The Death of Religion and the Rebirth
of Spirit:
by
Joseph Chilton
Pearce (Conclusion)
[NOTE: I’m capitalizing “Culture”
to refer the entire foundation of the social superstructure in contrast to the
“culture” of art, performing arts, etc. Nonetheless, the superstructure
dominates & controls the infrastructure that contains all forms of culture.
“Alternative” sub-cultures are tolerated only to the extent that they do not
significantly challenge the host Culture. ]
Author JCP demonstrates how
culture-religion-science form an unholy trinity aimed at keeping humanity in a
continual state of fear, frustration and violence. The author’s astute analysis
shows how Culture blocks humanity’s move forward to the next evolutionary
level. Much like the Gnostics of Early Christianity who perceived the material
world as the product of a false god, and the Christian Church of Constantine an
expression of a diabolic conspiracy, Peace similarly today takes on all
Organized Religion and the Scientific Establishment in general. He asserts that
these two institutions are based on an apparent compulsive human reliance on
the concepts of prediction and control. Certainly humanity
desperately looks to both for (1) reinforcement of the hope for personal
survival in an “afterlife”, and (2) the desire stave off death for as long as
possible, to remain attractive, in good health and “young” in this life.
Consummate 20° American comedian George Burns put it like
this: Soon we’ll have a country made up of nothing but young people—and their
grandchildren.
In building his case, Pearce
draws from the works of Darwin,
the 19° mystic Rudolf
Steiner, transcendentalist poet William Blake,
philosopher Susanne Langer,
neuroscientist Paul
MacLean and others of like caliber. The primary physical basis of his
dialogue delineates the thesis that the human brain
represents four stages of our evolution, the first being the reptilian brain
(basic reactions of defense and attack—and run) and the second, the higher
functioning mammalian brain. The third and fully human component represents the
connection between the right & left hemispheres. The fourth is the fragile
& developing tissues of the cerebral cortex & frontal lobe area. It is
this emerging physical development that is most easily damaged and impeded in
its development by the universal Culture of violence & conformity.
On page 8 JCP explains the theory
of Cultural devolution that in many ways reflects the theory of Spiritual
devolution—in fact, they may really be different aspects of the same concept.
Both theories negate the contemporary illusion that the development of Culture
is defined by “technological progress.” For example, many ancient cultures,
although lacking our current technology, rated much higher than ours in the
basic art of living. They possessed an integrated awareness and passion
that reveals today’s global Culture (even with its almost supernatural
technology) as something rather tacky & counterfeit—and in the wrong hands,
globally dangerous.
On page 9 the author quotes from
Steiner: “No one can know the joy I experience in just thinking.” Can any one
proudly proclaim this in America, where independent thinking—that is, thinking
outside the narrow box of conformism—is seen as something of an embarrassment?
In the USA, the great home of modern democracy, critical & analytical
thinking inevitably leads to one to an antagonistic position vis-à-vis the
obviously (perhaps fatally) flawed collective political structure.
For generations we were led to believe we had to choose
between science and religion, which often seemed like a choice of being hanged
or shot. But science and religion have not staked out all the territory
available to our mind. In truth, we don’t have to buy into either of these
camps, nor will their proposed truce and merger prove the panacea we have long
sought. Mating two mongrels doesn’t produce a thoroughbred. There are countless
other ways life can be lived.
[P. 11]
On P. 19 JCP gives the most simple & marvelous definition of
Spirit: spirit is life itself longing for expression.
Organized religion breeds
violence, science gives violence its increasingly destructive form.
I found the first chapters slow
sailing, but not because the material was difficult to understand, rather there
were just so many relevant concepts to process. For example, in Chapter 2
CULTURE & WAR, JCP illustrates the illogical basis of war in general, and
specifically—and courageously—comments on 9/11 and its devastating aftermath.
Pearce correctly states that America as a society, as a Culture of Nationalism,
had a slim but real possibility to positively transcend the terrorist
provocation, but as usual people trusted political ‘leaders’ to set the
standard of response.
Need we say anymore?
The author’s view of an ogre
like, all-consuming Culture is reminiscent of the great American “beat” poet Allen Ginsberg who
compared society (and what is society but the collective expression of
culture?) to an idol demanding the sacrifice of innocent children.
Isn’t that what all war does?
And isn’t all war a crime against
humanity?
