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- | ==== How to Build a Universe That Doesn' | ||
- | by DICK-1978 | ||
- | < | + | ==== How to Build a Universe That Doesn' |
+ | by DICK-1978 | ||
- | First, before I begin to bore you with the usual sort of things | + | First, before I begin to bore you with the usual sort of things science fiction |
- | science | + | writers say in speeches, let me bring you official greetings from Disneyland. I |
- | greetings from | + | consider myself a spokesperson for Disneyland because I live just a few miles |
- | Disneyland. I consider myself a spokesperson for Disneyland because I live | + | from it -- and, as if that were not enough, I once had the honour of being |
- | just | + | interviewed there by Paris TV. |
- | a few miles from it -- and, as if that were not enough, I once had the | + | |
- | honour of | + | |
- | being interviewed there by Paris TV. | + | |
- | For several weeks after the interview, I was really ill and confined | + | For several weeks after the interview, I was really ill and confined to bed. I |
- | to | + | think it was the whirling teacups that did it. Elizabeth Antebi, who was the |
- | bed. I think it was the whirling teacups that did it. Elizabeth Antebi, who | + | producer of the film, wanted to have me whirling around in one of the giant |
- | was | + | teacups while discussing the rise of fascism with Norman Spinrad... an old |
- | the producer of the film, wanted to have me whirling around in one of the | + | friend of mine who writes excellent science fiction. We also discussed |
- | giant | + | Watergate, but we did that on the deck of Captain Hook's pirate ship. Little |
- | teacups while discussing the rise of fascism with Norman Spinrad... an old | + | children wearing Mickey Mouse hats -- those black hats with the ears -- kept |
- | friend of mine who writes excellent science fiction. We also discussed | + | running up and bumping against us as the cameras whirred away and Elizabeth |
- | Watergate, but we did that on the deck of Captain Hook's pirate ship. Little | + | asked unexpected questions. Norman and I, being preoccupied with tossing little |
- | children wearing Mickey Mouse hats -- those black hats with the ears -- kept | + | children about, said some extraordinarily stupid things that day. Today, |
- | running up and bumping against us as the cameras whirred away and Elizabeth | + | however, I will have to accept full blame for what I tell you, since none of you |
- | asked unexpected questions. Norman and I, being preoccupied with tossing | + | are wearing Mickey Mouse hats and trying to climb up on me under the impression |
- | little | + | |
- | children about, said some extraordinarily stupid things that day. Today, | + | |
- | however, I will have to accept full blame for what I tell you, since none of | + | |
- | you | + | |
- | are wearing Mickey Mouse hats and trying to climb up on me under the | + | |
- | impression | + | |
that I am part of the rigging of a pirate ship. | that I am part of the rigging of a pirate ship. | ||
- | Science fiction writers, I am sorry to say, really do not know | + | Science fiction writers, I am sorry to say, really do not know anything. |
- | anything. | + | can't talk about science, because our knowledge of it is limited and unofficial, |
- | We can't talk about science, because our knowledge of it is limited and | + | and usually our fiction is dreadful. A few years ago, no college or university |
- | unofficial, and usually our fiction is dreadful. A few years ago, no college | + | would ever have considered inviting one of us to speak. We were mercifully |
- | or | + | confined to lurid pulp magazines, impressing no one. In those days, friends |
- | university | + | would say me, "But are you writing anything serious?" |
- | mercifully | + | anything other than science fiction?" |
- | days, | + | noticed. Then, suddenly, the academic world noticed us, we were invited to give |
- | friends | + | speeches and appear on panels -- and immediately we made idiots |
- | you | + | ourselves. The problem is simply this: What does a science fiction writer know |
- | writing | + | about? On what topic is he an authority? |
- | yearned to be noticed. Then, suddenly, the academic world noticed us, we | + | |
- | were | + | |
- | invited to give speeches and appear on panels -- and immediately we made | + | |
- | idiots | + | |
- | of ourselves. The problem is simply this: What does a science fiction writer | + | |
- | know about? On what topic is he an authority? | + | |
- | It reminds me of a headline that appeared in a California newspaper | + | It reminds me of a headline that appeared in a California newspaper just before |
- | just | + | I flew here. SCIENTISTS SAY THAT MICE CANNOT BE MADE TO LOOK LIKE HUMAN |
- | before | + | BEINGS. It was a federally funded research program, I suppose. Just think: |
- | HUMAN | + | Someone in this world is an authority on the topic of whether mice can or cannot |
- | BEINGS. It was a federally funded research program, I suppose. Just think: | + | put on two--tone shoes, derby hats, pinstriped shirts, and Dacron pants, and |
- | Someone in this world is an authority on the topic of whether mice can or | + | |
- | cannot | + | |
- | put on two--tone shoes, derby hats, pinstriped shirts, and Dacron pants, and | + | |
pass as humans. | pass as humans. | ||
- | Well, I will tell you what interests me, what I consider important. | + | Well, I will tell you what interests me, what I consider important. |
- | I | + | claim to be an authority on anything, but I can honestly say that certain |
- | can't claim to be an authority on anything, but I can honestly say that | + | matters absolutely fascinate me, and that I write about them all the time. The |
- | certain | + | two basic topics which fascinate me are "What is reality?" |
- | matters absolutely fascinate me, and that I write about them all the time. | + | the authentic human being?" |
- | The | + | published novels and stories I have investigated these two interrelated topics |
- | two basic topics which fascinate me are "What is reality?" | + | over and over again. I consider them important topics. What are we? What is it |
- | constitutes | + | which surrounds us, that we call the not-me, or the empirical or phenomenal |
- | the authentic human being?" | + | |
- | published novels and stories I have investigated these two interrelated | + | |
- | topics | + | |
- | over and over again. I consider them important topics. What are we? What is | + | |
- | it | + | |
- | which surrounds us, that we call the not-me, or the empirical or phenomenal | + | |
world? | world? | ||
- | In 1951, when I sold my first story, I had no idea that such | + | In 1951, when I sold my first story, I had no idea that such fundamental |
- | fundamental | + | could be pursued in the science fiction field. I began to pursue them |
- | issues | + | unconsciously. My first story had to do with a dog who imagined that the |
- | unconsciously. My first story had to do with a dog who imagined that the | + | garbagemen who came every Friday morning were stealing valuable food which the |
- | garbagemen who came every Friday morning were stealing valuable food which | + | family had carefully stored away in a safe metal container. Every day, members |
- | the | + | of the family carried out paper sacks of nice ripe food, stuffed them into the |
- | family had carefully stored away in a safe metal container. Every day, | + | metal container, shut the lid tightly -- and when the container was full, these |
- | members | + | |
- | of the family carried out paper sacks of nice ripe food, stuffed them into | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | metal container, shut the lid tightly -- and when the container was full, | + | |
- | these | + | |
dreadful-looking creatures came and stole everything but the can. | dreadful-looking creatures came and stole everything but the can. | ||
- | Finally, in the story, the dog begins to imagine that someday the | + | Finally, in the story, the dog begins to imagine that someday the garbagemen |
- | garbagemen will eat the people in the house, as well as stealing their food. | + | will eat the people in the house, as well as stealing their food. Of course, |
- | Of | + | the dog is wrong about this. We all know that garbagemen do not eat people. But |
- | course, the dog is wrong about this. We all know that garbagemen do not eat | + | the dog's extrapolation was in a sense logical -- given the facts at his |
- | people. But the dog's extrapolation was in a sense logical -- given the | + | disposal. The story was about a real dog, and I used to watch him and try to get |
- | facts at | + | inside his head and imagine how he saw the world. Certainly, I decided, that dog |
- | his disposal. The story was about a real dog, and I used to watch him and | + | sees the world quite differently than I do, or any humans do. And then I began |
- | try to | + | to think, Maybe each human being lives in a unique world, a private world, a |
- | get inside his head and imagine how he saw the world. Certainly, I decided, | + | world different from those inhabited and experienced by all other humans. |
- | that | + | that led me wonder, If reality differs from person to person, can we speak of |
- | dog sees the world quite differently than I do, or any humans do. And then I | + | reality singular, or shouldn' |
- | began to think, Maybe each human being lives in a unique world, a private | + | if there are plural realities, are some more true (more real) than others? |
- | world, | + | about the world of a schizophrenic? |
- | a world different from those inhabited and experienced by all other humans. | + | cannot say that we are in touch with reality and he is not, but should instead |
- | And | + | say, His reality is so different from ours that he can't explain his to us, and |
- | that led me wonder, If reality differs from person to person, can we speak | + | we can't explain ours to him. The problem, then, is that if subjective worlds |
- | of | + | are experienced too differently, |
- | reality singular, or shouldn' | + | |
- | And | + | |
- | if there are plural realities, are some more true (more real) than others? | + | |
- | What | + | |
- | about the world of a schizophrenic? | + | |
- | we | + | |
- | cannot say that we are in touch with reality and he is not, but should | + | |
- | instead | + | |
- | say, His reality is so different from ours that he can't explain his to us, | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | we can't explain ours to him. The problem, then, is that if subjective | + | |
- | worlds | + | |
- | are experienced too differently, | + | |
