Wednesday, January 15, 2020

God's Own Reality Tunnel

Why on earth would you ever want to be happy, let alone joyful?

Asked no one, ever.

This is because, or so it seems, happiness is the thing -- or better, a name for the thing -- we all seek. It is our telos, that to which we are ordered.

So, while no one asks, "Why do you want to be happy," we've all wondered why you think that, of all things, will make you happy. Because that not only won't make you happy, it will make you unhappy. Fine. Do it your way.

Says God, to everyone, ever.

Now, if you believe God exists, then he is the ultimate reality to which we are ordered. Or, if you understand that man is ordered to a transcendent and nonlocal archetype, you can be certain that this is because God exists. In the end, if God doesn't exist, then there's no plausible explanation for why we should be ordered to him; or, more concretely, for the existence of saints and sages -- the perfection, from our side, of sanctity and wisdom, respectively. Man can only get to ten because God goes up to eleven.

In a previous post we alluded to the ego <---> reality tunnel dialectic. Clearly there are degrees of reality, such that people can be more or less "in touch" with it. We call a person "psychotic" because he has lost touch with reality, or crossed a divide in which the world is more delusion or hallucination than reality; it is more the projection of his own subjectivity into the world than the reception of the objective world into his psyche.

Speaking of which, this subject is handled brilliantly in Joker. (Spoiler alert? I'm not sure.) You may have to view it twice to realize it's difficult to say exactly which parts of the movie happened vs. which parts are pure hallucination -- and everything in between. The film doesn't offer any clear guidance. It doesn't announce This Never Actually Happened This Way in the Real World. But this mirrors the sad reality of the psychotic person, who is psychotic precisely because he can't distinguish between world and hallucination, or truth and delusion.

Compare it to what happens in dreams. Dreaming has a kind of psychotic structure, in that we are plunged into a world where things routinely happen that couldn't possibly happen in real life, and yet, we don't realize it. Last night, for example... nah, never mind. Other people's dreams are only of interest to the person who dreamt them. Suffice it to say that the dream is a reality tunnel that we inhabit even while not realizing that we -- somehow -- are the creators of that very world.

So, just like real life, since -- at least in a free society such as ours -- people are freed to live in their own reality tunnels, instead of being permitted only to inhabit one determined by the state -- as in the North Korea, or Iran, or elite college campuses. Being woke means: do not dare disturb me from my nightmare, or else! No gratitude whatsoever.

Another crossroads, with six possible directions... Let me briefly finish up with Joker, which I think is brilliant. Nor do I know or care what the director's "intent" might have been. In my reality tunnel it gets an A, in particular, Joaquin Phoenix's performance. But many critics disagree. Different reality tunnels. I saw some of them on Rotten Tomatoes, and could scarcely believe what I was reading. I realize that in these psychotic times, nothing should surprise us, but still... Examples:

Joker doesn't understand its representation of violence because it doesn't know what to do with its politics, opting instead for a confused aestheticization of anarchy, all incendiary chants and masked malcontents thronging the streets.

Joker is a visual feast about mental illness, the crumbling of an unstable economic system, and toxic masculinity that thinks it has something groundbreaking to add to the comic book universe, but merely adds an obtuse reflection.

It's unclear if the movie thinks that the Joker doesn't know that his statement is political, or the film itself doesn't understand it's own political nature...

Like "The Dark Knight", this film demonizes the mentally ill. It also distorts NY realities in the early 80s.

Suffice it to say that I didn't see any statements about politics, economics, toxic masculinity, demonization of mental illness, or the conditions of New York four decades ago.

Reality tunnels. Yesterday I read -- or started to read -- a piece that is so detached from reality that I suppose I reacted to it in the way the above critics reacted to Joker. I'm speaking of an essay by Frank Rich called What Will Happen to The Trump Toadies? Being a Trump Toady myself, I am naturally curious to find out what's going to happen to me.

