Thumotics and Religion, Part Two

Even though the cultural dominance of Christianity is waning, its influence can still be seen in the post-Christian Western religious landscape. For example, many New Age spiritualites operate with the same assumption that we humans are insufficient (unaware, in the dark, unenlightened) when it comes to knowing the truth about reality. Instead of prophets, messiahs, and teachers many New Agers depend on celebrity authors and teachers, some who channel information from supposedly ancient, wiser beings. 

The celebrities, teachers, and channelers function in the same way as prophets, Jesus, and his apostles and teachers. There is no way to verify what they say. We either believe them or we don't. If we believe them and do what they say, we will live in peace, love, and light. If we don't, we will live in pain, suffering and unawareness until we learn the lessons we need to learn in order to advance and ultimately escape the cycles of reincarnation. When we escape reincarnation we merge into ultimate being, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

The two key features of this religious view have to do with us humans: insufficient in ourselves and necessarily dependent on others with special knowledge.

It is a faith-based view because it requires faith in unverifiable, revealed assertions.

As such it emphasizes our ear and sense of hearing over all of our other senses.

Contra Transcendence

FAQs about Transcendence

Transcendence is about rising beyond one's self (ego) and the world.

To what does one transcend? It's given various names: God, Heaven, Higher Self, Nirvana, Brahma, Enlightenment, the All, Ultimate Being, and the Source. They're all religious, metaphysical, mental concepts.

How does one transcend one's self? There are various ways: living a morally right life, silence, solitude, intention, just being, meditation, prayer, mantra, and deep relaxation. More serious methods include self denial, fasting, vigils, poverty, and martyrdom.  All involve withdrawing from the world and life, closing one's eyes, and turning inward. For some, death is the ultimate way to transcend one's self and the world.

Who or what does the transcending? How can one's self transcend one's self? What experiences transcendence if not one's self? Some believe that the eternal soul does the transcending. Others believe that transcendence is a metaphor for becoming aware that there really is no difference between us and ultimate being. In reality we are ultimate being, so they believe.

Why would one seek transcendence? Because it's believed to be reality, our true being, and our true home. All else is a fallen state, ignorance, darkness, unenlightenment, an illusion.

My View: Not Transcendence But Engagement

In my view, transcendence is the apotheosis of fiction: escapism deified..

It's an imaginary tale one tells oneself in order to avoid oneself and the world.

Those with low evaluations of themselves and the world indulge in this form of entertainment taken too seriously.

Those who value life and this world have no need for transcendence. They practice the opposite: engagement.

They're in and of this world. They are their egos.

They keep their eyes and other senses open. They live by sight not by faith. 

They accept and embrace life as it is and cower not from living it.

They welcome, seek, and cherish the mystery, beauty, and pleasures of life and this world. They accept the tragedies of life and its pains. They accept life's mortality. 

They rise, not to avoid or escape, but to face life's many challenges. When they're overwhelmed, they take refuge, rest, recover as best they can, and resume living the adventure that is their life.

With family, friends, companions, strangers, and enemies, they co-author the adventure of their life.

Whenever and however their story ends, it ends. No one really knows what happens next, except decomposing and continued life in the bones, blood, and memories of the living.

It's called non-fictional living. 

Are the Poor in Spirit Blessed?

Many believe they live fallen lives in a fallen world. Some believe they are sinners in a sinful world. Others believe they chose to descend from a "spiritual" realm into this world in order to live as a human and learn an important lesson. Still others believe this world is an illusion of suffering and they continue to reincarnate in this world until they are enlightened and liberated from it.

These different views share much in common. They share in common a low view of both this world and human beings. They express a belief that this world and all human beings are flawed or somehow less in comparison to something higher and beyond. Some go so far as to say that we humans are to blame. They believe that we ruined ourselves and the world by our own free will.

Those who believe such things devalue both this world and being human. They deny rather than affirm them. At heart they are anti-world, anti-human, anti-life, anti-spirit.

Why would anyone believe that this world and all human beings are somehow flawed or less than something beyond? Why would they believe in an imagined better place and way of being? 

From whom would such belief spring? Would such beliefs spring from the hearts and minds of the strong spirited among us?

Might such beliefs come from the poor in spirit who lack the strength to live well in this world?  Are they not the ones unable to enjoy the beauty of the world and the pleasures of life. Are they not too weak to live noble human lives in the world as it is? 

Do they not cope with their poverty of spirit by fantasizing about a better place to go after they die? Is it not they who want prophets and teachers to show them a way to escape this life? Is it not they who long to be rescued by a savior?

Perhaps the problem is neither the world or us humans. Perhaps everything is just as it is. Perhaps the problem is the belief of the poor in spirit. Perhaps what they believe is wrong.