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Is
Religious Belief Really a Personal Matter?
World
View - Religion - Ideology - Politics
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About
the Connection between Reason, Emotion and Religious
Beliefs
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by
Wolfgang Fischer
(pdf.
printfile)
(german
version
) (spanish
version
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Some
Preliminary Thoughts Concerning the Suffering which Humans
Inflict upon Each Other
Suffering
is not easily abolished. For as long as suffering is being
inflicted, those who are trying to change this, will in turn
bring suffering upon the original perpetrators. To begin
with, we can therefore but try to reduce the amount of
suffering and guilt that is 'produced'. However, to reduce
the production of suffering in society presupposes the
placing of human thinking and acting into a more creative
context and heading towards a more profound perception of
justice.
It
requires the cooperation of all social forces within a new
kind of political culture - a culture that is open and
prepared to face new things. With this aim in mind I am
presenting the following ideas.
Freedom
of Thought: Both Curse and Blessing
History
shows that the basic freedom of humans produces some
contradictory effects - namely, creativity on the one hand
and destructive tendencies on the other.
But
if from this we will draw the conclusion that humans are, as
it were, destined by some 'higher power' to be split into
'good' and 'evil' and must therefore 'naturally' remain so,
then we can terminate the debate straight away. Any further
thought about this would be futile since, no matter what,
everything would continue unchangeably as it has gone up to
date.
However,
starting from the premise that humans are as they are
because certain cultural conditions have caused them to
appear so, will open up a possible way out of the
dilemma.
Evolution
of Freedom of the Spirit
From
a purely biological viewpoint humans appear to be animals.
They are subject to the laws of nature like any other
creature. Life, procreation and death are unavoidable. A
factor, however, which distinguishes the human species from
animals is its brain, together with the vast potential of
new experience which it engenders.
We
can observe the development in this direction by comparing
the potential of unicellular life forms with that of more
highly developed animal species up to the primates. The
range of facility for acting and reacting increasingly
exhibits a certain independence of the genetically
preordained patterns. Parallel to the genetic determinants
the directing and reacting functions are increasingly
determined by contents of consciousness (the mind).
Humans
have the capacity to act with foresight, with the
evolutionary developmental steps being partially
retained.
We
know the motives of human behaviour to be very deep-seated
in our mind, down to the still unconscious regions. We know
furthermore that the causes of reflexes as well as more
complex reactive patterns are to be found in individual
experience - that they become neurologically structured,
repeatable and conditionable and - along paths not yet
explored by science - even gain access to the genetic
information.
And
indeed: where else could innate reflexes originate? How
could there be any evolutionary development unless
individual experience or advantage - in the sense of genes
being provided with increased opportunities - could
structure itself genetically in such a way as to become
hereditary? Why should the genes cause bodies to come into
existence unless they could count on benefiting
qualitatively as well as being passed on through
procreation?
To
my mind (in contradiction of Crick's thesis according to
which any acquired attributes of organisms cannot be
transferred to the genes), Evolution might not just have its
cause in an "accidental" genetic mutation or copying
mistakes on the molecular level but quite possibly, via
individual life experience, directly influences our genetic
structure.
Genetics
these days tends to be dominated by analysis and
manipulation, even though we have not the slightest idea
about the possible effects of arbitrary manipulations upon
ourselves or future generations. Even the metabolism of the
DNA remains obscure, i.e. we do not know anything about the
behaviour of the genetic code within the organism after
having been incorporated as food.
Nor
was this of great concern until recently, since the code of
the DNA structured by Evolution, from the unicellular
organism to the vegetable and up to beef, was found to be
compatible if not identical with the human cellular
information. Whether this still is the case nowadays, in the
face of increasing manipulation of genetic information and
the insertion of artificial genes into the food chain, is so
far anyone's guess: we have all been degraded to the status
of guinea-pigs! The scandal of the mad cow disease merely
indicates the helplessness with which science is subject to
mercantile interests, as well as the scandalous manner in
which it treats the ordinary people. (With these remarks I
do mean not to oppose genetic engineering as such but
certainly the laissez faire attitude in which it is
handled!)
