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A Breeze Which Does Not Blow
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<blockquote data-quote="taykair" data-source="post: 176394" data-attributes="member: 9418"><p>Addendum: The Cicero Syndrome</p><p></p><p>Most of the time, when I use the word <em>religion</em>, I mean it in the sense I stated above. That is, "actions which are performed due to the compulsion of one's spirit". However, I realize that most people do not see religion in this way, but rather as some form of meaningless, archaic ritual or some kind of rigid adherence to dogma - in short, that thing which most people call "organized religion". It this were all that I thought religion to be, then I would also find it to be something which should be avoided.</p><p></p><p>However, let us be honest. Most of those who claim to despise religion are really only showing their displeasure with some particular <em>aspect</em> of religion, rather than with the concept of religion itself. They may, for example, be repulsed (and rightly so) by some of the acts which have been done in the name of religion, or perhaps they bear some personal animosity toward certain religious individuals. </p><p></p><p>Also, when more closely examined, many who say they abhor religion are really only showing their disgust for a particular <em>brand</em> of religion.</p><p></p><p>In the West, for example, the spiritual folks who claim to be anti-religious tend to reserve their hatred for the Judeo-Christian tradition, while often embracing some of the tenets of Buddhism, Hinduism, or some other, more exotic tradition. So it's not that these folks hate religion. It's just a case of familiarity breeding contempt.</p><p></p><p>(An example of this: If a man quotes St. Paul's warning to the Galatians that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap", then he will be thought of as a Bible-thumping rube. However, if another man mutters the word "karma", then he will be thought of as holy and wise. Yet both men are saying practically the same thing. I have sometimes wondered: Do young Hindus or Taoists who become disillusioned with how they were raised seek to show their rebellion by embracing Christian or Jewish concepts - just as many young people in the West adopt foreign religions? Are they sincere, or do they just want to piss off Mommy and Daddy?)</p><p></p><p>One of the reasons why many reject the already-established forms of religion has to do with what I call "the Cicero Syndrome".</p><p></p><p>In Shakespeare's play, <em>Julius Caesar</em>, there is a scene in which the conspirators who are plotting to assassinate Caesar are meeting in the home of Brutus. One of the group, Cassius, asks if Cicero should be recruited to help in their undertaking.</p><p></p><p>CASSIUS: But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us.</p><p></p><p>CASCA: Let us not leave him out.</p><p></p><p>CINNA: No, by no means.</p><p></p><p>METELLUS: O, let us have him, for his silver hairs will purchase us a good opinion, and buy men's voices to commend our deeds. It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands; our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, but all shall be buried in his gravity.</p><p></p><p>BRUTUS: O, name him not! Let us not break with him; for <span style="color: rgb(243, 121, 52)">he will never follow anything that other men begin</span>.</p><p></p><p>(Julius Caesar. Act 2. Scene 1.)</p><p></p><p>For some, it is this Cicero Syndrome - this unwillingness to become a part of something which has already been established by others - that is at the root of their distaste for religion. Those who suffer from this syndrome can only find joy in a religious practice in which they themselves are the central focus, and oppose any religion in which the rules have been laid down by someone else. The Cicero Syndrome is, of course, nothing more or less than egotism, yet those who suffer the most from it also tend to deny it the most.</p><p></p><p>Then, too, there are those who reject religion (in the popular meaning of the word) not because it imposes standards which are set by another, but simply because it has standards at all. Such people feel that the discipline exacted by a religion is in direct conflict with their personal freedom. And yet, the very same people who may reject, for example, a Christian ritual or regulation because they find it to be too confining or too regimented seem to have no problem at all when strictly following a meditation technique, or a step-by-step procedure for producing a lucid dream, or taking part in some even more elaborate and arcane occult ritual of some kind.</p><p></p><p>In such cases, it is perhaps better to simply admit our preferences (and our prejudices) rather than make up fatuous excuses as to why we hate religion.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="taykair, post: 176394, member: 9418"] Addendum: The Cicero Syndrome Most of the time, when I use the word [I]religion[/I], I mean it in the sense I stated above. That is, "actions which are performed due to the compulsion of one's spirit". However, I realize that most people do not see religion in this way, but rather as some form of meaningless, archaic ritual or some kind of rigid adherence to dogma - in short, that thing which most people call "organized religion". It this were all that I thought religion to be, then I would also find it to be something which should be avoided. However, let us be honest. Most of those who claim to despise religion are really only showing their displeasure with some particular [I]aspect[/I] of religion, rather than with the concept of religion itself. They may, for example, be repulsed (and rightly so) by some of the acts which have been done in the name of religion, or perhaps they bear some personal animosity toward certain religious individuals. Also, when more closely examined, many who say they abhor religion are really only showing their disgust for a particular [I]brand[/I] of religion. In the West, for example, the spiritual folks who claim to be anti-religious tend to reserve their hatred for the Judeo-Christian tradition, while often embracing some of the tenets of Buddhism, Hinduism, or some other, more exotic tradition. So it's not that these folks hate religion. It's just a case of familiarity breeding contempt. (An example of this: If a man quotes St. Paul's warning to the Galatians that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap", then he will be thought of as a Bible-thumping rube. However, if another man mutters the word "karma", then he will be thought of as holy and wise. Yet both men are saying practically the same thing. I have sometimes wondered: Do young Hindus or Taoists who become disillusioned with how they were raised seek to show their rebellion by embracing Christian or Jewish concepts - just as many young people in the West adopt foreign religions? Are they sincere, or do they just want to piss off Mommy and Daddy?) One of the reasons why many reject the already-established forms of religion has to do with what I call "the Cicero Syndrome". In Shakespeare's play, [I]Julius Caesar[/I], there is a scene in which the conspirators who are plotting to assassinate Caesar are meeting in the home of Brutus. One of the group, Cassius, asks if Cicero should be recruited to help in their undertaking. CASSIUS: But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us. CASCA: Let us not leave him out. CINNA: No, by no means. METELLUS: O, let us have him, for his silver hairs will purchase us a good opinion, and buy men's voices to commend our deeds. It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands; our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, but all shall be buried in his gravity. BRUTUS: O, name him not! Let us not break with him; for [COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)]he will never follow anything that other men begin[/COLOR]. (Julius Caesar. Act 2. Scene 1.) For some, it is this Cicero Syndrome - this unwillingness to become a part of something which has already been established by others - that is at the root of their distaste for religion. Those who suffer from this syndrome can only find joy in a religious practice in which they themselves are the central focus, and oppose any religion in which the rules have been laid down by someone else. The Cicero Syndrome is, of course, nothing more or less than egotism, yet those who suffer the most from it also tend to deny it the most. Then, too, there are those who reject religion (in the popular meaning of the word) not because it imposes standards which are set by another, but simply because it has standards at all. Such people feel that the discipline exacted by a religion is in direct conflict with their personal freedom. And yet, the very same people who may reject, for example, a Christian ritual or regulation because they find it to be too confining or too regimented seem to have no problem at all when strictly following a meditation technique, or a step-by-step procedure for producing a lucid dream, or taking part in some even more elaborate and arcane occult ritual of some kind. In such cases, it is perhaps better to simply admit our preferences (and our prejudices) rather than make up fatuous excuses as to why we hate religion. [/QUOTE]
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