Here are some examples of the graffiti on the walls of Rich's reality tunnel; in fact, note the rich irony of accusing the president and his supporters of being out of touch:

The definition of “facts” has been so thoroughly vandalized that Americans can no longer agree on what one is, and our president has barreled through so many crimes and misdemeanors with so few consequences that it’s impossible to gainsay his claim that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it. Donald Trump proves daily that there is no longer any penalty for doing wrong as long as you deny everything, never say you’re sorry, and have co-conspirators stashed in powerful places to put the fix in.

What crimes? What misdemeanors? He doesn't say.

John Kennedy, the Louisiana senator who parrots Vladimir Putin’s talking points in his supine defense of Trump, acts as if there will never be a reckoning. While he has no relation to the president whose name he incongruously bears, his every craven statement bespeaks a confidence that history will count him among the knights of the buffet table in the gilded Mar-a-Lago renovation of Camelot.

Now, that is some bad writing, but the Russia hoax? If you ever believed this hoax, it was because you wanted to believe it. If you still believe it at this point, it must be serving a vital function -- a projected container for one's own unmanageable psychic distress.

"For all the damage inflicted since Inauguration Day 2017" -- wait -- what damage? Again, he doesn't say. Apparently, in his reality tunnel the damage is so self-evident that everyone sees it.

"Rather than being the end of American history as we know it," -- wait -- what? The end of history as we know it? I'm not exaggerating when I say this is psychotic. Not that Rich is psychotic per se, but that this kind of catastrophic thinking emanates from a psychotic dimension of the mind, or from what are called unmetabolized beta elements.

Very soon, white supporters of the president will be Judged by our fellow Citizens of Color, and it won't be pleasant:

That judgment will be rendered by an ever-more demographically diverse America unlikely to be magnanimous toward cynical politicians who prioritized pandering to Trump’s dwindling all-white base over the common good.

I don't know. Might they be too busy working and improving their lives, thanks to President Trump?

"All cults come to an end, often abruptly, and Trump’s Republican Party is nothing if not a cult." Wait -- what?

I've reached my limit. Let someone else do the fisking.

As to the title of this post, just as there is a dialectic between ego and world, there is one between the soul and God, or between (¶) and O. You might call the latter the attempt to build an "ultimate reality tunnel."

But clearly, anything (¶) can construct is not going to be ultimate. Still, it can get pretty far, much farther than can the horizontal ego. This is the realm of natural theology, but so long as it's from our side, it's still going to be a manmade reality tunnel.

The only way to exit a manmade tunnel is if God provides the tunnel. We have to wrap this up, but in my opinion and experience, God has done this. He has given us a reality tunnel back to him. It is the most valuable gift we could possibly imagine, being that it is the way, the truth, and the life, and what could be better than that?

19 comments:

julie said...

...our president has barreled through so many crimes and misdemeanors with so few consequences that it’s impossible to gainsay his claim that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it.

Pretty ironic, given that in reality, Trump is probably one of the few people in New York who would be detained immediately if such a thing happened, while ordinary criminals are now simply being caught (if the police even bother) and released on the same day, often to offend again while laughing about the lack of penalty. Not just in New York, either.

ted said...

I agree - the Joker is a great film! It will probably be the only film that came out this year that we'll remember 20 years from now. Imagine if Vince Vaughn had starred in it? Those Oscar nominations would have been pulled today.

Anonymous said...

Ah yes Julie, they say that 432 Park on Billionaires Row (surrounding Trump Tower), is mostly owned by money laundering foreigners who paid for their condos via shell companies or outright cash.

But mine is not to judge. Instead, it is to preach.

Back in cave clan days (or cave artist colony days, whatever one believes), I’d think that “God” would’ve been that little push over the top, their 11 past 10, so to speak, if they'd had guitar amplifiers.

The best cave I know of was the Crystal Cathedral, of Hour of Power fame. Founder/builder Robert Schuler started out as a poor farm boy and eventually built a humble empire (humble because he was never extravagantly wealthy), which included those famed things I just mentioned. IMHO, he always seemed a decent sort.

But then came the trials.

Cancer, bankruptcy, family feuding... All seemed lost. But at the last minute the Catholic Diocese of Orange stepped in and after moving the remaining mostly white Crystals to a new location, took over as one of SoCals most ethnically diverse dioceses! Now if only they’d all vote Republican. As we know, voting Democrat sealed the sad fate of those hapless Crystals.