- | communication... | + | |
and there is the real illness. | and there is the real illness. | ||
- | I once wrote a story about a man who was injured and taken to a | + | I once wrote a story about a man who was injured and taken to a hospital. |
- | hospital. | + | they began surgery on him, they discovered that he was an android, not a human, |
- | When they began surgery on him, they discovered that he was an android, not | + | but that he did not know it. They had to break the news to him. Almost at once, |
- | a | + | Mr. Garson Poole discovered that his reality consisted of punched tape passing |
- | human, but that he did not know it. They had to break the news to him. | + | from reel to reel in his chest. Fascinated, he began to fill in some of the |
- | Almost at | + | punched holes and add new ones. Immediately, |
- | once, Mr. Garson Poole discovered that his reality consisted of punched tape | + | flew through the room when he punched one new hole in the tape. Finally he cut |
- | passing from reel to reel in his chest. Fascinated, he began to fill in some | + | the tape entirely, whereupon the world disappeared. However, it also disappeared |
- | of | + | for the other characters in the story... which makes no sense, if you think |
- | the punched holes and add new ones. Immediately, | + | about it. Unless the other characters were figments of his punched- tape |
- | of | + | fantasy. Which I guess is what they were. |
- | ducks flew through the room when he punched one new hole in the tape. | + | |
- | Finally he | + | |
- | cut the tape entirely, whereupon the world disappeared. However, it also | + | |
- | disappeared for the other characters in the story... which makes no sense, | + | |
- | if | + | |
- | you think about it. Unless the other characters were figments of his | + | |
- | punched- | + | |
- | tape fantasy. Which I guess is what they were. | + | |
- | It was always my hope, in writing novels and stories which asked the | + | It was always my hope, in writing novels and stories which asked the question |
- | question "What is reality?", | + | "What is reality?", |
- | most | + | readers, too. Years passed. I wrote over thirty novels and over a hundred |
- | of my readers, too. Years passed. I wrote over thirty novels and over a | + | stories, and still I could not figure out what was real. One day a girl college |
- | hundred | + | student in Canada asked me to define reality for her, for a paper she was |
- | stories, and still I could not figure out what was real. One day a girl | + | writing for her philosophy class. She wanted a one-sentence answer. I thought |
- | college | + | about it and finally said, " |
- | student in Canada asked me to define reality for her, for a paper she was | + | it, doesn' |
- | writing for her philosophy class. She wanted a one-sentence answer. I | + | |
- | thought | + | |
- | about it and finally said, " | + | |
- | in | + | |
- | it, doesn' | + | |
- | 1972. | + | |
Since then I haven' | Since then I haven' | ||
- | But the problem is a real one, not a mere intellectual game. Because | + | But the problem is a real one, not a mere intellectual game. Because today we |
- | today | + | live in a society in which spurious realities are manufactured by the media, by |
- | we live in a society in which spurious realities are manufactured by the | + | governments, |
- | media, | + | the electronic hardware exists by which to deliver these pseudo-worlds right |
- | by governments, | + | into the heads of the reader, the viewer, the listener. Sometimes when I watch |
- | -- | + | my eleven-year-old daughter watch TV, I wonder what she is being taught. The |
- | and the electronic hardware exists by which to deliver these pseudo-worlds | + | problem of miscuing; consider that. A TV program produced for adults is viewed |
- | right | + | by a small child. Half of what is said and done in the TV drama is probably |
- | into the heads of the reader, the viewer, the listener. Sometimes when I | + | misunderstood by the child. Maybe it's all misunderstood. And the thing is, Just |
- | watch | + | how authentic is the information anyhow, even if the child correctly understood |
- | my eleven-year-old daughter watch TV, I wonder what she is being taught. The | + | it? What is the relationship between the average TV situation comedy to reality? |
- | problem of miscuing; consider that. A TV program produced for adults is | + | What about the cop shows? Cars are continually swerving out of control, |
- | viewed | + | crashing, and catching fire. The police are always good and they always win. Do |
- | by a small child. Half of what is said and done in the TV drama is probably | + | not ignore that point: The police always win. What a lesson that is. You should |
- | misunderstood by the child. Maybe it's all misunderstood. And the thing is, | + | not fight authority, and even if you do, you will lose. The message here is, Be |
- | Just | + | passive. And -- cooperate. If Officer Baretta asks you for information, |
- | how authentic is the information anyhow, even if the child correctly | + | to him, because Officer Baretta is a good man and to be trusted. He loves you, |
- | understood | + | |
- | it? What is the relationship between the average TV situation comedy to | + | |
- | reality? | + | |
- | What about the cop shows? Cars are continually swerving out of control, | + | |
- | crashing, and catching fire. The police are always good and they always win. | + | |
- | Do | + | |
- | not ignore that point: The police always win. What a lesson that is. You | + | |
- | should | + | |
- | not fight authority, and even if you do, you will lose. The message here is, | + | |
- | Be | + | |
- | passive. And -- cooperate. If Officer Baretta asks you for information, | + | |
- | it | + | |
- | to him, because Officer Baretta is a good man and to be trusted. He loves | + | |
- | you, | + | |
and you should love him. | and you should love him. | ||
- | So I ask, in my writing, What is real? Because unceasingly we are | + | So I ask, in my writing, What is real? Because unceasingly we are bombarded with |
- | bombarded with pseudo-realities manufactured by very sophisticated people | + | pseudo-realities manufactured by very sophisticated people using very |
- | using | + | sophisticated electronic mechanisms. I do not distrust their motives; I distrust |
- | very sophisticated electronic mechanisms. I do not distrust their motives; I | + | their power. They have a lot of it. And it is an astonishing power: that of |
- | distrust their power. They have a lot of it. And it is an astonishing power: | + | creating whole universes, universes of the mind. I ought to know. I do the same |
- | that of creating whole universes, universes of the mind. I ought to know. I | + | thing. It is my job to create universes, as the basis of one novel after |
- | do | + | another. And I have to build them in such a way that they do not fall apart two |
- | the same thing. It is my job to create universes, as the basis of one novel | + | days later. Or at least that is what my editors hope. However, I will reveal a |
- | after another. And I have to build them in such a way that they do not fall | + | secret to you: I like to build universes which do fall apart. I like to see them |
- | apart two days later. Or at least that is what my editors hope. However, I | + | come unglued, and I like to see how the characters in the novels cope with this |
- | will | + | problem. I have a secret love of chaos. There should be more of it. Do not |
- | reveal a secret to you: I like to build universes which do fall apart. I | + | believe -- and I am dead serious when I say this -- do not assume that order and |
- | like to | + | stability are always good, in a society or in a universe. The old, the ossified, |
- | see them come unglued, and I like to see how the characters in the novels | + | must always give way to new life and the birth of new things. |
- | cope | + | things can be born the old must perish. This is a dangerous realization, |
- | with this problem. I have a secret love of chaos. There should be more of | + | it tells us that we must eventually part with much of what is familiar |
- | it. Do | + | us. And that hurts. But that is part of the script of life. Unless we can |
- | not believe -- and I am dead serious when I say this -- do not assume that | + | psychologically accommodate change, we ourselves begin to die, inwardly. |
- | order | + | am saying is that objects, customs, habits, and ways of life must perish so that |
- | and stability are always good, in a society or in a universe. The old, the | + | the authentic human being can live. And it is the authentic human being who |
- | ossified, must always give way to new life and the birth of new things. | + | matters most, the viable, elastic organism which can bounce back, absorb, and |
- | Before | + | |
- | the new things can be born the old must perish. This is a dangerous | + | |
- | realization, | + | |
- | because it tells us that we must eventually part with much of what is | + | |
- | familiar | + | |
- | to us. And that hurts. But that is part of the script of life. Unless we can | + | |
- | psychologically accommodate change, we ourselves begin to die, inwardly. | + | |
- | What I | + | |
- | am saying is that objects, customs, habits, and ways of life must perish so | + | |
- | that | + | |
- | the authentic human being can live. And it is the authentic human being who | + | |
- | matters most, the viable, elastic organism which can bounce back, absorb, | + | |
- | and | + | |
deal with the new. | deal with the new. | ||
- | Of course, I would say this, because I live near Disneyland, and | + | Of course, I would say this, because I live near Disneyland, and they are always |
- | they are | + | adding new rides and destroying old ones. Disneyland is an evolving |
- | always | + | organism. For years they had the Lincoln Simulacrum, like Lincoln himself, was |
- | organism. For years they had the Lincoln Simulacrum, like Lincoln himself, | + | only a temporary form which matter and energy take and then lose. The same is |
- | was | + | |
- | only a temporary form which matter and energy take and then lose. The same | + | |
- | is | + | |
true of each of us, like it or not. | true of each of us, like it or not. | ||
- | The pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Parmenides taught that the only | + | The pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Parmenides taught that the only things |
- | things | + | are real are things which never change... and the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher |
