Controlled Opposition - A must read for everyone in the liberty movement

[afwjam]

Interesting read IP.
What do you think of Taoism?

 

[bolil]

Most people of Empire have been nothing more than that since forever, all pretenses to greater truths notwithstanding.

OTOH, some institutions of Empire appear to be complementary to Bokonism. The Catholic Church appears to be a prime example: peddling lies that, once accepted, makes people miserable and profoundly unhealthy.

The 'liberty' movement proffers another example.

 

[InterestedParticipant]

Interesting read IP.
What do you think of Taoism?

Tasism is just another form of living inside someone else's circle [of control]...

 

[InterestedParticipant]

Whoa, are we mere Bokonists?

As long as we trust other "men" to create our entire system of being then we're eventually going to end up in a system-of-deceipt.

 

[afwjam]

Tasism is just another form of living inside someone else's circle [of control]...

A disappointing response, do you think there is nothing to be learned from any outside sources of information? I only brought it up because some of your philosophies reminded me of some taoist reading I have done.

 

[InterestedParticipant]

A disappointing response, do you think there is nothing to be learned from any outside sources of information? I only brought it up because some of your philosophies reminded me of some taoist reading I have done.

Sorry about dissappointing you ... yeah, I admit that I'm not investing a lot of effort here.

I didn't mean to deride any effort you've made to study Tao. I spend an incredible amount of time reading about various systems of control masked in a million different frames of propaganda, so I should be the last person to critique anyone else who invests time in this kind of research. I applaud it, and I agree that there is much to take away. My point is mainly that one should always be weary of how these various systems can be employed to control others. In general, all systems are inconsistent, and therefore irrational, which allows them to be "gamed" by whoever is creating the rules of said system. So, while doing your research, just look for these techniques and uncover them. This way, you can take away those learning that benefit you while protecting yourself from any mechanisms of control.

 

[afwjam]

Sorry about dissappointing you ... yeah, I admit that I'm not investing a lot of effort here.

I didn't mean to deride any effort you've made to study Tao. I spend an incredible amount of time reading about various systems of control masked in a million different frames of propaganda, so I should be the last person to critique anyone else who invests time in this kind of research. I applaud it, and I agree that there is much to take away. My point is mainly that one should always be weary of how these various systems can be employed to control others. In general, all systems are inconsistent, and therefore irrational, which allows them to be "gamed" by whoever is creating the rules of said system. So, while doing your research, just look for these techniques and uncover them. This way, you can take away those learning that benefit you while protecting yourself from any mechanisms of control.

So you have not read the Tao Te Ching? I find that by exposing myself to as much information as possible I get a broad spectrum from which it is easier to synthesis my one true path. You would acknowledge that besides matters of the heart and spirit one must seek outside input upon which to build ones beliefs. I had already believed a lot of what you have said in this thread about the social prison we have been confined to even when we think we hadn't, you have been using Plato's Cave analogy with great effectiveness of words, I was thoroughly enthralled. I do agree with some that the fault of your plight is a lack of action, you saying the identification and avoidance of the mechanisms being the "action", people need something to believe in, a future positive action to achieve. Maybe this is already sufficiently covered for you in your own personal faith, however I wonder if there is not more you might be willing to share in this light, besides your witness identifying the mechanisms of collectivism and control.

 

[InterestedParticipant]

So you have not read the Tao Te Ching? I find that by exposing myself to as much information as possible I get a broad spectrum from which it is easier to synthesis my one true path. You would acknowledge that besides matters of the heart and spirit one must seek outside input upon which to build ones beliefs. I had already believed a lot of what you have said in this thread about the social prison we have been confined to even when we think we hadn't, you have been using Plato's Cave analogy with great effectiveness of words, I was thoroughly enthralled. I do agree with some that the fault of your plight is a lack of action, you saying the identification and avoidance of the mechanisms being the "action", people need something to believe in, a future positive action to achieve. Maybe this is already sufficiently covered for you in your own personal faith, however I wonder if there is not more you might be willing to share in this light, besides your witness identifying the mechanisms of collectivism and control.

