son of a bitch! meant to search...
.. zarathustra!
The Problem
Man is constituted of two systematically different worlds:
1) Objectively man is mortal and faces the same basic desires as most social animals: to live, to breed, and to gain power over those around him. This man is despicable in that he only exists to satisfy his own myopic desires, but he is also beautiful in the same way the squirrel is glorious as it dives from branch to branch balancing in a world that uses the laws of physics as toys. Each behavior of man is a complex dance, incomprehensible from within, fascinating but transparent to an outsider. But this is only the objective world of mortal man.
2) Subjectively all men are gods. Some say God created the universe in seven days. But man outdoes this small feat every moment of every day. The subjective reality of man can be shaped at a whim. From a single believed thought, a world of beauty and joy can be transformed to a world of betrayal and hatred. God says “Let there be light” and there is light, but man says “Let light mean nothing” and light is nothing. God says “There is still light even if you consider it nothing” but man tears out his eyes and drops them to the Earth and says “I see no light” and man establishes his subjective dominion over God. Within the head of each man is an immortal, for the mind cannot understand the nonexistence of the mind.
From this dichotomy the greatest frustrations and greatest joys of man emerge. The artist finishes his majestic portrayal of his own god, sees his reflection in its eyes, and vomits with disgust at his own arrogance. The lover peers into the eyes of his imperfect beloved, sees true admiration and recognizes in that moment his own divinity.
On Religion
Religion emerges when the mind incapable of accepting objective morality and subjective immortality tries to resolve this conflict. A system of divinity is created that resolves the problem with objective morality while never forcing the mind to deal with its own mortality. Man finds it much easier to believe that his mind will go on even after his body dies than that his immortality will end when his body dies. The system of divinity requires no physical proof for it is the nonphysical for which it is expressly created to address, yet man is skeptical especially of himself.
Man tells others of his beliefs and the more they are spread the more proof he thinks he has that they are right. In man’s subjective reality the perceived will of the many overwhelms the will of the individual. Man forgets that religion was his own creation. When he begins to doubt he thinks “Everybody else believes the gods live on Mount Olympus, who am I to disagree?” And so he keeps silent.
When he speaks weakly of his doubt, he is told divinity is only revealed to those who believe. When he speaks critically of his doubt he is rebuffed and shunned, for few believers are resolved enough to withstand open minded criticism of their beliefs. The truest nonbeliever maintains his doubt despite the will of the world. But as death approaches he too grows frightened and adopts religion. Thus this shanty house of cards called religion is maintained.
On Humanism
My definition: To believe that man is god.
Thus spoke me.
Man is constituted of two systematically different worlds:
1) Objectively man is mortal and faces the same basic desires as most social animals: to live, to breed, and to gain power over those around him. This man is despicable in that he only exists to satisfy his own myopic desires, but he is also beautiful in the same way the squirrel is glorious as it dives from branch to branch balancing in a world that uses the laws of physics as toys. Each behavior of man is a complex dance, incomprehensible from within, fascinating but transparent to an outsider. But this is only the objective world of mortal man.
2) Subjectively all men are gods. Some say God created the universe in seven days. But man outdoes this small feat every moment of every day. The subjective reality of man can be shaped at a whim. From a single believed thought, a world of beauty and joy can be transformed to a world of betrayal and hatred. God says “Let there be light” and there is light, but man says “Let light mean nothing” and light is nothing. God says “There is still light even if you consider it nothing” but man tears out his eyes and drops them to the Earth and says “I see no light” and man establishes his subjective dominion over God. Within the head of each man is an immortal, for the mind cannot understand the nonexistence of the mind.
From this dichotomy the greatest frustrations and greatest joys of man emerge. The artist finishes his majestic portrayal of his own god, sees his reflection in its eyes, and vomits with disgust at his own arrogance. The lover peers into the eyes of his imperfect beloved, sees true admiration and recognizes in that moment his own divinity.
On Religion
Religion emerges when the mind incapable of accepting objective morality and subjective immortality tries to resolve this conflict. A system of divinity is created that resolves the problem with objective morality while never forcing the mind to deal with its own mortality. Man finds it much easier to believe that his mind will go on even after his body dies than that his immortality will end when his body dies. The system of divinity requires no physical proof for it is the nonphysical for which it is expressly created to address, yet man is skeptical especially of himself.
Man tells others of his beliefs and the more they are spread the more proof he thinks he has that they are right. In man’s subjective reality the perceived will of the many overwhelms the will of the individual. Man forgets that religion was his own creation. When he begins to doubt he thinks “Everybody else believes the gods live on Mount Olympus, who am I to disagree?” And so he keeps silent.
When he speaks weakly of his doubt, he is told divinity is only revealed to those who believe. When he speaks critically of his doubt he is rebuffed and shunned, for few believers are resolved enough to withstand open minded criticism of their beliefs. The truest nonbeliever maintains his doubt despite the will of the world. But as death approaches he too grows frightened and adopts religion. Thus this shanty house of cards called religion is maintained.
On Humanism
My definition: To believe that man is god.
Thus spoke me.
we're just apes with digital watches.
fsmart> The Problem
what is the problem?
what is the problem?
The Problem
Personal
At the moment of composition I was surrounded by a hoard of people who saw my non-belief as a personal affront.
In General
Every time someone sacrifices the honesty and potency of the mind for the weakness and fear of the mortal that person is diminished. Religion is an elaborate system of ritual sacrifice. The individual mind is subjugated to the will of the many. The perfection of pure critical thought is browbeaten with the message that the only way to preserve the mind is through subscription to a system of counter-logical truths. The problem is in the loss of divinity of man (perhaps only a problem to me).
Personal
At the moment of composition I was surrounded by a hoard of people who saw my non-belief as a personal affront.
In General
Every time someone sacrifices the honesty and potency of the mind for the weakness and fear of the mortal that person is diminished. Religion is an elaborate system of ritual sacrifice. The individual mind is subjugated to the will of the many. The perfection of pure critical thought is browbeaten with the message that the only way to preserve the mind is through subscription to a system of counter-logical truths. The problem is in the loss of divinity of man (perhaps only a problem to me).
"Yes, into evil!" cried the young man. "How is it possible that you discovered my soul?"
Zarathustra smiled and said: "Some souls will never be discovered, unless they are first invented."
From the First Part "On the Tree on the Mountain" Version Translated by Adrian Del Caro
Zarathustra smiled and said: "Some souls will never be discovered, unless they are first invented."
From the First Part "On the Tree on the Mountain" Version Translated by Adrian Del Caro
Let us speak of this, you wisest ones, even if it is bad to do so. Keeping silent is worse; all truths that are kept silent become poisonous.
And may everything break that can possibly be broken by out truths! Many a house has yet to be built!
From the Second Part "On Self-Overcoming" Version Translated by Adrian Del Caro
And may everything break that can possibly be broken by out truths! Many a house has yet to be built!
From the Second Part "On Self-Overcoming" Version Translated by Adrian Del Caro
:)