Pearce’s cultural interpretation
of reality has much in common with traditional Marxist-Leninism (and
before readers get ready to bring out the stones, Pearce is no Marxist.) As in the case of the
Marxist historical materialist (economic class based) interpretation of
reality, Pearce notes how we cannot escape the unrelenting laws & claws of
Culture. Even when we oppose it, we are still buying into it, oiling the
machine, greasing the wheels so to speak. Even our outrage stimulates negative
Culture; it doesn’t care if we love it or hate it. The only difference between
Pearce’s views with that of Marxism is that where Marxism proposes class
struggle as the only possible way out; Pearce suggests a non-violent &
possibly even more unrealistic collective solution. It’s interesting to note
that Pearce’s basic philosophy and Socialism (particularly Utopian Socialism)
are extensions of the idealistic philosophy of Rousseau and The Enlightenment.
Both outlooks assume the basic “goodness” of humanity.
A few anti-capitalist artists
have attempted to circumvent the cannibalistic nature of the capitalist Culture
by offering their work for free. Unfortunately there are glaring contradictions
& self-defeating possibilities inherent in this position. (1) Unless you
can make water from wine or miraculously create loaves & fishes, you must
be either independently wealthy or prepared to suffer A LOT for the sake of
your art. If you are fortunate enough to fall in the first classification, your
vision will be predicated by the fact and will reflect the bias one’s economic
class in the end. If you fall into the latter class you’ll have to find work
somewhere outside your vocation, and frustration will ultimately cloud your
vision & probably ruin your health. (2) In our capitalist Culture things
freely given have no social value or reinforcement & the artist will not be
able to validate the “worth” of their creation.
[See also, REVIEW: DEEP SOCIALISM]
In Chapter 3 JCP introduces a
very challenging concept called “field of phenomena”:
Gould’s field fed into a commonly
held or universal belief of like order, one over and above his or any other
individual mind-brain yet obviously the product of his or other minds.
The…field of optical physics is itself the result of all the physicists
involved in the optics now or in the past… …such a field has no localization.
It is…a verb, not a noun; a process or procedure, not a product; an aggregate
of potential; a hypothetical grouping of related actions. Claiming that such
fields can be generative, creating something never before manifested, is bound
to be resisted by traditional academics.
[Pgs. 42-43]
Wikipedia is a good example of this “field
of mind.” It is a continually evolving product of individual minds resulting in
a collective project. True this example is flawed to the extent that the
contributors involved are flawed, but it is also very instructive in its
creative expression, warts & all.
In the following Chapter MIND
& FIELD OF MIND, Pearce continues to expand on this concept—and also
presents an intriguing analysis of In Sync & Out of Sync brain wave
activity. In Sync brain activity are called “loops” and they appear as loops on
an EEG. This
looping activity of the mind draws and is drawn into sympathetic fields of
mind. Again, this is not mere speculation, but is based on collected data
(facts) that have been applied to a specific philosophical framework.
Our Pagan readers may be interested
to learn that further along in the book Pearce suggests that the ancient Gods
& Goddess existed as fields of mind operating within the locality of Their
temples, expanding outward as far as believers existed & passionately
participated within each cult
(“cult” used here in the ancient sense). As believers/the cults ceased to
exist, so did the associated Gods & Goddesses. In fact, one Pgs. 175-176, Pearce inserts a reference to the
ancient (and still existing) Kataragama Cult. This was of particular interest
to us—considering that in our March issue of Parallel Perspectives (just
prior to receiving this current book for review) we posted a link to a Hindu
site that included an article titled Dionysus & Kataragama:
Parallel Mystery Cults.
The author also notes,
A cosmology known as Kashmir Shaivism…named
Shiva…dwelt in the center, or “cave,” of the heart. This nonmoving point was
the silent witness to female energy, Shakti…as waves of energy…These “wave
forms of Shiva” were considered an energy matrix, like a womb containing the
potential of all possible universes and creations…
[P. 72]
Alas, it appears that, in the
West at least, attempting to resurrect The Old Religion with the hazy
metaphysics of the New Age is singularly unsuccessful. Apparently commercialism
is no substitute for divine passion, and self-promotion a faulty mask for deep
inspiration.
Skipping over to Chapter 8
BONDING: NATURE’S IMPERATIVE we arrive at another central idea of the author’s
worldview, namely the fundamental interconnection of universal heart &
individual mind (P. 123). You really need to read the entire work to understand
that this concept is not some fantasy, but is based on every day physical
reality. The author asserts that the brain alone cannot determine the
“location” of Mind, but the human Mind represents the physical
interaction of brain and heart. Modern society views only the brain as
the source of Mind/Consciousness. However, our ancestral societies—The ancient
Egyptians, for example—believed that the human heart housed the soul—in other
words, the heart was the location of both the Mind and Soul.
