RE: Self-Rejection, Self-Sacrifice, Self-Denial VS Egoism, Earthly Pleasures, Hedonism
February 26, 2025 at 2:46 pm
(This post was last modified: February 26, 2025 at 2:49 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(February 26, 2025 at 5:22 am)AB Caro Wrote: Why are the “Self- “ stuff in the thread subject highly encouraged even in a secular environment, while the other 3 stuff are highly discouraged, even in a secular environment,Because our civil religion was designed by committee and over time.
To elaborate we all know and live under capitalism, reject/sacrifice/deny self-interests just to pay bills or alternatively please “society”. And if we dare to stroke our ego by rewarding ourselves with hedonistic earthly pleasures (aka hobbies/interests/passions), we’re “greedy” “selfish” “egoistic” or worse “psychopaths”.
Having a job that matches someone’s interests/passions is a pipe dream, think of average joes’ typical boring jobs
Quote:Is “society” just a “secular God” because there’s also a heavy system of pressures, guilt and shame for not keeping up with the many imposed standards, roles, norms. And also perceived rewards for following what it deems desirable approved “status symbols”.Not in any sense that theists would see as a god, no. In comparative religious studies, yes, absolutely. The focus of worship of the civil religion is the state or society itself. The guilt and shame and pressure are things we bring to the table no matter the circumstance. Likewise concerns about status and performance. We're hyper social. This is a very short summary that in no way describes the totality of culture or even "our culture"..whatever that is. American culture, and the western culture it comes from, went through a prolonged period of heavy emphasis on productivity and the reduction of idleness. Both as a development strategy and as a way of reducing civilizational pressures. Idle hands and all.
Even after having rejected God, gods, spirits and all that, there’s no escaping pressures, guilt and shame and it sucks, let alone the FOMO of not having the approved “status symbols”.
Quote:Why is the society so self-averse or self-“hating”.as at the top-the indelible stamp of it's lowly origin.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
