reply to post by beast115
Julian Jaynes had some interesting things to say along these lines.
The skinny is that early humans weren't as mobile and specialized. This means that genetic, environmental and lifestyle influences were similar
enough to them such that the group mind could easily manage them through a shared symbol table. Jaynes' work suggests that early humans had direct
access to the will of "god" by way of visions and aural hallucinations. He puts this processing center in the right hemisphere of the brain,
opposite Wernicke's Area and Broca's Area in the left hemisphere. Lots of very good ideas in Jaynes' work that have remained conspicuously removed
from mainstream, modern theories. Very conspicuous, indeed, but I digress...
Over the ages, all of the genetic, linguistic, cultural, environmental, and lifestyle pressures have completely cut off modern humans from this kind
of direct instruction from the group mind. The press is on by some very sad humans to isolate and understand the genetic, cultural, symbolic, and
linguistic mechanisms so that they might use our inborn deep control mechanisms to drive us like cattle. Many of these sad humans have actually
convinced themselves that they are a part of something good. You can read their posts in these threads.
The best way to circumvent their machinations is to beat them to the punch. Meditate, fantasize, pray - do what ever it takes to discover the truth on
your own before they can attach specific dogma to it. The interesting stuff that happens down deep in your psyche belongs to you. Once you've reached
the "we are one" experience, specifically the kind that is authenticated by what happens to language during its course, then you will be
"inoculated" against any psychological manipulations that would involve the use of such awareness as a weapon against the individual, such as using
the induction of such awareness to legitimize dogma and false belief.
It's a human birthright, and it is waiting for you to access it. It's the ultimate self-help tool. since it typically precipitates a positive
lifestyle change, the banishment of all feelings of alienation, and an opportunity to establish new, more positive behavioral patterns. It isn't a
permanent fix for the wear and tear of living, but it will change your perspective forever.
[edit on 16-7-2008 by applebiter]
[edit on 16-7-2008 by applebiter]