- | that are real are things which never change... and the pre-Socratic Greek | + | Heraclitus taught that everything changes. If you superimpose their two views, |
- | philosopher | + | you get this result: Nothing is real. There is a fascinating next step to this |
- | their | + | line of thinking: Parmenides could never have existed because he grew old and |
- | two views, you get this result: Nothing is real. There is a fascinating next | + | died and disappeared, |
- | step to this line of thinking: Parmenides could never have existed because | + | Heraclitus may have been right -- let's not forget that; so if Heraclitus was |
- | he | + | right, then Parmenides did exist, and therefore, according to Heraclitus' |
- | grew old and died and disappeared, | + | philosophy, perhaps Parmenides was right, since Parmenides fulfilled the |
- | did | + | conditions, the criteria, by which Heraclitus judged things real. |
- | not exist. And Heraclitus may have been right -- let's not forget that; so | + | |
- | if | + | |
- | Heraclitus | + | |
- | to | + | |
- | Heraclitus' | + | |
- | fulfilled the conditions, the criteria, | + | |
- | real. | + | |
- | I offer this merely to show that as soon as you begin to ask what | + | I offer this merely to show that as soon as you begin to ask what is ultimately |
- | is | + | real, you right away begin talk nonsense. Zeno proved that motion was impossible |
- | ultimately | + | (actually he only imagined that he had proved this; what he lacked was what |
- | motion | + | technically is called the " |
- | was impossible (actually he only imagined that he had proved this; what he | + | of them all, once remarked that after a gathering of skeptics met to proclaim |
- | lacked was what technically is called the " | + | the veracity of skepticism as a philosophy, all of the members of the gathering |
- | the | + | nonetheless left by the door rather than the window. I see Hume's point. It was |
- | greatest skeptic of them all, once remarked that after a gathering | + | all just talk. The solemn philosophers weren' |
- | skeptics | + | |
- | met to proclaim the veracity of skepticism as a philosophy, all of the | + | |
- | members | + | |
- | of the gathering nonetheless left by the door rather than the window. I | + | |
- | see | + | |
- | Hume's point. It was all just talk. The solemn | + | |
- | what they said seriously. | + | |
- | But I consider that the matter of defining what is real -- that is a | + | But I consider that the matter of defining what is real -- that is a serious |
- | serious | + | topic, even a vital topic. And in there somewhere is the other topic, the |
- | topic, | + | definition of the authentic human. Because the bombardment of pseudo- realities |
- | the definition of the authentic human. Because the bombardment of pseudo- | + | begins to produce inauthentic humans very quickly, spurious humans -- as fake as |
- | realities begins to produce inauthentic humans very quickly, spurious humans | + | the data pressing at them from all sides. My two topics are really one topic; |
- | -- | + | they unite at this point. Fake realities will create fake humans. |
- | as fake as the data pressing at them from all sides. My two topics are | + | humans will generate fake realities and then sell them to other humans, |
- | really | + | them, eventually, into forgeries of themselves. So we wind up with fake humans |
- | one topic; they unite at this point. Fake realities will create fake humans. | + | inventing fake realities and then peddling them to other fake humans. |
- | Or, | + | just a very large version of Disneyland. You can have the Pirate Ride or the |
- | fake humans will generate fake realities and then sell them to other humans, | + | Lincoln Simulacrum or Mr. Toad's Wild Ride -- you can have all of them, but none |
- | turning | + | |
- | fake | + | |
- | humans | + | |
- | It | + | |
- | is just a very large version of Disneyland. You can have the Pirate Ride or | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | Lincoln Simulacrum or Mr. Toad's Wild Ride -- you can have all of them, but | + | |
- | none | + | |
is true. | is true. | ||
- | In my writing I got so Interested in fakes that I finally came up | + | In my writing I got so Interested in fakes that I finally came up with the |
- | with the | + | concept of fake fakes. For example, in Disneyland there are fake birds worked by |
- | concept of fake fakes. For example, in Disneyland there are fake birds | + | electric motors which emit caws and shrieks as you pass by them. Suppose some |
- | worked by | + | night all of us sneaked into the park with real birds and substituted them for |
- | electric motors which emit caws and shrieks as you pass by them. Suppose | + | the artificial ones. Imagine the horror the Disneyland officials would feet when |
- | some | + | they discovered the cruel hoax. Real birds! And perhaps someday even real hippos |
- | night all of us sneaked into the park with real birds and substituted them | + | and lions. Consternation. The park being cunningly transmuted from the unreal to |
- | for | + | the real, by sinister forces. For instance, suppose the Matterhom turned into a |
- | the artificial ones. Imagine the horror the Disneyland officials would feet | + | genuine snow-covered mountain? What if the entire place, by a miracle of God' |
- | when | + | power and wisdom, was changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, into |
- | they discovered the cruel hoax. Real birds! And perhaps someday even real | + | |
- | hippos | + | |
- | and lions. Consternation. The park being cunningly transmuted from the | + | |
- | unreal to | + | |
- | the real, by sinister forces. For instance, suppose the Matterhom turned | + | |
- | into a | + | |
- | genuine snow-covered mountain? What if the entire place, by a miracle of | + | |
- | God's | + | |
- | power and wisdom, was changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, into | + | |
something incorruptible? | something incorruptible? | ||
- | In Plato' | + | In Plato' |
- | Christian God; He simply finds it one day. It is in a state of total chaos. | + | He simply finds it one day. It is in a state of total chaos. |
- | God | + | to transform the chaos into order. That idea appeals to me, and I have adapted |
- | sets to work to transform the chaos into order. That idea appeals to me, and | + | it to fit my own intellectual needs: What if our universe started out as not |
- | I | + | quite real, a sort of illusion, as the Hindu religion teaches, and God, out of |
- | have adapted it to fit my own intellectual needs: What if our universe | + | love and kindness for us, is slowly transmuting it, slowly and secretly, into |
- | started | + | something real? |
- | out as not quite real, a sort of illusion, as the Hindu religion teaches, | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | God, out of love and kindness for us, is slowly transmuting it, slowly and | + | |
- | secretly, into something real? | + | |
- | We would not be aware of this transformation, | + | We would not be aware of this transformation, |
- | aware that | + | world was an illusion in the first place. This technically is a Gnostic |
- | our world was an illusion in the first place. This technically is a Gnostic | + | idea. Gnosticism is a religion which embraced Jews, Christians, and pagans for |
- | idea. Gnosticism is a religion which embraced Jews, Christians, and pagans | + | several centuries. I have been accused of holding Gnostic ideas. I guess I do. |
- | for | + | At one time I would have been burned. But some of their ideas intrigue me. One |
- | several centuries. I have been accused of holding Gnostic ideas. I guess I | + | time, when I was researching Gnosticism in the Britannica, I came across mention |
- | do. | + | of a Gnostic codex called The Unreal God and the Aspects of His Nonexistent |
- | At one time I would have been burned. But some of their ideas intrigue me. | + | Universe, an idea which reduced me, to helpless laughter. What kind of person |
- | One | + | would write about something that he knows doesn' |
- | time, when I was researching Gnosticism in the Britannica, I came across | + | that doesn' |
- | mention | + | these matters for over twenty-five years. I guess there is a lot of latitude in |
- | of a Gnostic codex called The Unreal God and the Aspects of His Nonexistent | + | what you can say when writing about a topic that does not exist. A friend of |
- | Universe, an idea which reduced me, to helpless laughter. What kind of | + | mine once published a book called Snakes of Hawaii. A number of libraries wrote |
- | person | + | him ordering copies. Well, there are no snakes in Hawaii. A11 the pages of his |
- | would write about something that he knows doesn' | + | |
- | something | + | |
- | that doesn' | + | |
- | about | + | |
- | these matters for over twenty-five years. I guess there is a lot of latitude | + | |
- | in | + | |
- | what you can say when writing about a topic that does not exist. A friend of | + | |
- | mine once published a book called Snakes of Hawaii. A number of libraries | + | |
- | wrote | + | |
- | him ordering copies. Well, there are no snakes in Hawaii. A11 the pages of | + | |
- | his | + | |
book were blank. | book were blank. | ||
- | Of course, in science fiction no pretense is made that the worlds | + | Of course, in science fiction no pretense is made that the worlds described are |
- | described are real. This is why we call it fiction. The reader is warned in | + | real. This is why we call it fiction. The reader is warned in advance not to |
- | advance not to believe what he is about to read. Equally true, the visitors | + | believe what he is about to read. Equally true, the visitors to Disneyland |
- | to | + | understand that Mr. Toad does not really exist and that the pirates are animated |
- | Disneyland | + | by motors and servo-assist mechanisms, relays and electronic circuits. So no |
- | pirates | + | deception is taking place. |
- | are animated by motors and servo-assist mechanisms, relays and electronic | + | |
- | circuits. So no deception is taking place. | + | |
- | And yet the strange thing is, in some way, some real way, much of | + | And yet the strange thing is, in some way, some real way, much of what appears |
- | what | + | under the title " |
- | appears | + | suppose. We have not really been invaded by creatures from another star system, |
- | true, | + | as depicted in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The producers of that film |
- | I suppose. We have not really been invaded by creatures from another star | + | never intended for us to believe it. Or did they? |
- | system, as depicted in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The producers of | + | |