The only action necessary is to believe in oneself, and to stop looking for outside systems of belief, especially well-developed systems promoted by establishments. I continue to be amazed and disappointed that everyone sees the propsed path as inaction, as it is the path that starves the parasite of the energy that it needs to survive and will kill its existance faster and more painlessly than any other approach. This is NOT inaction.

The Tao Te Ching is fundamentally based upon the unity of opposites (the idea that things that seem to be opposed are actually united in a deeper sense) - similar to the concepts that early Greek philosophers, such as Heraclitus (the father of dialectical thought) brought to the West. These concepts are employed as mechanisms of control for the masses. Marx/Engels employed them, giving us Dialectical Materialism. To my knowledge, only Hegel showed us how to employ them FROM the individual [outward] in order to learn more about our world. So, no, I don't suscribe to Tao.

Let's go back to Ellul for a refresher....this is good stuff to read from time to time....

The Presence of the Kingdom: A Review
(This is my review of the book "The Presence of the Kingdom" by Jacques Ellul)
http://lampfortheworld.blogspot.com/2011/06/presence-of-kingdom-review.html


In this book, the author simply explores and answers the question, “How should the Christian live in the modern world?” In this age of technological advancement and mass media, Ellul vigorously pleads for Christians to live out their identity as the salt of the earth and light of world to this decaying and darkened society. Christ calls His followers to function as “visible signs” of the presence and reality of God's kingdom here on earth.

In order to fulfill their mission, Christians ought not to separate themselves from the culture as most pietists do. However, they ought not to be triumphalistic either, engaging themselves deeply into the culture in order to conquer it or “redeem” it. While modern men are fascinated with, even enslaved by, technology and progress, Christians, however, should be preoccupied with God's kingdom and His righteous rule in the world, living as loyal subjects of King Jesus in all areas of life by the power of His Spirit. They should never forget that God has placed them in this fallen world in order to bear witness to Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This seems to be Ellul's main message in this book.

Ellul of course recognizes that the task of witness-bearing is not an easy responsibility. In fact he identifies several obstacles and enemies that every Christian has to contend with in seeking to remain faithful to his calling in the world.

First, the world is not only a place of warfare but also a force that tries to exert pressure upon the Christian so as to conform to its wicked ways. This makes obedience to God's will for him difficult. Ellul quips, “The fact of living in the world, from which we ought not to escape, is a stumbling block for our faith” (p.9).

Second, the reality of sin also renders the Christian weak and ineffective in bearing witness for the truth of the gospel of Christ.

Third, we may also add to the equation the devil himself, completing the number of the believer's age-old arch enemies, namely, the world, the flesh and the devil. Ellul is aware of these enemies when he writes,

Living in the world we are living in the domain of the Prince of this world, Satan, and all around us we constantly see the action of this prince, and the result of the state of sin in which we are all placed without exception, because in spite of all our efforts and our piety we share in the sin of the world. We are involved in it because in spite of our faith we are and remain sinners; we are also involved in the sin of humanity through the various “orders” of life created by God, so that when a person of my family, or of my nation, commits sin, I am responsible before God for this transgression (p.9).

This leaves us desperate of ourselves. However, this desperation should not make us totally discouraged. We should instead recognize that though “it is impossible for us to make the world less sinful...it is impossible for us to accept it as it is” (p.9). Thus as Christians, we must learn to live in this tension in the world, being fully aware that God calls us and equips us by His Spirit to live as His people, serving as God’s preservatives and light-bearers exactly in this tense situation. Our lifestyle that is consistent to our calling as citizens of God’s kingdom brings genuine transformation that the world needs.

