The Concept of God is Nothing More Then Modern Day Mythology.
With the conception of any new reality, like that of the Matrix, there will inevitably be those who come along and try and pervert the message to somehow align with their own erroneous view of reality of the material and spiritual world. It's amazing how one sided people can be, that they'd set out and blindly attempt to convince the rest of the world of their own polar-sided belief system where ever they can. The following is a list of websites I've discovered that try to pull apart the mythology of the Matrix and pervert it into something more self serving:
http://www.islaminfo.co.uk/islam/matrix.htm
http://www.anzwers.org/free/thematrix/matrix.htm
http://www.probablefuture.com/matrix.htm
This first one is the most creepy, as it attempts to parallel the concept to that of Islam. You really DO get a little more insight into the self-serving, narcissistic blindness that faith can revenge on a persons psyche, especially that of one sanctioned by an entire culture. The second two, as one might inevitably expect, are those that are trying to find some erroneous proof of the existence of a higher power. These too, appear to be one sided as well, proving nothing. All in all, I found it to be both disturbing and amusing at the same time.
It's a fundamental human flaw which seems to become harder each year you advance from birth, not to be able to perceive things in this world with a 'truly' open mind. It's funny though, because a lot of the arguments that were made about how people are 'living in a world of delusion' right now, I found to be completely on the mark.
It's funny how life works sometimes though. It kind of reminds me of the Greek tragedy 'Medea'. Her and Jason have this completely amazing love affair that everyone in the land is envious of and is talked about at great length (kinda like the Brad and Jennifer or a Ben and J.Lo of their time). They eventually bear two children and the world for Medea is the wonderful world filled with love and joy. Jason eventually returns from years out at sea, visiting different places and people during his journeys. One of those people happen to be a slave girl he falls madly in love with. He returns and informs Medea that he's found someone else. In that very moment emotions go from one extreme of the spectrum (love, bliss, etc) to the complete polar opposite (that of unrelenting rage, scorn and fury). In her deep rage and sadness Medea wants nothing more then for Jason to understand how much pain he has caused her. In a moment of pure, self-serving narcissism, realizing that there was only one way to truly fill Jason's world with ultimate suffering, she retires into the home they once shared together and commences on the task of hacking their two children up into a million pieces. Was it really love? What IS love? What could make such love turn so evil? It's funny though, I feel like Neo here, putting up my hand and stopping bullets, but in keeping with the topic of polarity in a dualistic world, I find myself viewing some of the above material (which I believe was meant to promote and confirm the existence of an almighty), from completely the opposite side of the spectrum of reality.
"People do not want to be removed from their zone of comfort, [that of denying the Hereafter]."
I believe that you could also make this point for the LACK of an almighty. People don't WANT to be removed from their comfort zone (growing up erroneously believing in a wonderful, more meaningful and true life that awaits them when they are judged upon their death). The idea of there being no hereafter can be truly unsettling for those who have always believed and blindly accepted such a thing. Which goes to follow:
"The world of reality is far less attractive & comfortable than the world of delusion."
I think this can go both ways. There is suffering in both worlds, but it's a matter of personal perception that makes each others world more bearable then the next. This is it? This is all that there is? When you die your dead? Isn't it more comfortable to believe, for what ever reason, that there is some purpose to all this, that the righteous will be rewarded in the hereafter? I believe the 'righteous' ARE rewarded for their good deeds on earth. I believe those of impure heart do ultimately wind up suffering. It's the balance of the universe, or regression to the mean. It's a concept called Karma.
"You are a slave of conformity bound by the program."
Think of all of the churches, and political parties, modern morality and 'family values' -- even the pledge of allegiance for that matter. Everything appears to be built on the system of belief, of the idea of a higher power. The idea that the belief in a higher power IS reality, and to deny this reality is to cause much suffering on to yourself. Accept this reality and 'the program' will run smoothly.