- | that | + | |
- | film never intended for us to believe it. Or did they? | + | |
- | And, more important, if they did intend to state this, is it | + | And, more important, if they did intend to state this, is it actually true? That |
- | actually | + | is the issue: not, Does the author or producer believe it, but -- Is it true? |
- | true? That is the issue: not, Does the author or producer believe it, but -- | + | Because, quite by accident, in the pursuit of a good yarn, a science |
- | Is | + | author or producer or scriptwriter might stumble onto the truth... |
- | it true? Because, quite by accident, in the pursuit of a good yarn, a | + | later on realize it. |
- | science | + | |
- | fiction | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | only later on realize it. | + | |
- | The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation | + | The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If |
- | of | + | you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use |
- | words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people | + | the words. George Orwell made this clear in his novel 1984. But another way to |
- | who | + | control the minds of people is to control their perceptions. If you can get them |
- | must use the words. George Orwell made this clear in his novel 1984. But | + | to see the world as you do, they will think as you do. Comprehension follows |
- | another | + | perception. How do you get them to see the reality you see? After all, it is |
- | way to control the minds of people is to control their perceptions. If you | + | only one reality out of many. Images are a basic constituent: |
- | can | + | why the power of TV to influence young minds is so staggeringly vast. Words and |
- | get them to see the world as you do, they will think as you do. | + | pictures are synchronized. The possibility of total control of the viewer |
- | Comprehension | + | exists, especially the young viewer. TV viewing is a kind of sleep- learning. An |
- | follows perception. How do you get them to see the reality you see? After | + | EEG of a person watching TV shows that after about half an hour the brain |
- | all, | + | decides that nothing is happening, and it goes into a hypnoidal twilight state, |
- | it is only one reality out of many. Images are a basic constituent: | + | emitting alpha waves. This is because there is such little eye motion. In |
- | pictures. | + | addition, much of the information is graphic and therefore passes into the right |
- | This is why the power of TV to influence young minds is so staggeringly | + | hemisphere of the brain, rather than being processed by the left, where the |
- | vast. | + | conscious personality is located. Recent experiments indicate that much of what |
- | Words and pictures are synchronized. The possibility of total control of the | + | we see on the TV screen is received on a subliminal basis. We only imagine that |
- | viewer exists, especially the young viewer. TV viewing is a kind of sleep- | + | we consciously see what is there. The bulk of the messages elude our attention; |
- | learning. An EEG of a person watching TV shows that after about half an hour | + | literally, after a few hours of TV watching, we do not know what we have seen. |
- | the | + | Our memories are spurious, like our memories of dreams; the blanks are filled in |
- | brain decides that nothing is happening, and it goes into a hypnoidal | + | retrospectively. And falsified. We have participated unknowingly in the creation |
- | twilight | + | of a spurious reality, and then we have obligingly fed it to ourselves. We have |
- | state, emitting alpha waves. This is because there is such little eye | + | colluded in our own doom. |
- | motion. In | + | |
- | addition, much of the information is graphic and therefore passes into the | + | |
- | right | + | |
- | hemisphere of the brain, rather than being processed by the left, where the | + | |
- | conscious personality is located. Recent experiments indicate that much of | + | |
- | what | + | |
- | we see on the TV screen is received on a subliminal basis. We only imagine | + | |
- | that | + | |
- | we consciously see what is there. The bulk of the messages elude our | + | |
- | attention; | + | |
- | literally, after a few hours of TV watching, we do not know what we have | + | |
- | seen. | + | |
- | Our memories are spurious, like our memories of dreams; the blanks are | + | |
- | filled in | + | |
- | retrospectively. And falsified. We have participated unknowingly in the | + | |
- | creation | + | |
- | of a spurious reality, and then we have obligingly fed it to ourselves. We | + | |
- | have | + | |
- | colluded in our own doom. | + | |
- | And -- and I say this as a professional fiction writer -- the | + | And -- and I say this as a professional fiction writer -- the producers, |
- | producers, | + | scriptwriters, |
- | scriptwriters, | + | much of their content is true. In other words, they are victims of their own |
- | how | + | product, along with us. Speaking for myself, I do not know how much of my |
- | much of their content is true. In other words, they are victims of their own | + | writing is true, or which parts (if any) are true. This is a potentially lethal |
- | product, along with us. Speaking for myself, I do not know how much of my | + | situation. We have fiction mimicking truth, and truth mimicking fiction. We have |
- | writing is true, or which parts (if any) are true. This is a potentially | + | a dangerous overlap, a dangerous blur. And in all probability it is not |
- | lethal | + | deliberate. In fact, that is part of the problem. You cannot legislate an author |
- | situation. We have fiction mimicking truth, and truth mimicking fiction. We | + | into correctly labeling his product, like a can of pudding whose ingredients are |
- | have | + | listed on the label... you cannot compel him to declare what part is true and |
- | a dangerous overlap, a dangerous blur. And in all probability it is not | + | |
- | deliberate. In fact, that is part of the problem. You cannot legislate an | + | |
- | author | + | |
- | into correctly labeling his product, like a can of pudding whose ingredients | + | |
- | are | + | |
- | listed on the label... you cannot compel him to declare what part is true | + | |
- | and | + | |
what isn't if he himself does not know. | what isn't if he himself does not know. | ||
- | It is an eerie experience to write something into a novel, believing | + | It is an eerie experience to write something into a novel, believing it is pure |
- | it is | + | fiction, and to learn later on -- perhaps years later -- that it is true. I |
- | pure fiction, and to learn later on -- perhaps years later -- that it is | + | would like to give you an example. It is something that I do not understand. |
- | true. I | + | |
- | would like to give you an example. It is something that I do not understand. | + | |
Perhaps you can come up with a theory. I can't. | Perhaps you can come up with a theory. I can't. | ||
- | In 1970 I wrote a novel called Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said. | + | In 1970 I wrote a novel called Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said. One of the |
- | One of | + | characters is a nineteen-year-old girl named Kathy. Her husband' |
- | the characters is a nineteen-year-old girl named Kathy. Her husband' | + | Jack. Kathy appears to work for the criminal underground, |
- | is | + | deeper into the novel, we discover that actually she is working for the police. |
- | Jack. Kathy appears to work for the criminal underground, | + | She has a relationship going on with a police inspector. The character is pure |
- | read | + | |
- | deeper into the novel, we discover that actually she is working for the | + | |
- | police. | + | |
- | She has a relationship going on with a police inspector. The character is | + | |
- | pure | + | |
fiction. Or at least I thought it was. | fiction. Or at least I thought it was. | ||
- | Anyhow, on Christmas Day of 1970, I met a girl named Kathy - this | + | Anyhow, on Christmas Day of 1970, I met a girl named Kathy - this was after I |
- | was | + | had finished the novel, you understand. She was nineteen years old. Her |
- | after I had finished the novel, you understand. She was nineteen years old. | + | boyfriend was named Jack. I soon learned that Kathy was a drug dealer. I spent |
- | Her | + | months trying to get her to give up dealing drugs; I kept warning her again and |
- | boyfriend was named Jack. I soon learned that Kathy was a drug dealer. I | + | again that she would get caught. Then, one evening as we were entering a |
- | spent | + | restaurant together, Kathy stopped short and said, "I can't go in." Seated in |
- | months trying to get her to give up dealing drugs; I kept warning her again | + | the restaurant was a police inspector whom I knew. "I have to tell you the |
- | and | + | |
- | again that she would get caught. Then, one evening as we were entering a | + | |
- | restaurant together, Kathy stopped short and said, "I can't go in." Seated | + | |
- | in | + | |
- | the restaurant was a police inspector whom I knew. "I have to tell you the | + | |
truth," | truth," | ||
- | Certainly, these are odd coincidences. Perhaps I have precognition. | + | Certainly, these are odd coincidences. Perhaps I have precognition. |
- | But | + | mystery becomes even more perplexing; the next stage totally baffles me. It has |
- | the mystery becomes even more perplexing; the next stage totally baffles me. | + | for four years. |
- | It | + | |
- | has for four years. | + | |
- | In 1974 the novel was published by Doubleday. One afternoon I was | + | In 1974 the novel was published by Doubleday. One afternoon I was talking to my |
- | talking | + | priest - I am an Episcopalian -- and I happened to mention to him an important |
- | to my priest - I am an Episcopalian -- and I happened to mention to him an | + | scene near the end of the novel in which the character Felix Buckman meets a |
- | important | + | black stranger at an all-night gas station, and they begin to talk. As I |
- | Buckman | + | described the scene in more and more detail, my priest became progressively more |
- | meets a black stranger at an all-night gas station, and they begin to talk. | + | agitated. At last he said, 'That is a scene from the Book of Acts, from the |
- | As I | + | Bible! In Acts, the person who meets the black man on the road is named Philip - |
- | described the scene in more and more detail, my priest became progressively | + | - your name." Father Rasch was so upset by the resemblance that he could not |
