I’ll start off a section in one of my resilience presentations on mortality with “everyone in this room is going to die.” Still feels odd but simultaneously comforting thing to say because then we can discuss what we are going to do about this fact.
Lol. That second footnote could be a whole article on the “Ego of the Monkey God” based on how many Christians describe him. But it’s actually rooted in a conversation I had with a pastor and his wife where I proposed our purpose is to mature and grow and they rejected it and said our soul (😁) purpose was to ‘glorify god.’
When pressed, they meant it as exhaulting him and not through growth and maturity but praise. To me, that sounds like a very shallow God who had to create hairless monkies for the purpose of praise and glorification?
But that adds another question, against what measure? I mean, narcissists love synchophants but that’s because it increases the glorifieds ‘status’ against their peers.
But if God is the one and only and there are none other, then what purpose does glorification offer? It looks even worse then. The most powerful being in eternity creates an entire world (typically viewed as the only world he’s created) and populates it with asshole hairless monkeys to glorify him.
But they fuck it up from the start. And keep fucking it up.
So…. a narcasistic god creates sychophants but fucks it up and…. this is the omniscient god?
I know, I know, this is a very rough take but I think it helps exfoliate some of the things I used to accept as self-evident as a Christian. That’s why I take my stance on a soul journey now.
I think about it a lot now. I'm off on my third act and I'm planning for my retirement. The weeks are flying by for me and I think about how much closer I'm getting to death. And I'm thinking maybe I should take care of myself more. I've been pretty good about that since I was around 35 or so, with some lapses :) I don't think I fear death so much as wonder what's beyond. I'm familair with what all the religions teach and what atheists think is *not* there and I figure....if it really all is nothingness I won't be around to mourn it.
I’m, thankfully, on only my second act and the thing I fear isn’t death but missing out on what my kids will become. But, to your point, I do keep myself healthy to improve my odds. For me and the afterlife, I act as if there is one because if I’m wrong… there’s no consequence.
Very thoughtful piece. On my spiritual maturity journey, I’m learning to accept voluntary deaths (ego, self-will, desires) so that the physical death doesn’t overcome me. I have to imagine that Mr. Johnson’s having a time digesting (pun intended) the gastritis diagnosis because he has invested so many resources into this project. As you stated, this attachment inevitably leads to frustration and anxiety whereas a different outlook might yield completely different peace of mind
I like your maturity journey and I agree that the investment plus the idea of a soution to death, leads to a different mindset. But we’ve been chasing this for ever what with the ‘fountain of youth’ myths.
It’s a harrowing trend in modern, Western society. Have you read “Dust to Dust” by Jen Wilkin. Wife has it sitting on bedside table and I’m eager to dive in for a countercultural take on this phenomena you rightly picked up on
Another action item for those who haven't had enough of life: Make arrangements to be put into biostasis for possible future revival. On dying at the right time, I posted this a couple of days ago:
It's only a chance but I think it's a real enough chance to try. I have been involved in biostasis for 40+ years and would be happy to discuss it with you. The possibility of future revival does not take away from your many excellent observations.
I hate that whole ‘fighting cancer’ thing - as though death is a failure you could have avoided if you had fought harder. I prefer ‘living with cancer’. And now I will go back and read more. This is excellent.
Truly the boss approach to death. You looked at it from some angles I hadn't considered. Nice job.
Glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate that.
I’ll start off a section in one of my resilience presentations on mortality with “everyone in this room is going to die.” Still feels odd but simultaneously comforting thing to say because then we can discuss what we are going to do about this fact.
Fantastic post as always brother.
It’s kind of crazy how stating it does sound weird but…. I mean… It’s not that scary when you stare at it and it helps ground the here and now.
Agreed 👊🏻
That second footnote is definitely a position. ;) The article overall was pretty fascinating though.
Lol. That second footnote could be a whole article on the “Ego of the Monkey God” based on how many Christians describe him. But it’s actually rooted in a conversation I had with a pastor and his wife where I proposed our purpose is to mature and grow and they rejected it and said our soul (😁) purpose was to ‘glorify god.’
When pressed, they meant it as exhaulting him and not through growth and maturity but praise. To me, that sounds like a very shallow God who had to create hairless monkies for the purpose of praise and glorification?
But that adds another question, against what measure? I mean, narcissists love synchophants but that’s because it increases the glorifieds ‘status’ against their peers.
But if God is the one and only and there are none other, then what purpose does glorification offer? It looks even worse then. The most powerful being in eternity creates an entire world (typically viewed as the only world he’s created) and populates it with asshole hairless monkeys to glorify him.
But they fuck it up from the start. And keep fucking it up.
So…. a narcasistic god creates sychophants but fucks it up and…. this is the omniscient god?
I know, I know, this is a very rough take but I think it helps exfoliate some of the things I used to accept as self-evident as a Christian. That’s why I take my stance on a soul journey now.
I think about it a lot now. I'm off on my third act and I'm planning for my retirement. The weeks are flying by for me and I think about how much closer I'm getting to death. And I'm thinking maybe I should take care of myself more. I've been pretty good about that since I was around 35 or so, with some lapses :) I don't think I fear death so much as wonder what's beyond. I'm familair with what all the religions teach and what atheists think is *not* there and I figure....if it really all is nothingness I won't be around to mourn it.
I’m, thankfully, on only my second act and the thing I fear isn’t death but missing out on what my kids will become. But, to your point, I do keep myself healthy to improve my odds. For me and the afterlife, I act as if there is one because if I’m wrong… there’s no consequence.
Very thoughtful piece. On my spiritual maturity journey, I’m learning to accept voluntary deaths (ego, self-will, desires) so that the physical death doesn’t overcome me. I have to imagine that Mr. Johnson’s having a time digesting (pun intended) the gastritis diagnosis because he has invested so many resources into this project. As you stated, this attachment inevitably leads to frustration and anxiety whereas a different outlook might yield completely different peace of mind
I like your maturity journey and I agree that the investment plus the idea of a soution to death, leads to a different mindset. But we’ve been chasing this for ever what with the ‘fountain of youth’ myths.
It’s a harrowing trend in modern, Western society. Have you read “Dust to Dust” by Jen Wilkin. Wife has it sitting on bedside table and I’m eager to dive in for a countercultural take on this phenomena you rightly picked up on
I haven’t but it’s now on my list.
Many thanks for your precious article !!! 🎯🎯🎯 👍👍👍
Current fighting of chronic disease, genetic malfunction, death etc. are based on
- total misunderstanding of one's "being" and truly minute significance on the planet,
- called megalomania or supremacism,
- endless greed and
- increasing the GDP because the sector is BIG business for government and so-called experts ...
Sadly true as well.
Another action item for those who haven't had enough of life: Make arrangements to be put into biostasis for possible future revival. On dying at the right time, I posted this a couple of days ago:
https://biostasis.substack.com/p/is-there-a-right-time-to-die
That's an interesting option!
It's only a chance but I think it's a real enough chance to try. I have been involved in biostasis for 40+ years and would be happy to discuss it with you. The possibility of future revival does not take away from your many excellent observations.
Brilliance in the basics.
I hate that whole ‘fighting cancer’ thing - as though death is a failure you could have avoided if you had fought harder. I prefer ‘living with cancer’. And now I will go back and read more. This is excellent.
I totally agree. We turn way too much into a fight and that's not healthy.