Gagdad Bob said...

Check out the trailer for this one, A Hidden Life. At the very least it looks visually stunning, but Malick is known for that.

I also loved 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

ted said...

Speaking of films, I'm also looking forward to Malick's new film. Fr. Stephen Freeman makes some interesting points based on his seeing of it.

ted said...

That's funny, we both posted about the Malick film at the same time. Synchronicity of the Raccoons Bob!

ted said...

Also loved Once Upon a Time. I plan to see 1917 soon!

Gagdad Bob said...

No, that's the name of Dupree's girlfriend, Jinx. Yeah, she's an exotic dancer.

Gagdad Bob said...

Must see 1917 in a theatre. It's an immersive experience. I jumped out of my seat several times.

Which reminds me: I need a bigger subwoofer.

ted said...

I think I've seen her around. Snort.

julie said...

Every time I see those Geico commercials with the raccoons, I think of Dupree.

Gagdad Bob said...

Every time Dupree sees them it reminds him that it's illegal -- not to mention imprudent -- to drive his his golf cart on the freeway without insurance.

Anonymous said...

Hello All and Sundry:

A reminder that happiness is certainly contingent on bowel function. We must not neglect our gut biome; feed your Golden Horde a variety of nutrients and they will serve you well, delivering smooth, consistent movements without sharp odors or excessive gas.

A morning cup of coffee is always welcome down below, but make sure your beans are Arabica or Robust from reputable sources. Never use instant crystals.

A glass of wine in the evening will put your biome in good cheer for a night's work. Red is preferred and need not be costly; 2-buck chuck from Trader Joe's is a good choice in the Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon varietals.

Hemp or cannabis is a good addition to keep those busy bacteria stoned and focused. A tincture or tasty edible in the lower dosage ranges.

Yes, dialing your gut into the "zone" is a sure recipe for happiness, along with appropriate excercise, study, worship, and fellowship with others. Hugs, kisses, and full service GFE sex should be on the docket in moderation.

There's the advice nobody asked for and few will heed. Still, I remain, cordially,

-Sugar Tits

River Cocytus said...

I've also heard many good things about Joker! But, as we're almost to #5, adult movies will be mostly on hold for another 10 years.

Yet by that time, I'm sure the survivors will be sublime, as they usually are!

Anonymous said...

My brother-in-law is a Trump Toady. He’s also a devoted white megachurch evangelical.

He’s not a bad guy. The only times I’ve ever seen him get red-faced pissed-off was when somebody brought up something like climate change, the Iraq War, or Hillary. Or when he thought somebody did. There was that time during the kids birthday party when he thought somebody did and he went off, and when everybody got quiet and was staring, including every kid, he realized that he’d only imagined he’d heard something. So he stopped. When he’s with his church buddies most of the ‘fellowship talk’ is Trumptalk. Trump this or Trump that. When I happen by they all stop talking Trump. I’ve never been completely anti-trump but have chosen to have some reservations, ya know free will, even though Trump does trend a bit old school paleocon. But apparently I'm not Trump-nointed or something.

The point is that outside of family dinner prayers, I don’t hear in-law speak of Jesus anymore.

I’ve noticed that every time I ride in his new truck (always a new vehicle... he’s rich), that he’s always got that Mormon-owned local conservative talk station on. Conversely, the few times he’s ridden in my old truck, he’s gotten blasted with White Zombie when I start er up. Or Sister Sledge. Or Yes. I like all kinds of classic music and really only hate the modern millenial-whoopy-dancy pop junk.

In-law used to only listen to Christian rock. Then he went through a C&W phase. And now it's all talk radio with all that angst. Not a good way to stay happy. So I ponder the meaning of this.

julie said...

Perhaps the meaning is just that your BIL has issues.

Gagdad Bob said...

A heads up: I just saw A Hidden Life, and found it rather tedious. Cannot recommend.

ted said...

See, Jinx!

Anonymous said...

I'd think the issue would be to not make a liar out of Jesus.

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