- | more | + | even locate the scene in his Bible. "Read Acts," he instructed me. "And you' |
- | agitated. At last he said, 'That is a scene from the Book of Acts, from the | + | agree. It's the same down to specific details." |
- | Bible! In Acts, the person who meets the black man on the road is named | + | |
- | Philip - | + | |
- | - your name." Father Rasch was so upset by the resemblance that he could not | + | |
- | even locate the scene in his Bible. "Read Acts," he instructed me. "And | + | |
- | you'll | + | |
- | agree. It's the same down to specific | + | |
- | details." | + | |
- | I went home and read the scene in Acts. Yes, Father Rasch was right; | + | I went home and read the scene in Acts. Yes, Father Rasch was right; the scene |
- | the | + | in my novel was an obvious retelling of the scene in Acts... and I had never |
- | scene in my novel was an obvious retelling of the scene in Acts... and I had | + | read Acts, I must admit. But again the puzzle became deeper. In Acts, the high |
- | never read Acts, I must admit. But again the puzzle became deeper. In Acts, | + | Roman official who arrests and interrogates Saint Paul is named Felix -- the |
- | the | + | same name as my character. And my character Felix Buckman is a high-ranking |
- | high Roman official who arrests and interrogates Saint Paul is named Felix | + | police general; in fact, in my novel he holds the same office as Felix in the |
- | -- | + | Book of Acts: the final authority. There is a conversation in my novel which |
- | the same name as my character. And my character Felix Buckman is a | + | very closely resembles a conversation between Felix and Paul. |
- | high-ranking | + | |
- | police general; in fact, in my novel he holds the same office as Felix in | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | Book of Acts: the final authority. There is a conversation in my novel which | + | |
- | very closely resembles a conversation between Felix and Paul. | + | |
- | Well, I decided to try for any further resemblances. The main | + | Well, I decided to try for any further resemblances. The main character in my |
- | character in | + | novel is named Jason. I got an index to the Bible and looked to see if anyone |
- | my novel is named Jason. I got an index to the Bible and looked to see if | + | named Jason appears anywhere in the Bible. I couldn' |
- | anyone | + | named Jason appears once and only once in the Bible. It is in the Book of Acts. |
- | named Jason appears anywhere in the Bible. I couldn' | + | And, as if to plague me further with coincidences, |
- | man | + | from the authorities and takes refuge in a person' |
- | named Jason appears once and only once in the Bible. It is in the Book of | + | named Jason shelters a fugitive from the law in his house - an exact inversion |
- | Acts. | + | of the situation in my novel, as if the mysterious Spirit responsible for all |
- | And, as if to plague me further with coincidences, | + | |
- | fleeing | + | |
- | from the authorities and takes refuge in a person' | + | |
- | man | + | |
- | named Jason shelters a fugitive from the law in his house - an exact | + | |
- | inversion | + | |
- | of the situation in my novel, as if the mysterious Spirit responsible for | + | |
- | all | + | |
this was having a sort of laugh about the whole thing. | this was having a sort of laugh about the whole thing. | ||
- | Felix, Jason, and the meeting on the road with the black man who is | + | Felix, Jason, and the meeting on the road with the black man who is a complete |
- | a | + | stranger. In Acts, the disciple Philip baptizes the black man, who then goes |
- | complete | + | away rejoicing. In my novel, Felix Buckman reaches out to the black stranger for |
- | then | + | emotional support, because Felix Buckman' |
- | goes away rejoicing. In my novel, Felix Buckman reaches out to the black | + | falling apart psychologically. The black man stirs up Buckman' |
- | stranger for emotional support, because Felix Buckman' | + | although Buckman does not go away rejoicing, at least his tears have stopped |
- | and | + | falling. He had been flying home, weeping over the death of his sister, and had |
- | he is falling apart psychologically. The black man stirs up Buckman' | + | to reach out to someone, anyone, even a total stranger. It is an encounter |
- | spirits | + | between two strangers on the road which changes the life of one of them -- both |
- | and although Buckman does not go away rejoicing, at least his tears have | + | in my novel and in Acts. And one final quirk by the mysterious Spirit at work: |
- | stopped | + | the name Felix is the Latin word for " |
- | falling. He had been flying home, weeping over the death of his sister, and | + | |
- | had | + | |
- | to reach out to someone, anyone, even a total stranger. It is an encounter | + | |
- | between two strangers on the road which changes the life of one of them -- | + | |
- | both | + | |
- | in my novel and in Acts. And one final quirk by the mysterious Spirit at | + | |
- | work: | + | |
- | the name Felix is the Latin word for " | + | |
- | wrote | + | |
the novel. | the novel. | ||
- | A careful study of my novel shows that for reasons which I cannot | + | A careful study of my novel shows that for reasons which I cannot even begin to |
- | even | + | explain I had managed to retell several of the basic incidents from a particular |
- | begin to explain I had managed to retell several of the basic incidents from | + | book of the Bible, and even had the right names. What could explain this? That |
- | a | + | was four years ago that I discovered all this. For four years I have tried to |
- | particular | + | come up with a theory and I have not. I doubt if I ever will. |
- | explain | + | |
- | this? That was four years ago that I discovered all this. For four years I | + | |
- | have | + | |
- | tried to come up with a theory and I have not. I doubt if I ever will. | + | |
- | But the mystery had not ended there, as I had imagined. Two months | + | But the mystery had not ended there, as I had imagined. Two months ago I was |
- | ago I | + | walking up to the mailbox late at night to mail off a letter, and also to enjoy |
- | was walking up to the mailbox late at night to mail off a letter, and also | + | the sight of Saint Joseph' |
- | to | + | noticed a man loitering suspiciously by a parked car. It looked as if he was |
- | enjoy the sight of Saint Joseph' | + | attempting to steal the car, or maybe something from it; as I returned from the |
- | building. I noticed a man loitering suspiciously by a parked car. It looked | + | mailbox, the man hid behind a tree. On impulse I walked up to him and asked, "Is |
- | as | + | anything the matter?" |
- | if he was attempting to steal the car, or maybe something from it; as I | + | |
- | returned | + | |
- | from the mailbox, the man hid behind a tree. On impulse I walked up to him | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | asked, "Is anything the matter?" | + | |
Line 617: | Line 396: | ||
- | Incredibly, because I have never done this before, I got out my | + | Incredibly, because I have never done this before, I got out my wallet, took all |
- | wallet, | + | the money from it, and handed the money to him. He then shook hands with me and |
- | took all the money from it, and handed the money to him. He then shook hands | + | asked where I lived, so that he could later pay the money back. I returned to |
- | with me and asked where I lived, so that he could later pay the money back. | + | my apartment, and then I realized that the money would do him no good, since |
- | I | + | there was no gas station within walking distance. So I returned, in my car. The |
- | returned to my apartment, and then I realized that the money would do him no | + | man had a metal gas can in the trunk of his car, and, together, we drove in my |
- | good, since there was no gas station within walking distance. So I returned, | + | car to an all-night gas station. Soon we were standing there, two strangers, as |
- | in | + | the pump jockey filled the metal gas can. Suddenly I realized that this was the |
- | my car. The man had a metal gas can in the trunk of his car, and, together, | + | scene in my novel --the novel written eight years before. The all- night gas |
- | we | + | station was exactly as I had envisioned it in my inner eye when I wrote the |
- | drove in my car to an all-night gas station. Soon we were standing there, | + | scene -- the glaring white light, the pump jockey -- and now I saw something |
- | two | + | which I had not seen before. The stranger who I was helping was black. |
- | strangers, as the pump jockey filled the metal gas can. Suddenly I realized | + | back to his stalled car with the gas, shook hands, and then I returned to my |
- | that | + | apartment building. I never saw him again. He could not pay me back becauseI had |
- | this was the scene in my novel --the novel written eight years before. The | + | not told him which of the many apartments was mine or what my name was. I was |
- | all- | + | terribly shaken up by this experience. I had literally lived out a scene |
- | night gas station was exactly as I had envisioned it in my inner eye when I | + | completely as it had appeared in my novel. Which is to say, I had lived out a |
- | wrote the scene -- the glaring white light, the pump jockey -- and now I saw | + | sort of replica of the scene in Acts where Philip encounters the black man on |
- | something which I had not seen before. The stranger who I was helping was | + | the road. |
- | black. | + | |
- | We drove back to his stalled car with the gas, shook hands, and then | + | |
- | I | + | |
- | returned to my apartment building. I never saw him again. He could not pay | + | |
- | me | + | |
- | back becauseI had not told him which of the many apartments was mine or what | + | |
- | my | + | |
- | name was. I was terribly shaken up by this experience. I had literally lived | + | |
- | out | + | |
- | a scene completely as it had appeared in my novel. Which is to say, I had | + | |
- | lived | + | |
- | out a sort of replica of the scene in Acts where Philip encounters the black | + | |
- | man | + | |
- | on the road. | + | |
Line 655: | Line 420: | ||
- | The answer I have come up with may not be correct, but it is the | + | The answer I have come up with may not be correct, but it is the only answer I |
- | only | + | have. It has to do with time. My theory is this: In some certain important |
- | answer I have. It has to do with time. My theory is this: In some certain | + | sense, time is not real. Or perhaps it is real, but not as we experience it to |