In terms of concretizing this Christian lifestyle, Ellul observes that this is not all about techniques. The techniques which the world propagates will not foster real change in man or the society where he lives in. This is because man has this mistaken idea that with modern technology comes transformation. What modern technology has actually accomplished, according to Ellul, is that it helped shift our focus from end to means. Rather than thinking of what is good and just, and what brings peace and order to society, people start to think about how to make things work and how to do things efficiently. These have become man’s preoccupation.

This shift of mindset somehow affected many Christians. Thus instead of influencing society by being the salt of the earth and light of the world, Christians try to seek influence using social, economic and political means, thinking that these powers would accomplish the Christian task. By doing so, Christians have resorted to the means which natural man uses.

But no matter how hard the natural man tries to transform society and to make it a better place to live using man-made techniques, the result is always further destruction, decay and deformation of the society. The natural man, regardless of his ingenuity in creating technology, whether social, political, or economic, is totally hopeless in his attempt to promote lasting change in the world. The reason of course is that, the modern natural man employs strategies that only address the external issues of life, leaving the internal, most basic issue and need of the individual and society unmet. Thus at the end of the day, technology and mass media further enslave the sinful man rather than liberate him.

However, the power that is at work among believers is able to effect genuine transformation for every man and society that it touches. Only the Holy Spirit quickens dead spirits of men and causes them to do what is right and good, bringing personal and corporate peace, order and freedom. Ellul believes that the Christian faith alone is able to transform society not because of the Christians per se, but because of its revolutionary agent and king, i.e., the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ. When the kingdom of God is lived out faithfully by sinful men who are led by the Spirit of God, following their Lord and King, genuine revolution takes place in this fallen world.

Thus Ellul can say, “Whatever work is undertaken by man does not reveal its meaning or its value save in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit” (p.102). He adds, “If Christians have a special mission here [on earth], it is due to the fact that they are witnesses to an event on which all other events are based, an event which took place in history, and an event which sums up and guarantees all other events, personal or historical, and renders history and life irreversibly. This event is the intervention of God in the course of human history, it is Jesus Christ” (p.108).

The book does not really offer concrete easy-steps to readers in terms of prescribing a lifestyle for Christians to follow in order to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The author himself admits this when he writes, “My aim was not to give ready-made solutions, but only to open the way for a work of the renewed church” (p.113). He nevertheless gives suggestions as to what Christians should bear in mind as they seek to live the reality of God’s kingdom out in the world as individuals and as body of believers, the church.

One of the things he points out is that we Christians must be aware of our weak or abstract, if not dead, witness-bearing of the power of the gospel of Christ before the watching world. The reason why the world is in such a mess is partly because Christians have forgotten who they are and why they are in the world. Additionally, they have abandoned the powerful means which God has entrusted to them, i.e. the gospel, which is the power of God for the salvation, in all its aspects, of those who believe.

Further, Ellul shows that if Christians are to effect radical change in the world, they have to take their identity and calling seriously, engaging themselves in ordinary human activity, proclaiming the gospel to the world both in meaningful words and kind deeds. In order to actualize this transformation, Ellul points out that Christians themselves must have been, first of all, transformed by the renewing of their mind, which the Holy Spirit alone can do by the Word of God.

I think Ellul’s analysis of the culture is right on target. While he is not against technology per se, he is denouncing the increasingly destructive influence and control of modern technology not only on Western civilization but particularly on the Christian faith. His observation of our failure as Christians to live out our identity and mission in the world is also quite indicting. While he prescribes no easy solutions, his critical thought helps us to think deeply our life and lifestyle before the watching world.

I would not fault Ellul for his lack of suggestions on how to address the Christian dilemma in the world. From my other readings of his life and writings, I came to realize that he tried to live out what he taught and preached. He was actively involved both in the church and the society, serving as a consultant to the Ecumenical World Council of Churches from 1947-53 and was a member of the National Council of the Reformed Church in France. He also haa a long academic career and participated in local civic affair where at one point he served as Deputy Mayor of his hometown in the mid-1940’s. Finally, he was also involved in ministering with many troubled youth and drug addicts.