Why do people get so amped up when they are around somebody who does not share their reality? I believe it's because they're not very spiritually mature. This can go both ways. Somebody who believes in god and feels threatened and therefore angered by somebody else's erroneous belief that there is no god. On the opposite spectrum however, somebody is irritated and angered by what they feel is delusional conformity on the part of those theologically inclined. They see those that accept the belief in such a notion as afterlife trapped living an unquestioned life bound by a blindless faith. I believe those who are truly enlightened, on some level, know that WE'RE ALL slaves of conformity on some level, bound by the program. The simplest example is that of language. If there is no clumsy human word for it, does it not exist or be commonly understood?
The Buddhist mantra "Ohm Mani Padme Hum" is a perfect example of something meaningful buried deep within the confines of the a limited human vocabulary. 'The Jewel is in the lotus' is just the tip of a massive, spiritual iceberg, which derives very little meaning or comprehension from the phrase. Humanities perception is still in such a primitive state of consciousness. We're still only utilizing about 2% of our intellectual potential. Some who refuse to make any definitive statements about the universe, appearing content enough with their understand of their own meta cognition and limited awareness, might see god as the EASY answer to the universe --that the rabbit hole goes far deeper then just that. I personally refuse to come to any conclusions about a universe we have such a minute and limited understanding of. I have come to my own personal beliefs (based upon years of research, talking with people, exploring theology, anthropology, mythology, human psychology, working with schizophrenics, etc), but believe I am enlightened enough to realize that it is nothing more then my own personal perception and conclusion.
This line of thinking, for me, goes all the way back to the koan about the twelve stone garden. In a nutshell, from any one point in the garden you will only be able to count eleven stones. One stone is always concealed behind another, and hidden from view. I believe any situation in life is like this. You're always going to enter any situation differently from someone else. Perception is primitive and clumsy at best. I believe this all could be roughly summed up by quoting Quentin Terrentino in the movie Four Rooms: "The less declarative statements one makes, the less apt they are to look foolish in retrospect." That's why I currently find myself agnostic and not atheist, but what the hell do I know?
I find it funny though, that we all create such polar realities. The same color perceived by different eyes, having different names. I'm sure it's yellow, yet the same color viewed by somebody standing at the same vantage point is perceived as orange. Yet if I were Spanish I would know it as oranja. Reality is a relative term. I did really get a kick out of the phrase, "the only reality is thought itself." How very true. How very Buddhist.
I see many more examples of this dichotomy though.
"Much remains unknown, and existential questions are often related to that category and given superficial answers that satisfy most."
The unknown has historically been a scary place for humanity. What lies behind the veil of darkness outside the campfire? If we could just give some sort of structure to the unknown, then maybe life could be all the more bearable. We could spend less time in a state of anxiety and more time attending to our everyday needs.
"They think that their reality is the only reality."
Humans are notoriously very egocentric and narcissistic when it comes to their own belief system. The sun does not revolve around the earth. It took some independent thinking and years of research to eventually prove this through contemporary science. But even that is nothing then an illusion, blindly accepted by most as 'the only reality'.
"Fear is the consequence and becomes the great motivator."
What happens when one doesn't follow the script they're given? Most believe there will be a final judgment. It is a fear so strong, blinded by faith, which becomes the true motivator. Most aren't brave enough to question such a reality, fearing that to question it would be a lack of faith and therefore to turn your back on the afterlife and god itself. But would't a god who apparently 'created' rational and existential thinking in the first place want individuals to question the world around them? And if god didn't want that, and just wanted its followers to blindly follow, is that the kind of place you want to spend all eternity, serving under such a self-absorbed entity? Wouldn't it make sense that if humanity would find some sort of 'truth' for themselves, wouldn't this eventually bring them CLOSER to god and a greater consciousness? Personally I've found, at least in therapy anyway, that people who make a decision for themselves, remaining open to all the available options available to them, will have a more successful time with self-actualization and a sustained well being, as opposed to someone else imposing their views and belief of what would be best for them, .
"Paranoia & violence often ensue, and power, greed, lies, mistrust and a lack of care seem to be favored."