Yet
to get back to the subject of human motivation. It is common
knowledge that we are not merely motivated by rational
thought but equally by emotional impulses, and that both
regions are closely interconnected. The emotions are in part
biological heritage, they tend to interfere in our lives in
the manner of reflexes; and it is part of the human maturing
process, both individually and collectively, to become aware
of this connection so as to be able to handle one's emotions
creatively.
Although
this area, too, has not yet been researched exhaustively, we
do know that emotions, too, may be subject to a continuous
phylogenic development, and that, via the cerebrum with its
potential of thought and knowledge, we are able to influence
our emotional behaviour. Here again the spheres of thinking
and emotion are closely interconnected.
Purely
rational knowledge or thoughts not held to be true tend to
have little influence upon our actions. Conversely, thought
content or knowledge which affects us emotionally and is
deemed to be in accordance with the truth will exert a
strong influence upon our actions as well as on further
thinking.
Because
of its basic influence to nearly every decision to make it
is precisely this 'emotional resonance' which, though often
forgotten, renders any debate about our view of humanity,
about religions and ideologies, so supremely important. For
such debate can draw attention to the extent to which
certain beliefs are apt to affect everyday life through
their massive influence upon our thoughts and actions.
For
us humans, language - i.e. the spoken or written WORD - as a
suggestive impulse affecting the life of the individual,
represents a stimulus of huge intensity. Information,
whether oral, visual or material, has a decisive influence
upon our very being. It is therefore imperative to question
whatever we believe. And religious information should
certainly be no exception, and should not be allowed to be
left untouched as something of merely personal significance.
Freedom
of the Spirit and Growing Awareness of the Human Social
Dimension
Although
religion has never been a purely personal matter, its
political background has so far remained hidden. Few people
have been interested in an open discussion concerning the
possibilities of manipulation. And as long as religion and
politics share an interest in domination, the declaring of
religion to be a 'personal matter' always helps to stabilise
the status quo of currently 'acceptable' thinking. Whenever
''religious thinking" threatens to undermine certain
political interests, these will not hesitate to resort to
extreme measures of silencing it, ranging up to
murder.
In
commercial advertising (see also: Jean Kilbourne's new book
"Deadly Persuasion", [video
preview])
this connection has long been perceived and is being widely
used to manipulate individual intentions. It seems
significant that certain technical manipulations in this
field - e.g. in television, flashes of extremely short
duration designed to spirit information past our
consciousness into the brain - are prohibited only where it
is possible to control them. Apart from that, practically
anything is permitted. The election campaign of Bush against
Gore for example featured an advertising film of the
Republicans in which after insertion of the political
opponent's name, "Democrats", just the last four letters:
"-RATS" were faded in briefly a number of times in such a
way as to be barely visible directly but able to be
perceived subconsciously (see "Süddeutsche Zeitung" of
13th. Sept. 2000). The Democrats of course lodged a protest;
the effect however was already firmly imprinted in the minds
of all those who had seen the spot.
In
the sphere of the military, too, research into these
findings is being conducted, along with their practical
application with the aim of unnoticeably manipulating public
opinion. Examples of how effciently this is functioning are
the techniques of media coverage of contemporary wars.
Noam
Chomsky
is one of a mere handful of scientists who have tirelessly
been pointing out this state of affairs for decades and who
meticulously proof this kind of manipulation.
Spoken
or written word possesses the property of suggestion and for
humans constitutes a conditioned stimulus just like all
other conditioned stimuli. What is more: its effect is
particularly diverse. In terms of quality as well as
quantity the potential of language to influence people far
exceeds that of any other conditioned stimulus. This is
because words are connected with any and all stimuli (both
inner and outer) which have ever been able to enter the
various stations of the cerebral cortex in the course of a
life-time. Words are able to signalise and represent any
other active stimulus without exception; and from this it
follows that words can evoke any reactions of the organism
which any other stimulus could ever produce. There is not a
single bodily function, nor any ever so much hidden reaction
of our organism - and be it a hormonal or psycho-energetic
process - which could escape the influence of verbal
information.
