Purpose
Religions have utilized the concept of purpose over the ages to motivate and subjugate. By instilling fear and stress, hierarchies have directed their followers to their own purposes: The accumulation of property and political power. By refusing to address real human conditions and not sharing the wealth accumulated, hierarchies maintain control. The poor, ignorant and hungry are much easier to motivate with a crust or a whip.
It seems the growing unrest in Islamic countries is the result of increased general education, provided in part through oil wealth and the needs of the growing hierarchies in those nations for doctors and other skilled technicians. Religion's grip will inevitably deteriorate where science and free thought emerge. Sitting in a limo that was speeding through Cairo in 1984, I was told by a Stanford-educated Saudi prince, "Do you hear the muezzins, Paul? Listen. That is how we keep the masses in check, under our control." Mecca and Rome have used the same methodology for centuries.
Maintaining general, relative poverty and overpopulation is a sure recipe for maintaining an aristocracy. Yesterday's serfs are replaced by today's illegal or legal migrants worldwide. No longer building mosques and cathedrals, these economically subjugated masses are told they are supporting the aging populations of the developing world with their sweat and underpaid production for consumerism. That is their purpose, dictated by ivory-tower economists and politicians, the secular hierarchy, some of whom may consider themselves Humanists.
I think there is no intrinsic purpose to human existence. Humans may fill a niche in the ecology of The Universe, but that's it. No grand design. No place card at some New Age banquet. Telling a human being born into poverty to slave for six decades to satisfy the comfort of a more aggressive and powerful human that he has a purpose is a manipulation and a lie to assuage the conscience of the oppressors, who do usually know better. It is indeed more compassionate to shrug in the face of disparity than to try to justify it for your own comfort or self-opinion.
Purpose is replaced by cause in those who develop an awareness of their ability to shape their lives through practice. This is cause in the sense of Buddhist cause and effect, which are consistent with scientific concepts. To awaken to the ability to shape consciousness and behavior is to reject predestination, social caste or purpose. To turn consciousness and behavior toward living a healthy and socially responsible life is to enhance one's humanity within the ecology of The Universe. It is to live creatively and without regret.
It seems the growing unrest in Islamic countries is the result of increased general education, provided in part through oil wealth and the needs of the growing hierarchies in those nations for doctors and other skilled technicians. Religion's grip will inevitably deteriorate where science and free thought emerge. Sitting in a limo that was speeding through Cairo in 1984, I was told by a Stanford-educated Saudi prince, "Do you hear the muezzins, Paul? Listen. That is how we keep the masses in check, under our control." Mecca and Rome have used the same methodology for centuries.Maintaining general, relative poverty and overpopulation is a sure recipe for maintaining an aristocracy. Yesterday's serfs are replaced by today's illegal or legal migrants worldwide. No longer building mosques and cathedrals, these economically subjugated masses are told they are supporting the aging populations of the developing world with their sweat and underpaid production for consumerism. That is their purpose, dictated by ivory-tower economists and politicians, the secular hierarchy, some of whom may consider themselves Humanists.
I think there is no intrinsic purpose to human existence. Humans may fill a niche in the ecology of The Universe, but that's it. No grand design. No place card at some New Age banquet. Telling a human being born into poverty to slave for six decades to satisfy the comfort of a more aggressive and powerful human that he has a purpose is a manipulation and a lie to assuage the conscience of the oppressors, who do usually know better. It is indeed more compassionate to shrug in the face of disparity than to try to justify it for your own comfort or self-opinion.
Purpose is replaced by cause in those who develop an awareness of their ability to shape their lives through practice. This is cause in the sense of Buddhist cause and effect, which are consistent with scientific concepts. To awaken to the ability to shape consciousness and behavior is to reject predestination, social caste or purpose. To turn consciousness and behavior toward living a healthy and socially responsible life is to enhance one's humanity within the ecology of The Universe. It is to live creatively and without regret.
Comments
Post a Comment