In short, this phrase reminds me a lot of those terrorists who hijacked those planes on 911. Such little care was given to those flight attendants, pilots, passengers and people in those buildings. To those taking control of those planes, they were nothing more then objects to be manipulated, justified by a belief that they were all living blindly in a transitory plane of existence. Everybody who didn't accept Mohammad (like everybody in the Matrix who hadn't yet taken the red pill) was therefore to be considered an enemy and an obstacle because they were all (if not willingly) doing the bidding of Satan. It also reminds me of the KKK, and the priests that have been molesting children in the news lately, or the stories about fanatical schizophrenics manipulating their realities and abusing those around them for their own self gain, all under the guise of holiness (i.e.: god spoke to me, god told me to, etc.). The Palestine's, the Israli's, the Muslims and the Catholic Church -- the list is self serving, if not never ending.
"Any human entity that is yet not unplugged from it's present collective unconscious is potentially subject to the thought directions of mass consciousness. To real mind control."
Using the above example it's easy to see where all this misery is coming from. Rules of society are called social mores. To break them is to upset society. From religion humanity has gained it's morality, a reason not to kill or to steal or to lie. Can humanity maintain it's morality without it's belief of the almighty? Regardless of whether there is an almighty out there or not, this point is not currently being argued here. What is important is that such hate is being propagated, rationalized and intellectualized under the guise of certain theological belief systems, beliefs that go 'against' such morality, yet it isn't painfully clear, nor is it painfully simple. The Buddha tells us that life is pain. It is thought that it is the understanding of this pain that brings humanity it's compassion and love. To deny this pain is to live erroneously in the world of illusion (i.e.: the world of the suffering).
"The Creator in this Creation, as in most low-level Creations, has sadly learned to violently and strongly oppose rare human visionaries that have seen the real reality beyond the Matrix and have wanted to share the knowledge with others, because, in all cases, their teachings have been distorted by Its human entities and have caused even more violence, sense of illusory superiority and righteousness amongst their followers, and become excuses for ever greater differentiation and aggression. It knows, sadly, that in our Creation, the messenger will be given far more importance and study than the Message, nullifying its purpose."
It makes it's own argument, I believe, for what we've been discussing. I believe one of the agents quoted said it best in his attempt to describe humanity.
"I believe that as a species, humans define their reality through misery and suffering." -- Head agent.
Life is pain. It is the first Noble Truth. The original Matrix failed because it was too perfect. Humans are DEFINED when they are given a struggle and a chance to utilize their potential. It's the reason that our predecessors (if you believe in that reality) stayed in the stone age for so many millions of years. There was never any environmental pressure to adapt to anything different. As soon as those conditions changed (i.e.: the world cooled, the polar caps grew and moisture soon became much more scarce, creating an arid world with sparse vegetation) they became pressured by their environment to find new ways to survive or perish as a species. Our ancestors were forced to come out of the forest, which was now replaced by a vast and endless plain. It was those who were unable to adapt to this new world and figure out a new means to survive (i.e.: banding together, developing meaningful bonds with each other, using more specific tools, thinking ahead towards the future, making strategies, using intellectual reasoning over pure brute force) that eventually died out. Thus only those more intellectually perceptive and compassionate to the other members of their 'tribe' survived, thus promoting increased intellect, and the beginnings of the long path to modern humanity, where we are now unencumbered by just merely survival and are free, willing and able to have such abstract discussions as this one.
Anyway, I found myself taking notes when I was doing my reading last night and felt the need to debate some phrases which appeared to me to be glaring contradictions. I found it to be an informative read none-the-less. I love having discussions like this. My best friend in the whole world is a semi-conservative, Christen-loving guy. We grew up on the east coast together. He had a girlfriend in high school that turned him on to Christianity. I always thought (or should I say, hoped) that he'd 'grow out of it', but it really has given both of us a better understanding, if not empathy for the alternate reality. Even though we don't share it, we're enlightened enough to appreciate it. Unfortunately though, unlike him, I find very little people who share my world view in it's entirety. Actually, that might not be all that unfortunate now that I think about it. I think that without such a spiritual belief system, most would A) lose their greater sense of morality, & B) be so morbidly depressed by the pain of the material world and lack of an afterlife that they would not be able to function. Depends on how you look at it I guess, which is where this conversation began in the first place, and now, appearing to have come full circle, where it shall end (at least for now).