- | important sense, time is not real. Or perhaps it is real, but not as we | + | be or imagine it to be. I had the acute, overwhelming certitude (and still have) |
- | experience it to be or imagine it to be. I had the acute, overwhelming | + | that despite all the change we see, a specific permanent landscape underlies the |
- | certitude | + | world of change: and that this invisible underlying landscape is that of the |
- | (and still have) that despite all the change we see, a specific permanent | + | Bible; it, specifically, |
- | landscape underlies the world of change: and that this invisible underlying | + | resurrection of Christ; it is, in other words, the time period of the Book of |
- | landscape is that of the Bible; it, specifically, | + | Acts. |
- | following the death and resurrection of Christ; it is, in other words, the | + | |
- | time | + | |
- | period of the Book of Acts. | + | |
- | Parmenides would be proud of me. I have gazed at a constantly | + | Parmenides would be proud of me. I have gazed at a constantly changing world and |
- | changing | + | declared that underneath it lies the eternal, the unchanging, the absolutely |
- | world and declared that underneath it lies the eternal, the unchanging, the | + | real. but how has this come about? If the real time is circa AD S0, then why do |
- | absolutely real. but how has this come about? If the real time is circa AD | + | we see AD 1978? And if we are really living in the Roman Empire, somewhere in |
- | S0, | + | Syria, why do we see the United States? |
- | then why do we see AD 1978? And if we are really living in the Roman Empire, | + | |
- | somewhere in Syria, why do we see the United States? | + | |
- | During the Middle Ages, a curious theory arose, which I will now | + | During the Middle Ages, a curious theory arose, which I will now present to you |
- | present | + | for what it is worth. It is the theory that the Evil One -- Satan -- is the "Ape |
- | to you for what it is worth. It is the theory that the Evil One -- Satan -- | + | of God." That he creates spurious imitations of creation, of God's authentic |
- | is | + | creation, and then interpolates them for that authentic creation. |
- | the "Ape of God." That he creates spurious imitations of creation, of God' | + | theory help explain my experience? Are we to believe that we are occluded, that |
- | authentic creation, and then interpolates them for that authentic creation. | + | we are deceived, that it is not 1978 but AD 50... and Satan has spun a |
- | Does | + | counterfeit reality to wither our faith in the return of Christ? |
- | this odd theory help explain my experience? Are we to believe that we are | + | |
- | occluded, that we are deceived, that it is not 1978 but AD 50... and Satan | + | |
- | has | + | |
- | spun a counterfeit reality to wither our faith in the return of Christ? | + | |
- | I can just picture myself being examined by a psychiatrist. The | + | I can just picture myself being examined by a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist |
- | psychiatrist says, "What year is it?" And I reply, "AD 50." The psychiatrist | + | says, "What year is it?" And I reply, "AD 50." The psychiatrist blinks and then |
- | blinks and then asks, "And where are you?" I reply, "In Judaea." | + | asks, "And where are you?" I reply, "In Judaea." |
- | heck | + | psychiatrist asks. " |
- | is that?" the psychiatrist asks. " | + | you know who is President?" |
- | have | + | Procurator Felix." |
- | to answer. "Do | + | meanwhile giving a covert signal to two very large psych techs. " |
- | you know who is President?" | + | replay. " |
- | "The | + | Festus. You see, Saint Paul was held by Felix for --" "Who told you all this?" |
- | Procurator Felix." | + | the psychiatrist would break in, irritably, and I would reply, 'The Holy |
- | ask, | + | Spirit." |
- | meanwhile giving a covert signal to two very large psych techs. " | + | knowing exactly how come I was there. |
- | replay. " | + | true, in a sense, although palpably not true in another. I know perfectly well |
- | Procurator | + | that the date is 1978 and that Jimmy Carter is President and that I live in |
- | Festus. You see, Saint Paul was held by Felix for --" "Who told you all | + | Santa Ana, California, in the United States. I even know how to get from my |
- | this?" | + | apartment to Disneyland, a fact I can't seem to forget. And surely no Disneyland |
- | the psychiatrist would break in, irritably, and I would reply, 'The Holy | + | existed backat the time of Saint Paul. |
- | Spirit." | + | |
- | knowing exactly how come I was there. | + | |
- | Everything in that conversation would be true, in a sense, although | + | |
- | palpably not true in another. I know perfectly well that the date is 1978 | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | that Jimmy Carter is President and that I live in Santa Ana, California, in | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | United States. I even know how to get from my apartment to Disneyland, a | + | |
- | fact I | + | |
- | can't seem | + | |
- | to forget. And surely no Disneyland existed backat the time of Saint Paul. | + | |
- | So, if I force myself to be very rational and reasonable, and all | + | So, if I force myself to be very rational and reasonable, and all those other |
- | those | + | good things, I must admit that the existence of Disneyland (which I know is |
- | other good things, I must admit that the existence of Disneyland (which I | + | real) proves that we are not living in Judaea in AD 50. The idea of Saint Paul |
- | know | + | whirling around inthe giant teacups wile composing First Corinthians, |
- | is real) proves that we are not living in Judaea in AD 50. The idea of Saint | + | TV films him with a telephoto lens -- that just can't be. Saint Paul would never |
- | Paul whirling around inthe giant teacups wile composing First Corinthians, | + | go near Disneyland. Only children, tourists, and visiting Soviet high officials |
- | as | + | ever go to Disneyland. Saints do not. |
- | Paris TV films him with a telephoto lens -- that just can't be. Saint Paul | + | |
- | would | + | |
- | never go near Disneyland. Only children, tourists, and visiting Soviet high | + | |
- | officials ever go to Disneyland. Saints do not. | + | |
- | But somehow that biblical material snared my unconscious and crept | + | But somehow that biblical material snared my unconscious and crept into my |
- | into my | + | novel, and equally true, for some reason in 1978 I relived a scene which I |
- | novel, and equally true, for some reason in 1978 I relived a scene which I | + | described back in 1970. What I am saying is this: There is internal evidence in |
- | described back in 1970. What I am saying is this: There is internal evidence | + | at least one of my novels that another reality, an unchanging one, exactly as |
- | in | + | Parmenides and Plato suspected, underlies the visible phenomenal world of |
- | at least one of my novels that another reality, an unchanging one, exactly | + | change, and somehow, in some way, perhaps to our surprise, we can cut through to |
- | as | + | it. Or rather, a mysterious Spirit can put us in touch with it, if it wishes us |
- | Parmenides and Plato suspected, underlies the visible phenomenal world of | + | to see this permanent other landscape. Time passes, thousands of years pass, but |
- | change, and somehow, in some way, perhaps to our surprise, we can cut | + | at the same instant that we see this contemporary world, the ancient world, the |
- | through to | + | world of the Bible, is concealed beneath it, still. there and still real. |
- | it. Or rather, a mysterious Spirit can put us in touch with it, if it wishes | + | |
- | us | + | |
- | to see this permanent other landscape. Time passes, thousands of years pass, | + | |
- | but | + | |
- | at the same instant that we see this contemporary world, the ancient world, | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | world of the Bible, is concealed beneath it, still. there and still real. | + | |
Eternally so. | Eternally so. | ||
- | Shall I go for broke and tell you the rest of this peculiar story? | + | Shall I go for broke and tell you the rest of this peculiar story? |
- | I'll do | + | having gone this far already. My novel Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said was |
- | so, having gone this far already. My novel Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said | + | released by Doubleday in February of 1974. The week after it was released, I had |
- | was | + | two impacted wisdom teeth removed, under sodium pentathol. Later that day I |
- | released by Doubleday in February of 1974. The week after it was released, I | + | found myself in intense pain. My wife phoned the oral surgeon and he phoned a |
- | had | + | pharmacy. Half an hour later there was a knock at my door: the delivery person |
- | two impacted wisdom teeth removed, under sodium pentathol. Later that day I | + | from the pharmacy with the pain medication. Although I was bleeding and sick and |
- | found myself in intense pain. My wife phoned the oral surgeon and he phoned | + | weak, I felt the need to answer the knock on the door myself. When I opened the |
- | a | + | door, I found myself facing a young woman -- who wore a shining gold necklace in |
- | pharmacy. Half an hour later there was a knock at my door: the delivery | + | the center of which was a gleaming gold fish. For some reason I was hypnotized |
- | person | + | by the gleaming golden fish; I forgot my pain, forgot the medication, forgot why |
- | from the pharmacy with the pain medication. Although I was bleeding and sick | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | weak, I felt the need to answer the knock on the door myself. When I opened | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | door, I found myself facing a young woman -- who wore a shining gold | + | |
- | necklace in | + | |
- | the center of which was a gleaming gold fish. For some reason I was | + | |
- | hypnotized | + | |
- | by the gleaming golden fish; I forgot my pain, forgot the medication, forgot | + | |
- | why | + | |
the girl was there. I just kept staring at the fish sign. | the girl was there. I just kept staring at the fish sign. | ||
Line 781: | Line 505: | ||
- | The girl touched the glimmering golden fish with her hand and said, | + | The girl touched the glimmering golden fish with her hand and said, "This is a |
- | " | + | sign worn bythe early Christians." |
- | is a sign worn bythe early Christians." | + | |
- | medication. | + | |
- | In that instant, as I stared at the gleaming fish sign and heard her | + | In that instant, as I stared at the gleaming fish sign and heard her words, I |