The
Duty to be Creative in Accordance with Living Conditions as
Precondition for Achieving Freedom
This
raises the general question about the compatibility of
information as such with the actual genetic state and
natural conditions affecting an organism. The extent to
which mental information is compatible with the creative
potential of nature will determine its physiological effect
on the basis of education and cultural conditioning; if it
is incompatible, the effect will be pathological, (i.e. will
cause sickness).
Therefore,
anybody with a genuine interest in political change will
first of all need to ask the question: What kind of picture
of humanity, what conception of human existence and what
kind of view of the purpose of living is apt to generate in
humans a psychological atmosphere of trust, of inner
security, of self-determination, of openness, courage and
love? For such an atmosphere would be the precondition for
us ever being able to overcome all the destructive
consequences of mistrust, of alienation and lack of
self-confidence, of untruthfulness, fear and
hate.
It
seems futile to wait for people collectively to learn from
the consequences of their way of living History has shown
how arduous and long-drawn-out a process this is, and also
how prone to manipulation as to the result of such
learning.
It
may indeed be a helpful starting point if we utilized our
human mind in such a way that we learned through mental
understanding before being forced to do so by the
consequences of our own actions.
Yet
this would demand a preparedness to let the human spirit
emerge from the corner of the private sphere into the open
field of political and scientific debate. Here we will be
able to examine and question the nature of information in
open discussion.
At
this point we might investigate our religions, ideologies,
world views and other social theories concerning their
creative potential in relation to the living system Earth
(GAIA). We might learn to quit contraproductive and
destructive habits. We might learn to understand ourselves
as a world wide familiy, as a human community, whose members
support welfare of all and out of mere self-interest learn
to protect our habitat Nature from further
damage.
Jointly
we will be able to decide which direction our future path is
to take. Are we going to perpetuate the outworn treadmill of
illusory freedom, or will we take up the challenge of
transforming the laissez-faire culture of competitiveness
into a culture of cooperation?
To
my mind, the goal of reducing suffering and want on our
planet would certainly justify a political approach. As a
first step comprehension of religion could be as
follows:
Religion
is seen as an expression of the attempt to understand life
from its origins. It is the attempt of humanity to perceive
life in a meaningful context which at the same time offers a
perspective for the future.
This
definition indicates that, contrary to common belief,
religion has more to do with gained experience and
scientific knowledge rather than having to be defined by
some prescribed belief in metaphysical unreality. Belief is
always connected with the uncertainty of not knowing and for
this reason alone a most unreliable basis for thought and
action.
When
understood comprehensively in a sense offering some
orientation, religion will, via knowledge and the continued
application of such knowledge, engender a kind of critical
awareness as a much-needed basis for human responsibility.
Only when this understanding of religion has generally been
accepted and is being applied will there be a basis on which
science and personal experience can work together, acting
responsibly for the benefit of the community. A political
system which defines itself in this kind of spirit will
surely set itself goals that serve the benefit of all,
thereby maintaining a sound foundation for building on in
the future.
here
is more on the subject:
The
Machine
, Mass Media Hypnosis, by Eduardo Galeano (4. 2002)
(pdf.version)
and: http://emanzipationhumanum.de/english/titels.html#1
"Religion
- Communication -
Addiction",
by
Antonio Rossin
recommended
reading:
The
Pleasure Areas, Herbert James Campbell
Deadly Persuasions, Jean Kilbourne
Emanzipation
Humanum,
version 3.2000, translation form german to english by
Rainer
Taëni.
Criticism, suggestions as to form and content, dialogue,
translation into other languages are all
desired
http://emanzipationhumanum.de/english/information.html
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