Many religions have at least one apocalyptic myth describing the end of the world accompanied by a "savior" who appears in the sky at the last minute to rescue the "chosen" from annihilation or wrath. Mayans, Assyrians, Egyptians and Greeks held similar beliefs. Hopi prophecy talks of a time of great destruction, when their lands will be preserved as "a blue star, far off and invisible, makes its appearance." Today, even factions of the New Age look for a techno-savior to appear in the clouds to save mankind from itself.
My fear is that we've allowed ourselves to be manipulated into believing in imminent salvation, either independently or perhaps assisted by the psychosocial "control system" suggested by Jacques Vallee. As someone who thinks we are indeed interacting with some form of nonhuman intelligence (which in all likelihood transcends the scope of ufology), I don't find the idea repellent -- just appallingly unlikely and childish.
Either we make the evolutionary cut on our own terms -- an achievement that will probably redefine our identity as sentient beings -- or we do not. Both possibilities are fraught with an almost vertiginous sense of displacement and the gnawing specter of transience.
20 comments:
Mac ...
We survive in our terms ... or we are not worthy of "survival"?
Just curious ...
Jon
I simply meant that our destiny is largely in our own hands. We can't sit around and wait for Jesus or aliens (take your pick...) to bail us out.
i'll buy that, mac. but if you are willing to believe in lots of stuff that is 'unlikely' in many people's minds, like aliens, then why can't you allow for something bigger - whatever it is? something wich people have seen and even catalogued, but misinterpretd . . . 'the face' seemed unlikely until we saw it . .
and it's late and i can't read
The only saviour we have is our own self. Read through history, and you will quickly lose count of how many fearful souls were left in the lurch by their "Saviour". It's save yourself by your own efforts, ultimatley by becoming fully conscious, or forget it.
As for the Aliens - - - Well, they do not seem to have any particular interest in our welfare, insofar as I can see. To rely on a theoretical aid from a disinterested or self-interested theoretical third party is hopeless, foolish, stupid. Simply put, it doesn't work.
It is my opinion that our consciousness resides in a quantum level which I personally cannot comprehend. To search for this coherence, it seems to me, is the best available way to save ourselves. As far as I know.
Anywa, Mac, you're right: we have to do it. JC and ET will not.
Oh well, when you put it like that Mac, right behind your argument!
Aliens nor Jesus have done much to stop war, famines ...
Mystical beings, alien beings, god-like entities of all types...will they come to our aid? On all of the above, I feel that there is a grain of truth, but we are severely misinterpreting what we percieve! The trick to being human, I think, is just to understand that, and wait and see what exactly occurs when we die. That would be the first step, it seems. In the meantime, I can't think of any better way to spend our time here than searching for truth and attempting to improve our conciousness and perception.
weevee: "dutbac"...I don't know, but it sounds Dutch, no?
Mystical beings, alien beings, god-like entities of all types...will they come to our aid?
Evidently, they prefer to watch us "stew in our own juices." Just part of the fun of being a godlike entity, I suppose.
"As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They use us for their sport."
--Shakespeare
That's what I find most interesting about the Greek mythology. Their deities were very human-like. They got drunk, banged hot human women, and occasionaly sent some giant monster to test humanity (or punish them). Usually, it was a half-human/half-god hero who came to the rescue. The message, if there is one, is that the gods are just as flawed as we; but somehow, by combining the two, a hero is born...
Andy, would you think that "by combining the two, a hero is born..." might mean combining two aspects of our self? I seem to recall reading that somewhere, and it's a possibility - I think. If it is, would it then follow that the ancient mythologies have a deeper meaning, laid right out in front? So to speak.
I'm not really sure (obviously!), Ken. I think, to my way of thinking at least, the message behind most religions and their various saviours is something along those lines. I can't stand it when people interpret religious writings literally! Those writings are allegorical stories, meant to impart some wisdom, I think. So...yeah, I think most ancient mythologies (and to me, the Christian mythology fals in this category as well) have deep, hidden meanings. The hard part is finding the hidden truths among all the extra "social engineering" crapolla that's been added through the centuries!
"As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They use us for their sport."
--Shakespeare
Are you sure that wasn't Jacques Vallee...? ;-)
i'll buy that, mac. but if you are willing to believe in lots of stuff that is 'unlikely' in many people's minds, like aliens, then why can't you allow for something bigger - whatever it is?
Don't think I'm not allowing for it. I simply choose not to *believe* in it.
Likely a good attitude, Mac. IMO, *faith* is the most insidious and destructive trap invented by mankind.
IMO, *faith* is the most insidious and destructive trap invented by mankind.
Which is one more reason to detest the Bush administration, with its love affair with "faith-based" initiatives.
Because "faith" IS "belief in your belief." You don't just believe absurd stuff like the literal truth of the Bible, but you have faith in the literal truth of the Bible, which means exactly that you believe in your belief. This creates a kind of "positive feedback loop" of believe that makes it virtually impervious to rational argument. Which is, of course, the whole idea.
This creates a kind of "positive feedback loop" of believe that makes it virtually impervious to rational argument. Which is, of course, the whole idea.
Well-put!
>>"IMO, *faith* is the most insidious and destructive trap invented by mankind."
I agree with you completely on this point. The thing that I always wonder is; it seems such an obvious trap, why do so many people fall for it? What drives the need to believe? Life seems a lot more interesting to me, if you are not locked into one position.
Life seems a lot more interesting to me, if you are not locked into one position.
I think the basic neurological basis for belief evolved to enable group solidarity. Unfortunately, now it's vestigial and good for nothing but exacerbating ignorance and spawning tribal warfare.
I agree with you completely on this point. The thing that I always wonder is; it seems such an obvious trap, why do so many people fall for it? What drives the need to believe?
The alternative most people see is, I think, nihilism, especially in our postmodern era where everything seems to become "subjective." Better to believe in the literal truth of the Bible (and believe in your belief) than to believe in nothing. Of course, that ISN'T the only alternative but a lot of people mistakenly buy into emotionalist sermonizing that convinces them that it is.
Interestingly, during the youthful indescretion of my 20's, I actually TRIED (hard) to be a systematic, card-carrying atheist (and nihilist) but found that I simply couldn't keep it up. However, I managed to find a satisfying (to me) alternative to "faith based" anything.