What’s something you love, and love describing or explaining to people who are new to that interest, hobby, or activity?
but whose ass?
Someone (or some group) who wanted control over people. All religious literature is rife with politics.
I’ve read everything else that you’ve stated, and I’m aware of these theories, but in the end I lean toward the simpler explanation above.
Just look at the world today. Same type of shit. Most billionaires make their fortunes off the backs of the populace. And they use all of the well-known tactics to do so. Coming up with stories (propaganda) to influence minds across the board.
However, when you take the effort to drill down into the subject matter at hand you’ll find a ‘small still voice’ which points at the ineffable.
The ineffable is what I embrace.
I agree! There’s some potentially useful stuff in some aspects of various religions, but for me the value is in looking at the moon rather than the finger that points at it. The rest are just tools to bring me where I’m trying to get, which is just basically to chill out and be at peace with where I am.
But I definitely do find that the parts that helped point that out were more in tune with zen than the more ritualistic and mythological approach. Also psychedelics, in a sort of roundabout way.
I do have a big soft spot for some of the Greek pantheon, though.