The attempt to diminish individuality

By Stephen on Fri, 05/Nov/2021 - 6:37pm

There's been a marked increase in the programs designed to diminish individuality, in recent times in our Western culture, especially that by "Critical Race Theory".

Critical Race Theory proposes that we are all guilty of racism, by virtue of being born white, or some other "oppressive" class.

The subtext of all such theories (effectively socialism, communism) is that of a bias toward collectives (groups, races) at the expense of individuality (individual volition, power, sovereignty, agency, choice, independence).

Implied hierarchies

By Stephen on Sat, 01/Feb/2014 - 7:19am

I noticed on a forum yet again reference to 'implied hierarchies' ... how we need special training, rituals, meditation, special potions and so forth to advance to the next level of 'spiritual awareness'. And worst of all, how our egos are inhibiting us from getting 'there'.

All of which implies, or explicitly states that we poor humans are 'less than' some perceived higher authority, spirit, God etc.

'Transcending' what exactly?

By Stephen on Wed, 15/Jun/2011 - 8:22pm

I've just listened to an audio (podcast) of some spiritual, self-development school, who talk about all the wonderful things and experiences to be had when we get to 'transcend'.

Transcending is the way forward, it seems.

Uhm, what exactly is it that we are supposed to transcend?

Presumably it is our wrong-headed egos or some such.

Only question is, does it make sense to 'transcend' anything?

The urge to categorise

By Stephen on Wed, 09/Mar/2011 - 2:09pm

When we reflect on the number of people (more usually women1 ) who believe in Astrology, as well as those who believe in various other 'ologies' we can be reasonably confident that there's an underlying shared trait or need — the need to belong, and to categorise people.

Personality tests (e.g. DISC, or Myers-Briggs) are widely (if not almost universally) used to help decide who's suited to particular roles in businesses and organisations.

So when a friend started extolling the great relevance and benefit of understanding the Enneagram (a process of grouping people into one of nine types, or 'tribes'), I decided to look deeper into this particular habit.

  • 1. As I've covered more extensively elsewhere, men and male animals generally tend towards "separateness", the particle nature of life, while women and female animals tends towards the wave-nature. The wave-nature is characterised by a bias towards "togetherness", by way of forming groups, tribes, collectives, families, harems, herds etc. Astrology simply gives people — particularly women — a 'framework' to put people in categories (tribes). Even though flawed in principle, it is the process of "tribalising" that counts, not how correct or productive the end groupings. As a general rule women are far more comfortable with men who are in some relationship (e.g. married) or who are 'tribalised' — versus the "lone wolf".

An ego by any other name still smiles like one

By Stephen on Sat, 28/Aug/2010 - 1:57pm

Recently while enjoying a wonderful dinner I had the pleasure of engaging conversation with a number of intelligent men on matters philosophical.

It became evident that some held beliefs that were rooted in the ideal of perfection: the age-old belief that when we get 'over there' or perhaps 'up there' everything will be 'perfect' (at which time, we'll have 'transcended' the troubling, fault-ridden ego).

There's only one problem with that idea:

What's wrong with science, religion & new-age?

By Stephen on Mon, 12/Oct/2009 - 6:57pm

In the midst of the 'swine-flu' scare a while back it struck me ... how science, religion and various new-age philosophies are very similar.

The swine-flu scare has gained considerable media coverage, despite 30+ years of research confirming that physical things (bugs, bad genes, obesity, bad diet) account for a minority of the cause of disease, disability and premature death. We now know it is poor 'psycho-social eco-systems' that are the majority cause of early death and illness. But still the panic, or at least the media hype.