However, as Pearce gently reminds
us, the heart is not the only source of Mind either.
A common misunderstanding among
spiritually inclined people is that if we were truly established in the heart,
we would be completely self-sufficient, emotionally rich and full, dependent on
nothing at there…If this was true, we would at best experience various forms of
compensation that would leave our heart restless and unfulfilled, though our
ego might be filled with pride of spiritual attainment. Relationship is all
there is and what the heart longs for.
[P. 123]
Nonetheless, the human heart is
the center of collective spiritual possibility.
The fulfillment of the heart’s
relationship occurs through one heart relating with another heart. Because
there is only one, heart, however, it can relate to itself only as itself in
another person. It is through this that the proposal that the heart is both
universal and individual takes on cosmic significance…
It is telling to note that we are
the only mammals who make love face-to-face, thus heart-to-heart.
[Pgs. 124-125]
This is a rather splendid Western
interpretation of the practice of Satsung.
Much like Rousseau, JCP asserts
that the natural state of humanity is joy & pleasure.
All of this is to say we are born
to enjoy this life in its every facet—but…our capacity for joy must be natured
and developed.
[P. 143]
One pages 102-103 the author
reintroduces the idea that man’s basic nature is benevolent & giving.
In [Darwin’s]…The Descent of Man,
he described a moral imperative of love and altruism necessary for the human to
have arisen and survive.
Altruism a mandate for survival? I like
it, but Ayn Rand must be
spinning in her grave.
This theory is diametrically
opposed to the most central foundation of capitalist society, a global society
based on cutthroat competition & self-aggrandizement. Can such a positivist
view possibly be true when confronted by the violent history of humanity?
Who, then, can break the negative
loop once it has become entrenched? …I recommend Robert
Sardello’s books Love and the World and Silence and Childre and Martin’s
little book The
HeartMath Solution. If we practice the solutions they offer…we will see
the world anew.
[P. 146]
Who will see the ‘the world
anew”? The intellectuals who would bother to read the books of the recommended
writers? Capitalists like Donald Trump who spread the Holy Word of Screw or Be
Screwed to an apparently extremely eager public? The politicians & the
media who have duped people into supporting wars that have ravished to such
non-Caucasian cultures of Vietnam and now Iraq? Perhaps all we need is to cram
in the tawdry ideas and self-promotional “spirituality” of The New Age in order
to re-discover Soul?
Can reading books or attending
encounter groups repair a collectively broken & corrupted psyche—no matter
how intelligent or sophisticated?
This entire scenario reminds me
of godforsaken days when I did my time selling Trotskyite periodicals on
various & sundry street corners, People used to come up and say, “I believe
what your newspaper says, but I don’t believe people will go for it.”
In other words, people will not
reclaim to the political & social responsibility they have handed over to
career politicians. This is the tragedy & ultimate contradiction of
bourgeois democracy.
On Page 151, the author comments
on the physiological effects of anger:
…A minute or so of anger can
depress the immune system for
hours before the parasympathetic nervous system can bring us back to balance.
And regarding child rearing, JCP
states on the same page:
…the caregiver’s incessant demand
that the child modify his exploratory actions according to parental notions of
safety or social appropriateness begins literally to split the young to the
point that a concentration of energies on the joyful task of world-making is
fragmented and confused…
This is significant.
Childhood is and should be
a magickal time—but increasingly it’s not.
Thanks to a Culture of
selfishness & environmental degradation, today’s children have inherited a
far more destructive global situation than that of any generation before
them—and they may be reflecting this in negative evolutionary changes.
…We need only consider the
remarkable change in the onset of puberty—down from an average age of fourteen
or fifteen to eleven and twelve in less than half a century.
TV interactive games, computers,
Playstations, Game Boys…are bringing marked changes to the developing brain.
Recent studies from Japanese scientists show strong neural connections forming
between the hands and the visual cortex in children using these devices…with a
notable reduction in the development of the forebrain, the area connected to
emotions and higher reasoning, language, and so on…while these children have
lightening fast physical reflexes, they have little emotional control, easily
become violent, and have serious learning difficulties…
[P. 194]
This is rather frightening.
[See
also, Children of Conflict]
We will conclude this review with
an analysis of PART THREE: THE REBIRTH OF SPIRIT and the RESUMPTION OF EVOLUTION.