If there is anything that he accomplished in this book it is the fact that he reminds us that faith and obedience in the living and loving God who called His people out of slavery from sin and worldliness by His Spirit constitute our best weapon to let the kingdom of God in Christ be seen and felt by the world.

 

[talkingpointes]

The only action necessary is to believe in oneself, and to stop looking for outside systems of belief, especially those well-developed systems delivered by others. I continue to be amazed and disappointed that everyone sees this path as inaction, as it is the path that starves the parasite of the energy that it needs to survive and will kill its existing faster and more painlessly than any other approach. This is NOT inaction.

The Tao Te Ching is fundamentally based upon the unity of opposites (the idea that things that seem to be opposed are actually united in a deeper sense) - similar to the concepts that early Greek philosophers, such as Heraclitus (the father of dialectical thought) brought to the West. These concepts are employed as mechanisms of control for the masses. Marx/Engels employed them, giving us Dialectical Materialism. To my knowledge, only Hegel showed us how to employ them FROM the individual [outward] in order to learn more about our world.

Wonderful conversation and series of posts. I haven't seen you around here in a while, glad to see you back. Unless of course I'm wrong about that. Either way, carry on.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Self indulgent, navel gazing, twaddle.

Explain the various shades of philosphical gray, as a bunch of cops are beating you senseless for looking at them wrong.

And as the people who rely on you, suffer, because you have been taken from them.

That's just how this high school drop out, dumbass, sees it.

Feel free to continue whatever public mental masturbation you are engaged in.

And here's a great example why I stopped posting here for several years. It's dumbass response like this one. This is a great example of how well the system has indoctrinated so many minds. If one is not presented with authorized forms of rebellion they see that as doing nothing. It's like a transitor, everything is either one dialectical alternative or another. No gray.

Turning off from this system and thinking and percieving based upon ones own true experiences is an enormous leap. But unfortunately, we've all been indoctrinated so much from such an early stage we cannot even envision what this might entail, or we merely put it in to the "religious" fallacy or some similar camp.

Again, ceasing to allow this system to control how your brain develops is NOT doing nothing.

 

[afwjam]

The only action necessary is to believe in oneself, and to stop looking for outside systems of belief, especially well-developed systems promoted by establishments. I continue to be amazed and disappointed that everyone sees the propsed path as inaction, as it is the path that starves the parasite of the energy that it needs to survive and will kill its existance faster and more painlessly than any other approach. This is NOT inaction.

The Tao Te Ching is fundamentally based upon the unity of opposites (the idea that things that seem to be opposed are actually united in a deeper sense) - similar to the concepts that early Greek philosophers, such as Heraclitus (the father of dialectical thought) brought to the West. These concepts are employed as mechanisms of control for the masses. Marx/Engels employed them, giving us Dialectical Materialism. To my knowledge, only Hegel showed us how to employ them FROM the individual [outward] in order to learn more about our world. So, no, I don't suscribe to Tao.

Let's go back to Ellul for a refresher....this is good stuff to read from time to time....

I agree with what you are saying and some passages of the Tao Te Ching echo it, that is why I brought it up. I agree with you that what you propose is very effective and in fact not inaction. Educational out reach like what you are doing here are important actions. Your absolutely right about needing a deeper understanding of ourselves and the systems at play around us. There are many ways to accomplish this which I would like to explore further.

Interesting reading, I do think we need to work harder on being the salt of the earth and the light of this world. Although I don't entirely subscribe to Christian theology, I find the part about me being cast in to this world of sin to be particularly depressing. I truly believe that my life and this world are a gift and blessing to us, we are very very lucky. We would have to admit that Christianity is part of the dialectic itself and maybe not working effectively to free us from systems of control all though there is tremendous truth and knowledge to be gained, kinda like the Tao Te Ching.