http://www.islaminfo.co.uk/islam/matrix.htm
http://www.anzwers.org/free/thematrix/matrix.htm
http://www.probablefuture.com/matrix.htm
This first one is the most creepy, as it attempts to parallel the concept to that of Islam. You really DO get a little more insight into the self-serving, narcissistic blindness that faith can revenge on a persons psyche, especially that of one sanctioned by an entire culture. The second two, as one might inevitably expect, are those that are trying to find some erroneous proof of the existence of a higher power. These too, appear to be one sided as well, proving nothing. All in all, I found it to be both disturbing and amusing at the same time.
It's a fundamental human flaw which seems to become harder each year you advance from birth, not to be able to perceive things in this world with a 'truly' open mind. It's funny though, because a lot of the arguments that were made about how people are 'living in a world of delusion' right now, I found to be completely on the mark.
It's funny how life works sometimes though. It kind of reminds me of the Greek tragedy 'Medea'. Her and Jason have this completely amazing love affair that everyone in the land is envious of and is talked about at great length (kinda like the Brad and Jennifer or a Ben and J.Lo of their time). They eventually bear two children and the world for Medea is the wonderful world filled with love and joy. Jason eventually returns from years out at sea, visiting different places and people during his journeys. One of those people happen to be a slave girl he falls madly in love with. He returns and informs Medea that he's found someone else. In that very moment emotions go from one extreme of the spectrum (love, bliss, etc) to the complete polar opposite (that of unrelenting rage, scorn and fury). In her deep rage and sadness Medea wants nothing more then for Jason to understand how much pain he has caused her. In a moment of pure, self-serving narcissism, realizing that there was only one way to truly fill Jason's world with ultimate suffering, she retires into the home they once shared together and commences on the task of hacking their two children up into a million pieces. Was it really love? What IS love? What could make such love turn so evil? It's funny though, I feel like Neo here, putting up my hand and stopping bullets, but in keeping with the topic of polarity in a dualistic world, I find myself viewing some of the above material (which I believe was meant to promote and confirm the existence of an almighty), from completely the opposite side of the spectrum of reality.
"People do not want to be removed from their zone of comfort, [that of denying the Hereafter]."
I believe that you could also make this point for the LACK of an almighty. People don't WANT to be removed from their comfort zone (growing up erroneously believing in a wonderful, more meaningful and true life that awaits them when they are judged upon their death). The idea of there being no hereafter can be truly unsettling for those who have always believed and blindly accepted such a thing. Which goes to follow:
"The world of reality is far less attractive & comfortable than the world of delusion."
I think this can go both ways. There is suffering in both worlds, but it's a matter of personal perception that makes each others world more bearable then the next. This is it? This is all that there is? When you die your dead? Isn't it more comfortable to believe, for what ever reason, that there is some purpose to all this, that the righteous will be rewarded in the hereafter? I believe the 'righteous' ARE rewarded for their good deeds on earth. I believe those of impure heart do ultimately wind up suffering. It's the balance of the universe, or regression to the mean. It's a concept called Karma.
"You are a slave of conformity bound by the program."
Think of all of the churches, and political parties, modern morality and 'family values' -- even the pledge of allegiance for that matter. Everything appears to be built on the system of belief, of the idea of a higher power. The idea that the belief in a higher power IS reality, and to deny this reality is to cause much suffering on to yourself. Accept this reality and 'the program' will run smoothly.
Why do people get so amped up when they are around somebody who does not share their reality? I believe it's because they're not very spiritually mature. This can go both ways. Somebody who believes in god and feels threatened and therefore angered by somebody else's erroneous belief that there is no god. On the opposite spectrum however, somebody is irritated and angered by what they feel is delusional conformity on the part of those theologically inclined. They see those that accept the belief in such a notion as afterlife trapped living an unquestioned life bound by a blindless faith. I believe those who are truly enlightened, on some level, know that WE'RE ALL slaves of conformity on some level, bound by the program. The simplest example is that of language. If there is no clumsy human word for it, does it not exist or be commonly understood?
