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"?
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.
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"?
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/