There are many different actions to take as a response to the threat of collectivism and violence. The most important being an understanding of the situation and the mechanisms in use, like you said starving it of its energy. However with so many blind leading the blind we much find a way that people may learn the truth for themselves. This is what you were doing in this thread and I think you piqued the curiosity of many onlookers. As you rationally explain it is something one has to "learn" for themselves, not something that can be taught. However we can help people learn as you are doing here. How else can we help people learn and empower themselves thereby starving the enemy. Maybe we can use some of the tactics against them?

 

[ClydeCoulter]

I agree with what you are saying and some passages of the Tao Te Ching echo it, that is why I brought it up. I agree with you that what you propose is very effective and in fact not inaction. Educational out reach like what you are doing here are important actions. Your absolutely right about needing a deeper understanding of ourselves and the systems at play around us. There are many ways to accomplish this which I would like to explore further.

Interesting reading, I do think we need to work harder on being the salt of the earth and the light of this world. Although I don't entirely subscribe to Christian theology, I find the part about me being cast in to this world of sin to be particularly depressing. I truly believe that my life and this world are a gift and blessing to us, we are very very lucky. We would have to admit that Christianity is part of the dialectic itself and maybe not working effectively to free us from systems of control all though there is tremendous truth and knowledge to be gained, kinda like the Tao Te Ching.

There are many different actions to take as a response to the threat of collectivism and violence. The most important being an understanding of the situation and the mechanisms in use, like you said starving it of its energy. However with so many blind leading the blind we much find a way that people may learn the truth for themselves. This is what you were doing in this thread and I think you piqued the curiosity of many onlookers. As you rationally explain it is something one has to "learn" for themselves, not something that can be taught. However we can help people learn as you are doing here. How else can we help people learn and empower themselves thereby starving the enemy. Maybe we can use some of the tactics against them?

My first reaction to the bolded question is a great big NO.

How can we help with bringing truth into the open by making use of lies? edit: That would mean taking on "the end justifies the means" which would destroy any confidence in the end once the lies were brought to light, even if it worked, which I don't believe it would.

 

[afwjam]

My first reaction to the bolded question is a great big NO.

How can we help with bringing truth into the open by making use of lies? edit: That would mean taking on "the end justifies the means" which would destroy any confidence in the end once the lies were brought to light, even if it worked, which I don't believe it would.

I certainly don't mean deception and lies, but maybe learning from what they do and use similar methods to spread truth, for example music.

 

[jmdrake]

The only action necessary is to believe in oneself, and to stop looking for outside systems of belief, especially well-developed systems promoted by establishments. I continue to be amazed and disappointed that everyone sees the propsed path as inaction, as it is the path that starves the parasite of the energy that it needs to survive and will kill its existance faster and more painlessly than any other approach. This is NOT inaction.

The Tao Te Ching is fundamentally based upon the unity of opposites (the idea that things that seem to be opposed are actually united in a deeper sense) - similar to the concepts that early Greek philosophers, such as Heraclitus (the father of dialectical thought) brought to the West. These concepts are employed as mechanisms of control for the masses. Marx/Engels employed them, giving us Dialectical Materialism. To my knowledge, only Hegel showed us how to employ them FROM the individual [outward] in order to learn more about our world. So, no, I don't suscribe to Tao.

Let's go back to Ellul for a refresher....this is good stuff to read from time to time....

Wow! Great read. I've not read such a good primer on true Christianity outside of the Bible itself. Another book on my must read list.

 

[InterestedParticipant]

Self indulgent, navel gazing, twaddle.

Explain the various shades of philosphical gray, as a bunch of cops are beating you senseless for looking at them wrong.

And as the people who rely on you, suffer, because you have been taken from them.

That's just how this high school drop out, dumbass, sees it.

Feel free to continue whatever public mental masturbation you are engaged in.

