This is my kind of weirdness - staying subscribed. Thank you for declaring who you are/not and what you're about. A society that has forgotten its connection to the spiritual world and the power of ritual purification practices to send possessive spirits on their way will destroy itself. I appreciate your mission!
I really appreciate you, Nathalie. Your encouragement means so much. I'm glad we've been able to connect here and look forward to learning more from you about narcissism and whatever other topics you choose to explore.
I really appreciate your encouragement. The working title for my book is “Thou Art Enoch” and it is sort of written in the style of a choose-your-own-adventure book minus the jumping from page to page.
I agree with some of your points and disagree with others.
My biggest point of disagreement is your assertion that the evil in the world is due to spirits and demons. While I agree that spiritual influence is more common than most people in "developed" societies now tend to believe, I feel that blaming such beings for the world's suffering takes away too much human agency and responsibility, rendering us bit players in our own story. Maybe that's a reflection of my own ego, but I think if someone is going to claim "God/the devil made me do it," there better be some pretty strong evidence presented.
On the responsibility side, I also feel that blaming demons and spirits can too easily encourage a sense of learned helplessness. This can lead all too easily to charismatic strongmen leading movements that end up being parasitic upon their own followers at best, actively dangerous to those around them at worst.
I need to get back to work, so I'll end here, but I look forward to seeing what else you have to say. "Last Temptation" is also one of my favorite movies for how it encourages people to question and discover instead of promoting the usual dogma.
Hi Greg, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. I’m not so much blaming spirits for fueling the evil in the world so much as reporting what I’ve come to understand. This is the way it works according to the many mystical experiences I’ve had encountering various “entities” that exist in realms intersecting with our own but beyond the full comprehension of normal consciousness. This stuff really cannot yet be proven at an objective, scientific level. To determine if such spirits do exist then the individual has to go out and have the subjective experience themselves. Sort of how one needs to hop in the ocean to know how it feels or eat a strawberry to know how it tastes.
I understand that these sorts of discussions about the supernatural are pretty difficult for a lot of people so no worries if this strain of my weirdness is too much. 👍
This is my kind of weirdness - staying subscribed. Thank you for declaring who you are/not and what you're about. A society that has forgotten its connection to the spiritual world and the power of ritual purification practices to send possessive spirits on their way will destroy itself. I appreciate your mission!
I really appreciate you, Nathalie. Your encouragement means so much. I'm glad we've been able to connect here and look forward to learning more from you about narcissism and whatever other topics you choose to explore.
I might not agree with everything you say or think, but I'm intrigued.
Thanks. Any questions?
like a thousand... but not really any other than I'll continue to read your posts and think about what you're writing.
I appreciate that a lot. If there’s ever anything you’d like me to write about then feel free to reach out.
Keep being you! Cannot wait for your Book of Enoch novel.
I really appreciate your encouragement. The working title for my book is “Thou Art Enoch” and it is sort of written in the style of a choose-your-own-adventure book minus the jumping from page to page.
Groovy
Now I'm kind of wondering what would have happened if you had ever met my cousin Tzaddik, of blessed memory.
What was he like?
Literal shaman and peace organizer. Deeply peace-loving, deeply troubled, ended up taking his own life about a year ago.
Very sorry to hear. I can certainly relate on that last point too.
Wow! That's amazing and so happy for you!
Keep up all your amazing work
I agree with some of your points and disagree with others.
My biggest point of disagreement is your assertion that the evil in the world is due to spirits and demons. While I agree that spiritual influence is more common than most people in "developed" societies now tend to believe, I feel that blaming such beings for the world's suffering takes away too much human agency and responsibility, rendering us bit players in our own story. Maybe that's a reflection of my own ego, but I think if someone is going to claim "God/the devil made me do it," there better be some pretty strong evidence presented.
On the responsibility side, I also feel that blaming demons and spirits can too easily encourage a sense of learned helplessness. This can lead all too easily to charismatic strongmen leading movements that end up being parasitic upon their own followers at best, actively dangerous to those around them at worst.
I need to get back to work, so I'll end here, but I look forward to seeing what else you have to say. "Last Temptation" is also one of my favorite movies for how it encourages people to question and discover instead of promoting the usual dogma.
Hi Greg, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. I’m not so much blaming spirits for fueling the evil in the world so much as reporting what I’ve come to understand. This is the way it works according to the many mystical experiences I’ve had encountering various “entities” that exist in realms intersecting with our own but beyond the full comprehension of normal consciousness. This stuff really cannot yet be proven at an objective, scientific level. To determine if such spirits do exist then the individual has to go out and have the subjective experience themselves. Sort of how one needs to hop in the ocean to know how it feels or eat a strawberry to know how it tastes.
This piece here further explains my views and experiences here: https://open.substack.com/pub/godofthedesert/p/the-absurd-way-i-accidentally-cured?r=14q4c&utm_medium=ios
I understand that these sorts of discussions about the supernatural are pretty difficult for a lot of people so no worries if this strain of my weirdness is too much. 👍
This seems very odd
Guilty as charged.