The Buddhist mantra "Ohm Mani Padme Hum" is a perfect example of something meaningful buried deep within the confines of the a limited human vocabulary. 'The Jewel is in the lotus' is just the tip of a massive, spiritual iceberg, which derives very little meaning or comprehension from the phrase. Humanities perception is still in such a primitive state of consciousness. We're still only utilizing about 2% of our intellectual potential. Some who refuse to make any definitive statements about the universe, appearing content enough with their understand of their own meta cognition and limited awareness, might see god as the EASY answer to the universe --that the rabbit hole goes far deeper then just that. I personally refuse to come to any conclusions about a universe we have such a minute and limited understanding of. I have come to my own personal beliefs (based upon years of research, talking with people, exploring theology, anthropology, mythology, human psychology, working with schizophrenics, etc), but believe I am enlightened enough to realize that it is nothing more then my own personal perception and conclusion.
This line of thinking, for me, goes all the way back to the koan about the twelve stone garden. In a nutshell, from any one point in the garden you will only be able to count eleven stones. One stone is always concealed behind another, and hidden from view. I believe any situation in life is like this. You're always going to enter any situation differently from someone else. Perception is primitive and clumsy at best. I believe this all could be roughly summed up by quoting Quentin Terrentino in the movie Four Rooms: "The less declarative statements one makes, the less apt they are to look foolish in retrospect." That's why I currently find myself agnostic and not atheist, but what the hell do I know?
I find it funny though, that we all create such polar realities. The same color perceived by different eyes, having different names. I'm sure it's yellow, yet the same color viewed by somebody standing at the same vantage point is perceived as orange. Yet if I were Spanish I would know it as oranja. Reality is a relative term. I did really get a kick out of the phrase, "the only reality is thought itself." How very true. How very Buddhist.
I see many more examples of this dichotomy though.
"Much remains unknown, and existential questions are often related to that category and given superficial answers that satisfy most."
The unknown has historically been a scary place for humanity. What lies behind the veil of darkness outside the campfire? If we could just give some sort of structure to the unknown, then maybe life could be all the more bearable. We could spend less time in a state of anxiety and more time attending to our everyday needs.
"They think that their reality is the only reality."
Humans are notoriously very egocentric and narcissistic when it comes to their own belief system. The sun does not revolve around the earth. It took some independent thinking and years of research to eventually prove this through contemporary science. But even that is nothing then an illusion, blindly accepted by most as 'the only reality'.
"Fear is the consequence and becomes the great motivator."
What happens when one doesn't follow the script they're given? Most believe there will be a final judgment. It is a fear so strong, blinded by faith, which becomes the true motivator. Most aren't brave enough to question such a reality, fearing that to question it would be a lack of faith and therefore to turn your back on the afterlife and god itself. But would't a god who apparently 'created' rational and existential thinking in the first place want individuals to question the world around them? And if god didn't want that, and just wanted its followers to blindly follow, is that the kind of place you want to spend all eternity, serving under such a self-absorbed entity? Wouldn't it make sense that if humanity would find some sort of 'truth' for themselves, wouldn't this eventually bring them CLOSER to god and a greater consciousness? Personally I've found, at least in therapy anyway, that people who make a decision for themselves, remaining open to all the available options available to them, will have a more successful time with self-actualization and a sustained well being, as opposed to someone else imposing their views and belief of what would be best for them, .
"Paranoia & violence often ensue, and power, greed, lies, mistrust and a lack of care seem to be favored."