- | words, I suddenly experienced what I later learned is called anamnesis -- a | + | suddenly experienced what I later learned is called anamnesis -- a Greek word |
- | Greek word meaning, literally, "loss of forgetfulness." | + | meaning, literally, "loss of forgetfulness." |
- | was | + | was. In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, it all came back to me. And not |
- | and where I was. In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, it all came back | + | only could I remember it but I could see it. The girl was a secret Christian and |
- | to | + | so was I. We lived in fear of detection by the Romans. We had to communicate |
- | me. And not only could I remember it but I could see it. The girl was a | + | with cryptic signs. She had just told me all this, and it was true. |
- | secret | + | |
- | Christian and so was I. We lived in fear of detection by the Romans. We had | + | |
- | to | + | |
- | communicate | + | |
- | true. | + | |
- | For a short time, as hard as this is to believe or explain, I saw fading | + | For a short time, as hard as this is to believe or explain, I saw fading into |
- | into | + | view the black prison like contours of hateful Rome. But, of much more |
- | view the black prison like contours of hateful Rome. But, of much more | + | importance, I remembered Jesus, who had just recently been with us, and had gone |
- | importance, I remembered Jesus, who had just recently been with us, and had | + | temporarily away, and would very soon return. My emotion was one of joy. We were |
- | gone | + | secretly preparing to welcome Him back. It would not be long. And the Romans did |
- | temporarily away, and would very soon return. My emotion was one of joy. We | + | not know. They thought He was dead, forever dead. That was our great secret, our |
- | were | + | joyous knowledge. Despite all appearances, |
- | secretly preparing to welcome Him back. It would not be long. And the Romans | + | |
- | did | + | |
- | not know. They thought He was dead, forever dead. That was our great secret, | + | |
- | our | + | |
- | joyous knowledge. Despite all appearances, | + | |
- | our | + | |
delight and anticipation was boundless. | delight and anticipation was boundless. | ||
- | Isn't it odd that this strange event, this recovery of lost memory, | + | Isn't it odd that this strange event, this recovery of lost memory, occurred |
- | occurred only a week after Flow My Tears was released? And it is Flow My | + | only a week after Flow My Tears was released? And it is Flow My Tears which |
- | Tears | + | contains the replication of people and events from the 8ook of Acts, which is |
- | which contains the replication of people and events from the 8ook of Acts, | + | set at the precise moment in time -- just after Jesus' death and resurrection -- |
- | which | + | that I remembered, by means of the golden fish sign, as having just taken place? |
- | is set at the precise moment in time -- just after Jesus' death and | + | |
- | resurrection | + | |
- | -- that I remembered, by means of the golden fish sign, as having just taken | + | |
- | place? | + | |
- | If you were me, and had this happen to you, I'm sure you wouldn' | + | If you were me, and had this happen to you, I'm sure you wouldn' |
- | able | + | leave it alone. You would seek a theory that would account for it. For over four |
- | to leave it alone. You would seek a theory that would account for it. For | + | years now, I have been trying one theory after another: circular time, frozen |
- | over | + | time, timeless time, what is called " |
- | four years now, I have been trying one theory after another: circular time, | + | time... I can't count the theories I've tried out. One constant has prevailed, |
- | frozen time, timeless time, what is called " | + | though, throughout all theories. There must indeed be a mysterious Holy Spirit |
- | " | + | which has an exact and intimate relation to Christ, which can indwell in human |
- | time... I can't count the theories I've tried out. One constant has | + | minds, guide and inform them, and even express itself through those humans, even |
- | prevailed, | + | |
- | though, throughout all theories. There must indeed be a mysterious Holy | + | |
- | Spirit | + | |
- | which has an exact and intimate relation to Christ, which can indwell in | + | |
- | human | + | |
- | minds, guide and inform them, and even express itself through those humans, | + | |
- | even | + | |
without their awareness. | without their awareness. | ||
- | In the writing of Flow My Tears, back in 1970, there was one unusual | + | In the writing of Flow My Tears, back in 1970, there was one unusual event which |
- | event | + | I realized at the time was not ordinary, was not a part of the regular writing |
- | which I realized at the time was not ordinary, was not a part of the regular | + | process. I had a dream one night, an especially vivid dream. And when I awoke I |
- | writing process. I had a dream one night, an especially vivid dream. And | + | found myself under the compulsion -- the absolute necessity -- of getting the |
- | when I | + | dream into the text of the novel precisely as I had dreamed it. In getting the |
- | awoke I found myself under the compulsion -- the absolute necessity -- of | + | dream exactly right, I had to do eleven drafts of the final part of the |
- | getting the dream into the text of the novel precisely as I had dreamed it. | + | manuscript, until I was satisfied. |
- | In | + | |
- | getting the dream exactly right, I had to do eleven drafts of the final part | + | |
- | of | + | |
- | the manuscript, until I was satisfied. | + | |
- | I will now quote from the novel, as it appeared in the final, | + | I will now quote from the novel, as it appeared in the final, published |
- | published | + | |
form. See if this dream reminds you of anything. | form. See if this dream reminds you of anything. | ||
- | <i> | + | //The countryside, |
- | The countryside, | + | rode a horse, and approaching him on his left a squad of horses nearing |
- | as a child. He rode a horse, and approaching him on his left a | + | slowly. On the horses rode men in shining robes, each a different contour; each |
- | squad of horses nearing slowly. On the horses rode men in | + | wore a pointed helmet that sparkled in the sunlight. The slow, solemn knights |
- | shining robes, each a different contour; each wore a pointed | + | passed him and as they traveled by he made out the face of one: an ancient |
- | helmet that sparkled in the sunlight. The slow, solemn knights | + | marble face, a terribly old man with rippling cascades of white beard. What a |
- | passed him and as they traveled by he made out the face of one: | + | strong nose he had. What noble features. |
- | an ancient marble face, a terribly old man with rippling cascades | + | ordinary men. Evidently he was a king. Felix Buckman let them pass; he did not |
- | of white beard. What a strong nose he had. What noble features. | + | speak to them and they said nothing to him. Together, they all moved toward the |
- | So tired, so serious, so far beyond ordinary men. Evidently he was | + | house from which he had come. A man had sealed himself up inside the house, a |
- | a king. Felix Buckman let them pass; he did not speak to them and | + | man alone, Jason Taverner, in the silence and darkness, without windows, by |
- | they said nothing to him. Together, they all moved toward the house | + | himself from now on into eternity. Sitting, merely existing, inert. Felix |
- | from which he had come. A man had sealed himself up inside the | + | Buckman continued on, out into the open countryside. And then he heard from |
- | house, a man alone, Jason Taverner, in the silence and darkness, | + | behind him one dreadful single shriek. They had killed Taverner, and seeing them |
- | without windows, by himself from now on into eternity. Sitting, | + | enter, sensing them in the shadows around him, knowing what they intended to do |
- | merely | + | with him, Taverner had shrieked. Within himself Felix Buckman felt absolute and |
- | existing, inert. Felix Buckman continued on, out into the open | + | utter desolate grief. But in the dream he did not go back nor look back. There |
- | countryside. And then he heard from behind him one dreadful single | + | was nothing that could be done. No one could have stopped the posse of |
- | shriek. They had killed Taverner, and seeing them enter, sensing | + | varicolored men in robes; they could not have been said no to. Anyhow, it was |
- | them | + | over. Taverner was dead.// |
- | in the shadows around him, knowing what they intended to do with | + | |
- | him, | + | |
- | Taverner had shrieked. Within himself Felix Buckman felt absolute | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | utter desolate grief. But in the dream he did not go back nor look | + | |
- | back. | + | |
- | There was nothing that could be done. No one could have stopped the | + | |
- | posse of varicolored men in robes; they could not have been said no | + | |
- | to. Anyhow, it was over. Taverner was dead. | + | |
- | </i> | + | |
- | This passage probably does not suggest any particular thing to you, | + | This passage probably does not suggest any particular thing to you, except a law |
- | except | + | posse exacting judgement on someone either guilty or considered guilty. It is |
- | a law posse exacting judgement on someone either guilty or considered | + | not clear whether Taverner has in fact committed some crime or is merely |
- | guilty. It | + | believed to have committed some crime. I had the impression that he was guilty, |
- | is not clear whether Taverner has in fact committed some crime or is merely | + | but that it wasa tragedy that he had to be killed, a terribly sad tragedy. |
- | believed to have committed some crime. I had the impression that he was | + | the novel, this dream causes Felix Buckman to begin to cry, and therefore he |
- | guilty, | + | |
- | but that it wasa tragedy that he had to be killed, a terribly sad tragedy. | + | |
- | In | + | |
- | the novel, this dream causes Felix Buckman to begin to cry, and therefore he | + | |
seeks out the black man at the all-night gas station. | seeks out the black man at the all-night gas station. | ||
- | Months after the novel was published, I found the section in the Bible to | + | Months after the novel was published, I found the section in the Bible to which |
- | which | + | |
this dream refers. It is Daniel, 7:9: | this dream refers. It is Daniel, 7:9: | ||
- | < | + | //Thrones were set in place and one ancient in years took his seat. His robe |
