Re: virus: Materialists and spiritualists

Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Wed, 4 Feb 98 08:49:35 -0500


>> When looked at from a non-dismissive perspective, I was
>> suddenly struck with how much (the spiritual world) resembles
>> the world of fiction, and I don't mean
>> just books.

Of course it does- it _is_ fiction. Always has been.

>I mean the world of narratives, culture and histories.
>> The stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the world that we
>> observe. Maybe the realm of memes and the realm of spirits are, in
>> fact, literally the same place. This is true to the extent that
>> making the connection enhances communications between disparate
>> groups, most notably the materialists (including myself) and the
>> spiritualists. Does this make sense?

Well, yes.... If you are happy with that level of communication. I
personally think there is a lot more impacted upon the mind when fiction
is merely a vehicle, not the information itself. The metaphor is not the
thing, to wax semantic, even though it may lead us to understanding the
thing.

>By George, I think he's got it!

Gee, thanks, Tim. You might not parrot that for me....

The word 'spiritualist' is also interesting- more so because you let it
through. It is commonly used to refer to the bunco artists who raise up
'visitations' while emptying the pockets of their marks.

But I am not exclusionary in this regard- I tend to view most things as
fiction. Just not the workings of the universe.

***************************************
Wade T. Smith
_____________ wade_smith@harvard.edu
_____________ morbius@channel1.com
_____________ morbius@cyberwarped.com
***************************************