In short, this phrase reminds me a lot of those terrorists who hijacked those planes on 911. Such little care was given to those flight attendants, pilots, passengers and people in those buildings. To those taking control of those planes, they were nothing more then objects to be manipulated, justified by a belief that they were all living blindly in a transitory plane of existence. Everybody who didn't accept Mohammad (like everybody in the Matrix who hadn't yet taken the red pill) was therefore to be considered an enemy and an obstacle because they were all (if not willingly) doing the bidding of Satan. It also reminds me of the KKK, and the priests that have been molesting children in the news lately, or the stories about fanatical schizophrenics manipulating their realities and abusing those around them for their own self gain, all under the guise of holiness (i.e.: god spoke to me, god told me to, etc.). The Palestine's, the Israli's, the Muslims and the Catholic Church -- the list is self serving, if not never ending.
"Any human entity that is yet not unplugged from it's present collective unconscious is potentially subject to the thought directions of mass consciousness. To real mind control."
Using the above example it's easy to see where all this misery is coming from. Rules of society are called social mores. To break them is to upset society. From religion humanity has gained it's morality, a reason not to kill or to steal or to lie. Can humanity maintain it's morality without it's belief of the almighty? Regardless of whether there is an almighty out there or not, this point is not currently being argued here. What is important is that such hate is being propagated, rationalized and intellectualized under the guise of certain theological belief systems, beliefs that go 'against' such morality, yet it isn't painfully clear, nor is it painfully simple. The Buddha tells us that life is pain. It is thought that it is the understanding of this pain that brings humanity it's compassion and love. To deny this pain is to live erroneously in the world of illusion (i.e.: the world of the suffering).
"The Creator in this Creation, as in most low-level Creations, has sadly learned to violently and strongly oppose rare human visionaries that have seen the real reality beyond the Matrix and have wanted to share the knowledge with others, because, in all cases, their teachings have been distorted by Its human entities and have caused even more violence, sense of illusory superiority and righteousness amongst their followers, and become excuses for ever greater differentiation and aggression. It knows, sadly, that in our Creation, the messenger will be given far more importance and study than the Message, nullifying its purpose."
It makes it's own argument, I believe, for what we've been discussing. I believe one of the agents quoted said it best in his attempt to describe humanity.
"I believe that as a species, humans define their reality through misery and suffering." -- Head agent.
Life is pain. It is the first Noble Truth. The original Matrix failed because it was too perfect. Humans are DEFINED when they are given a struggle and a chance to utilize their potential. It's the reason that our predecessors (if you believe in that reality) stayed in the stone age for so many millions of years. There was never any environmental pressure to adapt to anything different. As soon as those conditions changed (i.e.: the world cooled, the polar caps grew and moisture soon became much more scarce, creating an arid world with sparse vegetation) they became pressured by their environment to find new ways to survive or perish as a species. Our ancestors were forced to come out of the forest, which was now replaced by a vast and endless plain. It was those who were unable to adapt to this new world and figure out a new means to survive (i.e.: banding together, developing meaningful bonds with each other, using more specific tools, thinking ahead towards the future, making strategies, using intellectual reasoning over pure brute force) that eventually died out. Thus only those more intellectually perceptive and compassionate to the other members of their 'tribe' survived, thus promoting increased intellect, and the beginnings of the long path to modern humanity, where we are now unencumbered by just merely survival and are free, willing and able to have such abstract discussions as this one.
Anyway, I found myself taking notes when I was doing my reading last night and felt the need to debate some phrases which appeared to me to be glaring contradictions. I found it to be an informative read none-the-less. I love having discussions like this. My best friend in the whole world is a semi-conservative, Christen-loving guy. We grew up on the east coast together. He had a girlfriend in high school that turned him on to Christianity. I always thought (or should I say, hoped) that he'd 'grow out of it', but it really has given both of us a better understanding, if not empathy for the alternate reality. Even though we don't share it, we're enlightened enough to appreciate it. Unfortunately though, unlike him, I find very little people who share my world view in it's entirety. Actually, that might not be all that unfortunate now that I think about it. I think that without such a spiritual belief system, most would A) lose their greater sense of morality, & B) be so morbidly depressed by the pain of the material world and lack of an afterlife that they would not be able to function. Depends on how you look at it I guess, which is where this conversation began in the first place, and now, appearing to have come full circle, where it shall end (at least for now).