Yes, Natural Man's system is incredibly evil. And Yes, we ALL suffer from Natural Man's system. I have suffered greatly.... greatly from this system. I am not immune. I could sit here and try to garner empathy for what has happened to me and to those close to me, but I'm not taking that path. That does not mean that I am a navel gazer twaddler who spouts meaningless philosophical mumbo jumbo. The fact is that I've taken on the system in a major way, head on, on a national level at very high levels, taking a path that should have created significant change. But the system buried the effort as well many around me (some literally), and hit me hard as well. After years of soul searching and self-study, I happen to think that the path I discuss is the optimal approach. That does not mean that some will still continue to suffer greatly. And for that, I am deeply empathetic and sorry.

 

[InterestedParticipant]

I agree with what you are saying and some passages of the Tao Te Ching echo it, that is why I brought it up. I agree with you that what you propose is very effective and in fact not inaction. Educational out reach like what you are doing here are important actions. Your absolutely right about needing a deeper understanding of ourselves and the systems at play around us. There are many ways to accomplish this which I would like to explore further.

Interesting reading, I do think we need to work harder on being the salt of the earth and the light of this world. Although I don't entirely subscribe to Christian theology, I find the part about me being cast in to this world of sin to be particularly depressing. I truly believe that my life and this world are a gift and blessing to us, we are very very lucky. We would have to admit that Christianity is part of the dialectic itself and maybe not working effectively to free us from systems of control all though there is tremendous truth and knowledge to be gained, kinda like the Tao Te Ching.

There are many different actions to take as a response to the threat of collectivism and violence. The most important being an understanding of the situation and the mechanisms in use, like you said starving it of its energy. However with so many blind leading the blind we much find a way that people may learn the truth for themselves. This is what you were doing in this thread and I think you piqued the curiosity of many onlookers. As you rationally explain it is something one has to "learn" for themselves, not something that can be taught. However we can help people learn as you are doing here. How else can we help people learn and empower themselves thereby starving the enemy. Maybe we can use some of the tactics against them?

Yes, Christian theology has been corrupted by man. Ellul goes beyond the propaganda.

 

[afwjam]

Yes, Christian theology has been corrupted by man. Ellul goes beyond the propaganda.

I look forward to reading the book, I am adding it to a list of many books you brought up in this thread. Do you have any further recommended reading or thoughts on how we might help people to learn how to overcome the mechanisms that oppress them?

 

[KerriAnn]

Yes, Natural Man's system is incredibly evil. And Yes, we ALL suffer from Natural Man's system. I have suffered greatly.... greatly from this system. I am not immune. I could sit here and try to garner empathy for what has happened to me and to those close to me, but I'm not taking that path. That does not mean that I am a navel gazer twaddler who spouts meaningless philosophical mumbo jumbo. The fact is that I've taken on the system in a major way, head on, on a national level at very high levels, taking a path that should have created significant change. But the system buried the effort as well many around me (some literally), and hit me hard as well. After years of soul searching and self-study, I happen to think that the path I discuss is the optimal approach. That does not mean that some will still continue to suffer greatly. And for that, I am deeply empathetic and sorry.

I hope I can organize my thoughts enough to make sense...

I have been searching for a way to make the greatest change. I came to the Ron Paul movement because I strongly believe that every man should be free. Completely free. How do you give freedom to men, when they can be so wicked towards one another? How do you punish one man for being wicked towards another? In order to punish, you must give power to some men to do so. And there is where the corruption begins. No matter what type of system you employ to do this, it will in time become so corrupted that you must wipe it out and start all over again or else the system will take freedom away from the men who deserve it. And so a cycle begins, and never ends, men becoming too powerful, men becoming unhappy and restless, rebelling against the system they are trapped in and more suffering and so on.

I started wondering, what can stop this? Who am I and what can I do to stop this suffering? I am so small on the outside compared to the world. But I feel big on the inside, I want to change it so badly.

I watched a documentary about Amit Goswami. He believes that Quantum Physics has proved that nothing physical is real at all. It is all just a manifestation of our consciousness. And we are not separate either, we are all God, and time and space are a construction of our own consciousness that we have trapped ourselves in.

