Metaphysical Avoidance [77 Words]

Theological argument is a method for avoiding interaction with the divine. Does it matter how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? No, but it occupies one’s time. Instead of interacting with the angels, one is arguing about them. One sees the same behavior in Magick. Time is spent arguing how one should end the Star Ruby, or whether it should be fill or kill in the adorations. Nothing changes, it only gets worse.

On waking people [111 Words]

I was a leftist and anarchist. Reality conspired to destroy both delusions. I should be thankful that I am not very good at lying to myself. Both ideologies depend on treating people as one thinks they should be rather than on how they are. This sets one up to be used by other people. People sidestep this by telling themselves that other factors are preventing people from acting as expected. If only people would “wake-up,” everything would work as these ideologies demand. It also serves as an ego enhancement by implying that the one thinking this is “awake.” The mission to awaken the people may be the most dangerous of conceits.

How I View the World (Bird's Eye View)

Limited to 156 words.

A note on my metaphysics. At the top of the tree are Values. Values has two items underneath it, Religion and Art. These are cultural interpretations of the values held by that culture — or, the manifestation of these values in the world within a specific socio-political grouping. Note that they reinforce and influence each other. Below Religion is Politics. As Schmitt says, political theories are merely secularized theology. To put it differently, one’s conception of the eternal will obviously determine one’s conception of the temporal. Below Politics are Morals. These are the day to day impulses which comprise the culturally contextualize definition of a “good” person.

The magician operates in the realm of Values, or should. He often utilizes Art and the trappings of Religion, but the difference between a Magician and a Mystic is that the Magician operates within the realm of Values directly. This, I think, is why Crowley warned against Religion and Mysticism.

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This is not a part of the writing.

Values
 |   +——————————+
Religion                               Art
 |
Politics
 |

Morals

Tao Teh Ching #38 (excerpt)

Therefore, the Tao is lost, and then virtue
Virtue is lost, and then benevolence
Benevolence is lost, and then righteousness
Righteousness is lost, and then etiquette
Those who have etiquette
are a thin shell of loyalty and sincerity
And the beginning of chaos
(Translation by Derek Lin) 

A Brief Note on the Nature of Religion

93 Words.

A religion is often thought of in a monolithic sense. However, this is misleading. It is more useful to think of religion as being divided into three broad interrelated groupings: Folk, Elite, and Doctrinal. Folk religion is followed by the lower classes and tends to be superstitious and based on practices. The Elite interpretation is followed by the upper classes and tends to be more intellectually oriented. Finally, the Doctrinal practices is the official line promoted by the priesthood, texts, and organization. These are best conceived as habitus (ala Bourdieu) than orthodox restrictions.

Finding God

Another piece from my writing project. For this I am constrained to 77 words. OZ.

The simple fact that things in our reality are greater than the sum of their parts constitutes proof of the divine. If we take all of the elements that comprise a rose, in proper proportion, and mixed them together, we would not have a rose. I don’t pretend that I understand the agency behind this anti-entropic force, but I can see it reflected in the natural world about me. This is god, both immanent and transcendent.