carved stones and burial sites to cave paintings and the first spoken words...
Being "stuck in our own mental trenches" feels like a problem that fluctuates in difficulty... the existence of various religions, worldviews, and cultures doesn't necessarily lead to a "war of all against all" in my book.
wearyowl29 said:Religion and culture are both types of Cult; one reaches for transcendence while the other handles the grit of daily life. They intertwine so tightly they're practically siblings, kept alive by our innate need for social connection.
When religion provides that orientation, we end up with these eternal conflicts—internal struggles and external enemies. And political ideologies? They love that. They thrive by parasitizing those feelings of being under threat.
As for beliefs that go beyond the physical realm, there is spirituality, which is distinct from organized religion. Some religions have gotten way too full of themselves, thinking they hold the only monopoly on heaven.
Since spirituality isn't something you can just mass-produce or consume like a fast-food burger, it might actually be completely immune to Mammon and all the other distractions.
Not sure why you're calling them "cults," but yeah, they definitely overlap... just like transcendence and everyday life do.
When religion serves as an orientation...We’re stuck in this endless loop of internal and external enemies—and ideologues absolutely love it because they basically feed off that fear-mongering crap.
Not necessarily...
When you look at beliefs that go beyond this earthly plane, there's spirituality—which is different from organized religions that have somehow convinced themselves they're the only gatekeepers to heaven.
Since spirituality isn't something you can just consume on a mass scale, it might actually be totally immune to Mamone and whatever else is out there.
I don't see religiosity and spirituality as opposites... people who claim to be "spiritual but not religious" have just essentially denied the transcendent side of their own faith and shoved it all into the "spirituality" bucket instead.
The rest of the religious stuff is supposedly "covered" by the social contract... I'm skeptical, but hey, whatever floats your boat...
Also, just because some elite or individual
consumes spirituality or culture doesn't mean they're safe from Mamone, Caesar, or whoever the hell the current idol is.