So if I am God, (not I in the individual sense, but I as in all of us), then I CAN change things. I can't quite grasp how, and I think it's because I have not overcome the sense that I am separate from you, or anything else that I see. But I feel that it is true, that if we change our perception and realize that we are not separate, that we are all God, then we will understand that... well... I haven't gotten that far yet. Maybe we will come to the conclusion that none of this matters. The freedom of men, the suffering of men, it is all out of our reach, uncontrollable, and maybe it is just an illusion anyway.

Here is a link to my blog... I haven't posted to it much, but I would appreciate feedback on it, if anyone has the time to read it:

http://didjuno.blogspot.com/

The top and most recent post is called Letting Go, and it's about me coming to terms with my lack of control over the world. I also posted that one here on the forums.

 

[InterestedParticipant]

I look forward to reading the book, I am adding it to a list of many books you brought up in this thread. Do you have any further recommended reading or thoughts on how we might help people to learn how to overcome the mechanisms that oppress them?

Many.

If you can isolate the area of interest, then I'll try to provide reading/resource lists to the best of my knowledge.

But I will say this, for those willing to invest the time, and also to learn to read Double Speak, you will find that ALL aspects of this system is discussed in excruciating detail. Nothing is hidden. The arrogance is amazing.

 

[InterestedParticipant]

I hope I can organize my thoughts enough to make sense...

I have been searching for a way to make the greatest change. I came to the Ron Paul movement because I strongly believe that every man should be free. Completely free. How do you give freedom to men, when they can be so wicked towards one another? How do you punish one man for being wicked towards another? In order to punish, you must give power to some men to do so. And there is where the corruption begins. No matter what type of system you employ to do this, it will in time become so corrupted that you must wipe it out and start all over again or else the system will take freedom away from the men who deserve it. And so a cycle begins, and never ends, men becoming too powerful, men becoming unhappy and restless, rebelling against the system they are trapped in and more suffering and so on.

I started wondering, what can stop this? Who am I and what can I do to stop this suffering? I am so small on the outside compared to the world. But I feel big on the inside, I want to change it so badly.

I watched a documentary about Amit Goswami. He believes that Quantum Physics has proved that nothing physical is real at all. It is all just a manifestation of our consciousness. And we are not separate either, we are all God, and time and space are a construction of our own consciousness that we have trapped ourselves in.

So if I am God, (not I in the individual sense, but I as in all of us), then I CAN change things. I can't quite grasp how, and I think it's because I have not overcome the sense that I am separate from you, or anything else that I see. But I feel that it is true, that if we change our perception and realize that we are not separate, that we are all God, then we will understand that... well... I haven't gotten that far yet. Maybe we will come to the conclusion that none of this matters. The freedom of men, the suffering of men, it is all out of our reach, uncontrollable, and maybe it is just an illusion anyway.

If I look to Ellul's writing, based on Christ's originally philosophy, then it is Man's responsibility to aggressively question all of man's systems. My words - To take an almost hostile approach to what is presented to us by other men.

Here is a link to my blog... I haven't posted to it much, but I would appreciate feedback on it, if anyone has the time to read it:

http://didjuno.blogspot.com/

The top and most recent post is called Letting Go, and it's about me coming to terms with my lack of control over the world. I also posted that one here on the forums.

No no no....

We control how the synapses in our brains develop, and therefore how we perceive and therefore act in the world. My suggestion to withdraw from this system comes from our need to physically modify the synapse networks in our own brains (what the intelligence agencies call 'rewiring'). It is only if we rewire ourselve that we'll be able to clearly see the system for what it is and to turn away from it and create new systems that are not deceptive and based in evil.

Bottom line, we have ALL the power, and they have NONE. We just can't see it, because they are running this super sophisticated technocracy that controls our synaptical networks, which in turn, controls how we view ourselves, them, and the world.