From: "Glen Fuller" <glenfuller-AT-iinet.net.au>
Subject: Re: Postmodern Religion 
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 12:53:49 +0800


Eric/All,

Just to contribute with a further sidenote... (I must be the king of
sidenotes;)

I just finished reading Phillip K. Dick's 'Man in the High Castle',
throughout it are themes of control eminating from religious and/or mystical
Taoist elements.

For those unfamiliarwith the story, Dick provides an alternate history (or
present, for when it was written) in which Japan and Germany won WW2. The
man in the high castle of the title refers to a sci-fi author character (the
man, he lives (or did live) in the buffer zone between Japanese and German
areas of control in the US in a fortified high castle) in the book who has
written an alternate history in which the Allies won WW2!!!

Anyway, it may be interesting, as it is an enjoyable read.

Glen.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric" <ericandmary-AT-earthlink.net>
To: <lyotard-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 12:33 PM
Subject: RE: Postmodern Religion


> Steve,
>
> Actually, Christianity was far from my mind when I wrote those words
> about religion as ecstasy. Certainly, there is a mystical tradition in
> Christianity, but Eckhart was condemned as a heretic, John of the Cross
> spent a significant portion of his life in prison, and today, with the
> exception of Thomas Merton, there is little mysticism (or ecstasy) to be
> found in mainstream Christianity.
>
> The Asian tradition is much richer with Satori and Nirvakulpa Samadhi
> well identified states of consciousness.
>
> Wicca also has links.  The famous witches flight is considered by many
> to be a kind of out-of-the-body projection, possibly enhanced by
> psychoactive drugs, the pagan mysteries of Eleusis probably had a
> similar component, and there is some evidence that Crowley had a hand in
> the development of modern-day Wicca. The first two chapters of the Book
> of the Law are definitely ecstatic in their orientation. Certainly, the
> magical practice of using visual imagination (skrying in the spirit
> vision) is an attempt to reach ecstatic states.
>
> With regard to Buddhism, this is the passage I had in mind from Zizek.
>
> "The recourse to Taoism or Buddhism offers a way out of the predicament
> works better than the desperate escape into old traditions: instead of
> trying to cope with the accelerating rhythm of technological progress
> and social changes, one should rather renounce the very endeavor to
> retain control over what goes on, rejecting it as the expression of the
> modern logic of domination - one should, instead, "let oneself go,"
> drift along, while retaining an inner distance and indifference towards
> the mad dance of the accelerated progress...If Max Weber were alive
> today, he would definitely write..."The Taoist Ethic and the Spirit of
> Global Capitalism."
>
> What I read Zizek as saying is there are definite aspects of Buddhism
> that allow it to play an ideological role in contemporary societies. I
> simply don't understand how you can say that "I do disagree with the
> Buddhist reference -  Zizek states quite unequivically that
> neo-liberalism/third way is completely indifferent to religious ideology
> as such"
>
> This appears to be the very heart of our disagreement. In my view, you
> are simply far too optimistic about the decline of religion in
> contemporary society to realistically assess its role.  Why do you think
> this is what Zizek is saying and why do you think he agrees with you? (I
> could quote quite a few passages besides this one!)
>
> Why do you think the world is becoming so secular?
>
> eric
>
>
>
>