Alex: What then exactly is the conflict between myself and 'Genius Forum'? And must I, after stating the above, necessarily take issue with you?
I am concerned about lines of thought, or trends of definition, which 'cause' us to break with our own matrix and our antecedents.
But breaking with our cultural matrix is exactly what must happen on the road to truth. I explain further below.
Some here seem to relish and even to exult in breaking connection, and they take your basic idea of a 'non-human' knowing or knowledge, or the possibility of some sort of experience (thinking of Seeker here) which they privilege, and set *that* up as the measure of value. *That* becomes the most important thing, or state, or focus. (Though I doubt very much that Seeker could ever use the term that you imply as the other pole from 'human based').
Although I am not one of them, it appears as if there are truth seekers who can forgo any kind of supporting matrix and stand wholly in the fire of reason and allow it to do its work. For me, at first and for many years, I needed the matrix of a mythical, metaphorical Self, call it a bridge between "the two worlds." The bible and the realms of existence of Buddhism provided me with what I needed to “cross that bridge.” The whole point of reasoning and of building a supporting metaphorical bridge is to eliminate any sense of separation between subject and object, in other words, for those of us who need a bridge, even though there is no bridge, a bridge is constructed so we can gradually come to this realization.
And I have noted that that is destructive (and irresponsible). And that that endeavor, or that omission, has relationships to other destructive trends which, as I say, have begun substantially in the Enlightenment period.
But in trying to subvert the destructive element of dropping the cultural matrix (and it is indeed experienced as a destruction) you are also subverting the transformation that results of this necessary destruction. I'm speaking of your own subversion here, because, in truth, you have no power to stop anyone from seeking the truth of themselves.
I have brought out a critique against 'QRS' because I see that ultimately 'they' are part of acidic and destructive processes that, in fact, have no conceptual way to even register your statement about 'non-human sources of understanding'. That idea is a non-possible idea for them.
I agree that the QRS did not offer any supporting matrix on the forum, but they did not discourage them either. David and I had many lively discussions regarding the metaphorical “male and female principle.” Have you read the letters between David and Kevin “Letters between enemies?” Although they are not a matrix per se, they do reveal the difficulties and challenges experienced by both on their quest for truth. While they took more of a monk-like path than I (I worked in the world for 30 years, I am married with two children and two grandchildren and am engaged in their lives) I do relate to their quest and the struggles they encountered.
Do you not question the continuance of this battle with QRS when none of the three have posted here for a long time?
Based on what you write, and also based in the fact that I don't think you have thought these specific things through (about shifts in 'metaphysic' in our culture and the effects this has had/is having), I suggest that you, too, become susceptible to a trend which has a destructive effect. But I also think that we have all been 'infected' by powers, concepts and forces which do not originate in ourselves and yet which we serve, willingly and unwillingly. There is a need to carefully think through all of this material.
The entire process of questioning the nature of the cultural matrix and the spiritual matrix is just that – a careful think through of what each means. By no means is this a lighthearted undertaking, one's entire being becomes focused on and with this process. And yes, there were many times (at least for me) when I doubted the experience, even regretted the experience, sleepless nights were not uncommon, but in for a penny...
As for being infected by concepts and powers that do not originate in ourselves which we serve, willingly and unwillingly, this could as easily be said about the analysis of your cultural matrix as about the dropping of such. At some point, one must reconcile one's perception of “other” or fear paralysis sets in.
I would also suggest that almost no one really understands what I attempt and so the reaction I get is, overall, contempt.
I do not feel contempt for you, I have compassion for your concerns as do I believe you have compassion for us born of your perception of "our plight", but until you experience the life-and-death quest for truth you cannot possibly relate to those who do. I sense that my declaration of "a life-and-death quest" is a concern for you, perhaps you worry that Pam is being influenced by demonic forces or foolish whims, etc., but how will I know this is happening unless I ask myself? Who else can give me the truth of things but me?
Diebert for example, for all his smarts, does not grasp what I am up to nor does he understand its value, and too Diebert has been 'seduced' and operates out of a substantial 'seduction' and postmodern confusion. Seeker cannot grasp what I am getting at and yet is not wholly immune to understanding (in my opinion). Layla is, because of her extreme and irremediable Marxist infection, outrightly hostile to 'it', and for this reason she is very instructive and emblematic of a trend and a mood in present modern culture. For this reason she is a 'henid-driven banshee': her hostility is hardly 'divine' and represents nearly a demoniac turn (in ideas). Jupi is also driven by a non-rational hostility which dresses itself in an extremist 'rationalist' form but his anger and contempt is, overall, quite similar to Leyla's, though he has a programmer's mind (a mechanically mathematical mind) and Leyla is, quite frankly, deranged and incapable of a rational movement in thought.
What I have always asserted to you, challenge me if you want is that you cannot KNOW the intentions/motives of anyone here. You are not the only one that projects motive on others, I was introduced quickly to this brand of “enlightenment” (perhaps for some, intended to "kill" the ego?) when I first I arrived on GF years ago when Dennis was determined to analyze the truth of “Pam”. Back in those days I was less secure in my quest and foolishly fed into his "baiting."
No part of this is a joke, and this is all material of enormous consequence. The 'evidence' of how we separate from ourselves and - though it is a tough definition to work out - 'the divine' and the 'non-human' (meaning the non-demoniac) is a very challenging conversation.
Just as you asked me to consider the concerns at dropping the cultural matrix, I ask you to consider how one can attain to the divine if they are entangled in the land of "they say?" How did Jesus explain the effects of this inner war of the two worlds, the pull of the divine and the pull of "they/we?" Matthew 6:24: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” The whole idea of “the bearing of the cross” is to bear the suffering that comes with letting go of one's cultural identity so one's spiritual identity can be born. Did not the Jews condemn Jesus for not identifying with their cultural/religious matrix? And what was his response? “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” Jesus was not anti-matrix, it was caused to happen, but he knew it did not belong in his Father's kingdom.
Finding out what and who we are under the covers of our cultural identity is not for everyone. But for those who are driven to know, it is everything. Which means, no one, not you, not a priest, not a child, not a husband, not a friend can stop those who are driven to know. Have you considered that your desire to stop the quest only adds fire to the quest, sort of like forbidding your daughter to date a certain boy only serves to drive her into his arms? Do you believe you have stopped a single poster on any forum to which you are a member from continuing their quest to know?