Golden Age of the Present: Morning Sermon

Chrome has recently reminded us that the Golden Age is today, here in the present. So the question then becomes: how do we make these current moments the golden age?

From Scott: each part of the earth is unique, and the humans (and animals and volcanoes and plants) are unique to each piece of earth. Human beings are happy when they can live based on how they have learned to adapt to each part of the earth--western men might call this culture, and the way they have adapted, technology.

Expressions of joy, spirit, routine, tradition, perhaps there is artwork, worship, sacrifice. Perhaps this concept of the gods and of myth. The question is--who would want to have an adversarial attitude to the gods? Those who didn't share these feelings, outsiders (an outside tribe). We jump forward too far to say immediately: those who come from outside with a scientific viewpoint to create a system of legibility to form a matrix to utilize these humans as productive factors on a human farm.

For if gods are a source of power for one group, they are a source of confusion for another.

The modern attack on reification and hypostasis falls in line with the same prohibition of the spiritual, prohibition of gods.

Popper's 'solution' is to just ditch any way of thinking that departs from the practical--that is to say, banausic--that in these dense (highly populated) societies, the mystical or the spiritual or the gods are too dangerous, because they rile up man and delude him and lead to bad 'human events.' (A cynic would say Popper believes these beliefs make man less legible and less controllable, but Popper argues the opposite). Assuming Popper's 'account of history' is perfectly correct, his solution gives way for an unchecked life of production. All language, culture, and activity must be based on the activities of modern science and production. Whether this new way of being is a liberation or a new enslavement is perhaps the matter of debate at the moment as humans forge their way to a new golden age or iron age.

Now man worships what he makes. What he makes requires the transformation of the earth. The void that has been created by the prohibition of gods and finally the prohibition of reification and hypostasis means that there is no longer any way of being that remains that could enjoy leisure--in theory, that is, if we take Popper's argument to its teleological end. That man still engages in leisure--look no further than the kayaking, swimming, climbing, running, cycling, frisbee, bat watching etc., that blankets this city every day.  It isn't that there no longer exists, mathematically, the resources which would allow for 'free time' which would enable 'leisure activities.' What has been wiped out is a way of being capable of enjoying and be able to carry out leisure activities. This is what has accelerated man's use and transformation of the earth. And yet leisure still manifests itself spontaneously and in great protest to the otherwise mechanical 'work day.'

This city represents a strange and friendly tribe on a sunny and beautiful piece of the earth. Indeed the young people who roam the city on bicycles are unburdened by the myths of the past. One day, I cycled 11 miles, encountering 20 percent graded hills, then ran with a small tribe in the hills, then cycld again through the tribal territories without headlamp through the hills in the dark, and on my way encountered several hundred bicycle riders who had begun their weekly night time tribal group ride which had formed spontaneously. Many of the riders attached boom boxes to their bicycles and many had colorful lights on wheels and spokes. Had the gods returned and attached themselves to the bicycles?

On the way to encountering the tribe of Bicycles and Lights, I encountered the tribe of Blue Moon watchers, who gathered on the large bridge to photograph the Blue Moon. I stopped and asked them of the Blue Moon and they shared with me stories of the Blue Moon, which happens only once a year. This tribe, then, has only one ceremony per year. If the ceremony happens on a cloudy day, there is great sadness. 

Then there is the famous tribe of Bat-Watchers, who gather each night to watch the bats fly out from under a large bridge. They bring blankets and food and other merriment and gaze at the Bat-Creatures. 

Thousands gather each day at the cold spring to cool from the intense heat. This tribe is called People of the Spring. It is the not uncommon for the People of the Spring to become the Bat Watchers or the Night Time Spirit Riders.

Tonight is the tribe of the great Runners of the Oval. The tribe runs in the Circle. Cold Water is worshiped between Circle Runs.  Today is the running of the great Mile. Time is given, but time must first be created to be given.