Congrats Matt! Such a great essay on modern religion.
To add to your article. Coincidentally, I was talking about exactly this topic yesterday with my Australian friend, and fellow hostel guest. After watching more episodes of Vikings, he mentioned: "This series makes me rethink religion, I even read the first chapter of the bible". I asked him what exactly triggers his curiosity. He wasn't able to respond to it directly, but through a couple of other questions I was able to filter out that "a sense of purpose" and "answers to unanswerable questions" are the two factors for his curiosity.
Another interesting connection he made: "I think there is a connection between the "nonreligious modern world" and the "Rise of mental health issues".
I also make the connection between our modern world - nonreligious, and automatised - and successes of series like Game of Thrones", Vikings, and The Wichess. We, and especially men, feel like looking their identity, feeling useless, because of not being able to fight, to hunt, to conquer. Series like that give us a glimpse of that raw feeling again - a sense of belonging & desire - "I wish I lived in that time", "I feel we men had more use by then" my Australian friend mentioned. We can't get that time back, and fights nowadays are fought differently, technically - you don't need to fight someone face to face but can stand miles away and simply shoot, it doesn't require the 'real' courage & fighting skills. In that case, those series also function as modern religion in a way of providing this glimpse of belonging.
Just some thoughts here! I might write an article with those points of views on modern religion. I am curious what you think of these thoughts.
One question, What was the point about strong leaders in the following paragraph "From Musk and Trump.....worthy of our mindfulness"?
There's a really interesting potential tie here to the Vikings, Liver King, Game of Thrones and Alone series, which highlight a raw, barbaric lifestyle -- blood and pride. As men question their role in a modern world, there seems to be a grasp back towards how "masculinity" has always been. This plays on the the religious theme of purpose: what is my role in this world?
As for strong leaders, mindfulness is in reference to our caution around "religious figures." Both traditional and modern religious leaders don't have the cleanest track record. A bottoms-up slowness and carefulness is important before becoming indoctrinated.
New religions enable participation and accumulation of social/financial capital through "sacred" items.
Check out the rare first edition Harry Potter Book with typos - it is worth fortune but offers sacred belonging to the owner. Equivalent to owning the first draft of Quran or Communist Manifesto.
Quite shocked that the word "participation" didn't make its way into the piece at all. At the core, engagement is really what we're talking about here... a sense of contribution. 1 + 1 = 3
Love this book typo signal. I had a line about the Potter pilgrimage to the Flatiron Store to buy your own wand and certified house robe garb. Could we consider this tithe?
Nov 30, 2022·edited Nov 30, 2022Liked by Matt Klein
Absolutely, Matt!
There might be a subtle nuance.
The first edition book with typos is a strong indicator of status symbol; not only does it elevate the holder's position, but it also grants privilege. Let's call this exclusive participation. (not to mention "typos" give this exclusivity an edge, making it almost a subject of myth)
Buying your own wand and certified house robe garb signals belonging to the cult.
And this might be inclusive participation. (uniformization of the group)
Can we say there is participation through fandom membership, and is it hierarchical? What do you think?
So this where things get the most interesting (and an angle I had to just cut as the piece was already getting so long...)
I’d argue we lack membership formalization, which is a part of some of our problems. Rights of passage for adults are extinct. These were historical, monumental moments of personal development. As traditional religious practices, college, Greek life, even drinking in itself, etc. are dismantled, we lack initiations and formalizations into adulthood.
If we now have emerging modern religions, we must also have modern markers of adulthood.
To your point on fandom membership... what's formal and what's casual? I think people want more than mere participation... they want deeper membership and confident belonging.
Congrats Matt! Such a great essay on modern religion.
To add to your article. Coincidentally, I was talking about exactly this topic yesterday with my Australian friend, and fellow hostel guest. After watching more episodes of Vikings, he mentioned: "This series makes me rethink religion, I even read the first chapter of the bible". I asked him what exactly triggers his curiosity. He wasn't able to respond to it directly, but through a couple of other questions I was able to filter out that "a sense of purpose" and "answers to unanswerable questions" are the two factors for his curiosity.
Another interesting connection he made: "I think there is a connection between the "nonreligious modern world" and the "Rise of mental health issues".
I also make the connection between our modern world - nonreligious, and automatised - and successes of series like Game of Thrones", Vikings, and The Wichess. We, and especially men, feel like looking their identity, feeling useless, because of not being able to fight, to hunt, to conquer. Series like that give us a glimpse of that raw feeling again - a sense of belonging & desire - "I wish I lived in that time", "I feel we men had more use by then" my Australian friend mentioned. We can't get that time back, and fights nowadays are fought differently, technically - you don't need to fight someone face to face but can stand miles away and simply shoot, it doesn't require the 'real' courage & fighting skills. In that case, those series also function as modern religion in a way of providing this glimpse of belonging.
Just some thoughts here! I might write an article with those points of views on modern religion. I am curious what you think of these thoughts.
One question, What was the point about strong leaders in the following paragraph "From Musk and Trump.....worthy of our mindfulness"?
Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Lorette.
There's a really interesting potential tie here to the Vikings, Liver King, Game of Thrones and Alone series, which highlight a raw, barbaric lifestyle -- blood and pride. As men question their role in a modern world, there seems to be a grasp back towards how "masculinity" has always been. This plays on the the religious theme of purpose: what is my role in this world?
As for strong leaders, mindfulness is in reference to our caution around "religious figures." Both traditional and modern religious leaders don't have the cleanest track record. A bottoms-up slowness and carefulness is important before becoming indoctrinated.
New religions enable participation and accumulation of social/financial capital through "sacred" items.
Check out the rare first edition Harry Potter Book with typos - it is worth fortune but offers sacred belonging to the owner. Equivalent to owning the first draft of Quran or Communist Manifesto.
https://designtaxi.com/news/418971/Rare-First-Edition-Harry-Potter-Book-With-Typos-Goes-On-Auction-From-250K/
Thanks for the note, Göksenin.
Quite shocked that the word "participation" didn't make its way into the piece at all. At the core, engagement is really what we're talking about here... a sense of contribution. 1 + 1 = 3
Love this book typo signal. I had a line about the Potter pilgrimage to the Flatiron Store to buy your own wand and certified house robe garb. Could we consider this tithe?
Absolutely, Matt!
There might be a subtle nuance.
The first edition book with typos is a strong indicator of status symbol; not only does it elevate the holder's position, but it also grants privilege. Let's call this exclusive participation. (not to mention "typos" give this exclusivity an edge, making it almost a subject of myth)
Buying your own wand and certified house robe garb signals belonging to the cult.
And this might be inclusive participation. (uniformization of the group)
Can we say there is participation through fandom membership, and is it hierarchical? What do you think?
So this where things get the most interesting (and an angle I had to just cut as the piece was already getting so long...)
I’d argue we lack membership formalization, which is a part of some of our problems. Rights of passage for adults are extinct. These were historical, monumental moments of personal development. As traditional religious practices, college, Greek life, even drinking in itself, etc. are dismantled, we lack initiations and formalizations into adulthood.
If we now have emerging modern religions, we must also have modern markers of adulthood.
To your point on fandom membership... what's formal and what's casual? I think people want more than mere participation... they want deeper membership and confident belonging.