"I [should do / am entitled to do] X, because Y somehow magically makes Z not the case."
Where:
X = a) an action + b) an assumed lack of negative consequence.
Y = an impulsive sentiment notable for its neglect of long-term implications, effects upon others and/or reality in general.
Z = circumstances that ought to overrule the preoccupation with one's own little time/space/circle in anyone who isn't an idiot.
Note: a sufficiently-strong Y cancels attention not only to Z, but also to the b part of X.
I seriously could think of examples of this all day long. "I should be able to eat the apple yet still have everything be fine afterward, because doing so sounds awesome even though I was told by my creator that I shouldn't do it." "I should be able to kill the guy who pissed me off, because I'm angry and I don't care about the consequences beyond this moment." "I am entitled to drive drunk and still get home safe, because I want to, even though everybody knows the risks of drunk driving." "I am entitled to have a mistress behind my spouse's back without my spouse feeling betrayed, because my dick/pussy is bored and somehow that overrules anything to do with people who aren't me." Etc. etc.
What I mean by this is, if I were going to employ the religious notion of "original sin," this is how I would do it: the above formula is, in my view, the flawed thought process (or more accurately, thoughtlessness process) that is the birthright of humanity, and a cause for guilt even prior to any actual concrete wrongdoing.
I'm not saying I'm immune either, because you can bet that when I'm grumpy and tired, I notice like 5 different examples of this in myself, every damn time I leave the house. "I am entitled to not have people randomly walk in front of me, because I don't feel like dealing with them, even though obviously they have as much right to be there as I do." And so forth.
Notice too that this personal example illustrates something useful: that I'm counting cases in which I feel hostile toward people even if it doesn't manifest outwardly. This then covers the Buddhist angle of things: the formula also covers the manner in which attachment (to Y) causes suffering (X), to the individual even if to nobody else.
Which, due to my current interpretation of Satanism, actually then applies to that religion as well: the number one Satanic sin is stupidity, and what could be stupider than acting in a way that both fucks yourself over and benefits nobody else either?
Though with Satanism, the interesting thing is that "I want to fuck with the life of so-and-so, because I am entertained by their suffering, accept any and all possible negative results of it for me and mine, and don't care that society says it's wrong to feel that way" actually does not fit this archetype - which is fine, because indeed, I don't think that train of thought to be a "sin," rather I consider it a precursor to the "responsible" use of black magic.
I don't know what all I'm doing with this insight yet, but I just wanted to get it down.Comments
>> (an)Drew wrote:
I think that it is only through life experience and diligent philosophical resolve that one can learn to call themselves out on their own XYZ equation. But I think what is even more important for me is realizing <i>why</i> I am supposed to adhere to certain moralities even when it doesn't feel altogether so natural by default to do so. For me it has been a process of learning from my mistakes, but also learning why my actions would be considered mistakes to begin with.
From a Christian perspective, we aren't supposed to sin basically because God says so. It is the simplicity of that statement (and many others) that drives many people away from the idea of religion, and Christians who don't look far beyond that same simplicity are setting themselves up to be the hypocritical simpletons that are often associated with this type of faith. There is more depth to it than simply, "because God says so.". What is the reason he says so?
And this is where we scoot away from Christianity and into the melting pot of everything that is anything. This is the vortex in which any belief structure is unified with every other on a level beyond untrained perception. I started at a point of talking about Christianity, but you could have gotten to fundamentally the same point by analyzing Satanism. There is always a point when we must ask, "Why? How? What does it mean for me? What does it mean to someone else? Why do I behave the way I do? Why might I want to change myself? What underlying reason is there for me to be a better person? Is it for myself, or for the world? Both? Neither? Why are there repercussions for certain actions? Can I REALLY act any way I want and still be happy, or is there actually a specific set of things that I must do in order to find inner peace?".
I was going to rant on a while, but I just realized that I have to light a fire under my butt and get to school. Sorry to cut this sort before reaching any sort of incoherent point! lol. Talk to you soon.Monday, January 25 07:53 AM
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