JCP opens this last section with
an interesting reference to the Pagan fertility festival of The Fool King:
In another festival at the end of
the year, anointed and bedecked he was led into the fields made ready for
planting. As part of the ceremony, a long pole or broom that could be
maneuvered…was attached to a large iron hook…At the appropriate moment during
chanting and ceremonial drumming, the great hook was plunged into the victim’s
back…The flowing blood was thus distributed…as an offering to the
god…followed…by the selection of the next year’s resident god.
[Pgs. 173-174]
In Pearce’s version the subject
of this blood sacrifice neither died or was in noticeable pain, and managed to survive
the ordeal by a phenomenal demonstration of “mind over matter.”
Pier Passolini, a
brilliant Italian director (who was unfortunately murdered), graphically
illustrated this fertility rite in his innovative & shocking cinematic
version of “Medea” starring
the equally brilliant Maria
Callas. Passolini’s sacrificial victim was not as fortunate as the “Fool
King” in JCP’s version.
The point of this opening
sequence was to show that even today feats of “mind over matter” (such as fire walking) exist. However, the
author makes a telling observation:
Although phenomena of this sort still
occur right here in the United States today, with people discovering they can
impale themselves in various ways…we hear little about such individuals, who
walk softly and keep their heads down…reason for this low profile: today, the
big-stage New Age audience is currently caught up in health, healing, and
healers as the box-office attraction, and any message is generally lost in the
attractiveness of the messenger.
[Pgs. 174-175]
He could also have added
reference to a literary cottage industry supported by the most outlandish
pseudo-scientific, pseudo-historic claims & conspiracy theories (UFO’s,
aliens, visions, supposed religious relics, etc.)
But never fear—on Pgs. 224-225 he
does allude to the alternative, quasi-theology of the current age.
I found less intriguing
the…wealth of books on the subject Magdalene and Jesus…with many an author
riding the wave for all its worth…all this recent ferment clearly illustrates
my own contention that the greatness of mythical figures lies in their ability
to stir up just some ferment within us. For those with ears to hear, this can
lead us to abandon sterile notions and open again to the rich newness these
great figures endless bring about. (We can recall the apocryphal claim of
Jesus: “I am always becoming as you have need of me to be.”)
On page 176 Pearce significantly
elaborates on the externalized Divinity/Gods/Goddesses theme:
The accounts of Carlos Castaneda
included local “god fields” throughout an area of Arizona and Mexico—all since
then dismissed through a thorough discounting of Castaneda, who had more to
tell us than we were ready to hear. All gods are jealous…and a half-century
later a fundamentalist scientism, technology, and religion have…destroyed most
of these indigenous and independent fields and their respective gods, and the
human powers and intelligences …have mostly disappeared with them…
Why is it first necessary to have
belief in some abstract power out there in order to go beyond the ontological
constructs of our world? …Perhaps this is because the god who appears to
introduce us to some possibility within ourselves is within us all along, and
the possibility offered within can change things without. Once knowing such
change is possible, we don’t need the inner prompt.
And what is this inner prompt but
the voice of the daemon?
[See also, REVIEW: DAIMONIC REALITY]
JCP is honest in facing our basic
existentialist dilemma.
Negative emotions…block
interactions with the universal realm just as static can block a wavelength on
the radio. Of course the universal realm isn’t effected in any way by this
negativity, got it can’t register negatives and so “never knows we are out of touch
or in trouble,” as Suzanne Segal said. Nor can that Vastness be informed of our
trouble…
All is relationship; there are no
one-way streets in nature. If we try to close ourselves with a one-way street
such as science or religion, then our resources dry up. Only in reciprocation
and relationship do we find that our resources are renewable, whether
individually or on the planet level.
[P. 186]
It occurred to me that one other
negative quality should be added to the prediction and control
paradigm: GUILT.
Before the advent of Abrahamic
organized religion people either did or did not come equipped with a moral
compass—just like today. Additionally, the Pagan religions encouraged or
discouraged various social mores. What Pagan religions did not do (unlike
Abrahamic religion both in the ancient world & today) was to promote the
idea that untamed Nature was somehow “bad” (just like the Abrahamic view of
women), and that Humanity is by nature “sinful.” In terms of social
conditioning the concept of guilt is at least as negatively powerful as prediction
and control.
This is as
good a place as another
to conclude
this review,
because like
the book,
it provides
some answers but
leaves
further questions &
further
exploration wide open.
Imagine
John Lennon
Imagine
there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine
there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may
say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one …
REVIEW LIST
NEWSLETTER
Review: JEFarrow
Updated 11/07
The Death of Religion and the Rebirth
of Spirit: A Return to the Intelligence of the Heart (Hardcover)