- | Thrones were set in place and one ancient in years took his seat. | + | was white as snow and the hair of his head like cleanest wool. Flames of fire |
- | His robe | + | were his throne and its wheels blazing fire; a flowing river of fire streamed |
- | was white as snow and the hair of his head like cleanest wool. | + | out before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and myriads upon myriads |
- | Flames of | + | attended his presence. The court sat, and the book was opened.// |
- | fire were his throne and its wheels blazing fire; a flowing river of | + | |
- | fire | + | |
- | streamed | + | |
- | myriads upon myriads attended his presence. The court sat, and the | + | |
- | book | + | |
- | was opened. | + | |
- | </i> | + | |
- | The white-haired old man appears again in Revelation, | + | The white-haired old man appears again in Revelation, |
- | <i> | + | //I saw... one like a son of man, robed down to his feet, with a |
- | I saw... one like a son of man, robed down to his feet, with a | + | |
golden | golden | ||
girdle round his breast. The hair of his head was white as | girdle round his breast. The hair of his head was white as | ||
Line 938: | Line 610: | ||
wool, and his eyes flamed like fire; his feet gleamed like burnished | wool, and his eyes flamed like fire; his feet gleamed like burnished | ||
brass | brass | ||
- | rushing waters. | + | rushing waters.// |
- | </i> | + | |
Line 945: | Line 616: | ||
- | <i> | + | // When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right |
- | When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his | + | hand upon me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, and I am |
- | right | + | the living one, for I was dead and now I am alive for evermore, and I hold the |
- | hand upon me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the | + | keys of Death and Death' |
- | last, and | + | is now, and what will be hereafter." |
- | I am the living one, for I was dead and now I am alive for evermore, | + | |
- | and I | + | |
- | hold the keys of Death and Death' | + | |
- | you | + | |
- | have seen, what is now, and what will be hereafter." | + | |
- | </i> | + | |
Line 963: | Line 628: | ||
- | <i> | + | // ... he made out the face of one: an ancient marble face, a terribly old man |
- | ... he made out the face of one: an ancient marble face, a terribly | + | with rippling cascades of white beard. What a strong nose he had. What noble |
- | old | + | features. So tired, so serious, so far beyond ordinary men. Evidently he was a |
- | man with rippling cascades of white beard. What a strong nose he | + | king. // |
- | had. What | + | |
- | noble features. So tired, so serious, so far beyond ordinary men. | + | |
- | Evidently | + | |
- | </i> | + | |
- | Indeed he was a king. He is Christ Himself returned, to pass | + | Indeed he was a king. He is Christ Himself returned, to pass judgement. |
- | judgement. | + | this is what he does in my novel: He passes judgement on the man sealed up in |
- | And this is what he does in my novel: He passes judgement on the man sealed | + | darkness. The man sealed up in darkness must be the Prince of Evil, the Force of |
- | up | + | Darkness. Call it whatever you wish, its time had come. It was judged and |
- | in darkness. The man sealed up in darkness must be the Prince of Evil, the | + | condemned. Felix Buckman could weep at the sadness of it, but he knew that the |
- | Force | + | verdict could not be disputed. And so he rode on, without turning or looking |
- | of Darkness. Call it whatever you wish, its time had come. It was judged and | + | |
- | condemned. Felix Buckman could weep at the sadness of it, but he knew that | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | verdict could not be disputed. And so he rode on, without turning or looking | + | |
back, hearing only the shriek of fear and defeat: the cry of evil destroyed. | back, hearing only the shriek of fear and defeat: the cry of evil destroyed. | ||
- | So my novel contained material from other parts of the Bible, as | + | So my novel contained material from other parts of the Bible, as well as the |
- | well as | + | sections from Acts. Deciphered, my novel tells a quite different story from the |
- | the sections from Acts. Deciphered, my novel tells a quite different story | + | surface story (which we need not go into here). The real story is simply this: |
- | from | + | the return of Christ, now king rather than suffering servant. Judge rather |
- | the surface story (which we need not go into here). The real story is simply | + | victim of unfair judgement. Everything is reversed. The core message of my |
- | this: the return of Christ, now king rather than suffering servant. Judge | + | novel, without my knowing it, was a warning to the powerful: You will shortly be |
- | rather | + | judged and condemned. Who, specifically, |
- | than victim of unfair judgement. Everything is reversed. The core message of | + | say; or rather would prefer not to say. I have no certain knowledge, only an |
- | my | + | intuition. And that is not enough to go on, so I will keep my thoughts to |
- | novel, without my knowing it, was a warning to the powerful: You will | + | myself. But you might ask yourselves what political events took place in this |
- | shortly be | + | country between February 1974 and August 1974. Ask yourself who was judged and |
- | judged and condemned. Who, specifically, | + | condemned, and fell like a flaming star into ruin and disgrace. The most |
- | really | + | powerful man in the world. And I feel as sorry for him now as I did when I |
- | say; or rather would prefer not to say. I have no certain knowledge, only an | + | dreamed that dream. 'That poor poor man," I said once to my wife, with tears in |
- | intuition. And that is not enough to go on, so I will keep my thoughts to | + | my eyes. "Shut up in the darkness, playing the piano in the night to himself, |
- | myself. But you might ask yourselves what political events took place in | + | alone and afraid, knowing what's to come." For God's sake, let us forgive him, |
- | this | + | finally. But what was done to him and all his men -- "all the President' |
- | country between February 1974 and August 1974. Ask yourself who was judged | + | as it's put -- had to be done. But it is over, and he should be let out into the |
- | and | + | sunlight again; no creature, no person, should be shut up in darkness forever, |
- | condemned, and fell like a flaming star into ruin and disgrace. The most | + | |
- | powerful man in the world. And I feel as sorry for him now as I did when I | + | |
- | dreamed that dream. 'That poor poor man," I said once to my wife, with tears | + | |
- | in | + | |
- | my eyes. "Shut up in the darkness, playing the piano in the night to | + | |
- | himself, | + | |
- | alone and afraid, knowing what's to come." For God's sake, let us forgive | + | |
- | him, | + | |
- | finally. But what was done to him and all his men -- "all the President' | + | |
- | men," | + | |
- | as it's put -- had to be done. But it is over, and he should be let out into | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | sunlight again; no creature, no person, should be shut up in darkness | + | |
- | forever, | + | |
in fear. It is not humane. | in fear. It is not humane. | ||
- | Just about the time that Supreme Court was ruling that the Nixon | + | Just about the time that Supreme Court was ruling that the Nixon tapes had to be |
- | tapes had | + | turned over to the special prosecutor, I was eating at a Chinese restaurant in |
- | to be turned over to the special prosecutor, I was eating at a Chinese | + | Yorba Linda, the town in California where Nixon went to school -- where he grew |
- | restaurant in Yorba Linda, the town in California where Nixon went to school | + | up, worked at a grocery store, where there is a park named after him, and of |
- | -- | + | course the Nixon house, simple clapboard and all that. In my fortune cookie, I |
- | where he grew up, worked at a grocery store, where there is a park named | + | got the following fortune: |
- | after | + | |
- | him, and of course the Nixon house, simple clapboard and all that. In my | + | |
- | fortune | + | |
- | cookie, I got the following fortune: | + | |
- | <i> | + | // |
DEEDS DONE IN SECRET HAVE A | DEEDS DONE IN SECRET HAVE A | ||
WAY OF BECOMING FOUND OUT. | WAY OF BECOMING FOUND OUT. | ||
- | </i> | + | // |
- | I mailed the slip of paper to the White House, mentioning that the | + | I mailed the slip of paper to the White House, mentioning that the Chinese |
- | Chinese | + | restaurant was located within a mile of Nixon' |
- | restaurant was located within a mile of Nixon' | + | think a mistake has been made; by accident I got Mr. Nixon' |
- | "I | + | |
- | think a mistake has been made; by accident I got Mr. Nixon' | + | |
- | he | + | |
have mine?" The White House did not answer. | have mine?" The White House did not answer. | ||
- | Well, as I said earlier, an author of a work supposed fiction might | + | Well, as I said earlier, an author of a work supposed fiction might write the |
- | write | + | truth and not know it. To quote Xenophanes another pre-Socratic: |
- | the truth and not know it. To quote Xenophanes another pre-Socratic: | + | should chance to speak the most complete truth, yet he himself does not know it; |
- | if a | + | all things are wrapped in appearances" |
- | man should chance to speak the most complete truth, yet he himself does not | + | this: "The nature of things is in the habit of concealing itself' |
- | know | + | 54). W. S. Gilbert, of Gilbert and Sullivan, put it: ' |
- | it; all things are wrapped in appearances" | + | they seem; skim milk masquerades as cream." |
- | added | + | cannot trust our senses and probably not even our a priori reasoning. As to our |
- | to this: "The nature of things is in the habit of concealing itself' | + | senses, I understand that people who have been blind from birth and are suddenly |
- | (Fragment | + | given sight are amazed to discover that objects appear to get smaller and |
- | 54). W. S. Gilbert, of Gilbert and Sullivan, put it: ' | + | smaller as they get farther away. Logically, there is no reason for this. We, |
- | they seem; skim milk masquerades as cream." | + | of course, have come to accept this, because we re use to it. We see objects get |
- | cannot trust our senses and probably not even our a priori reasoning. As to | + | smaller, but we know that in actuality they remain the same size. So even the |
- | our | + | common everyday pragmatic person utilizes a certain amount of sophisticated |
- | senses, I understand that people who have been blind from birth and are | + | |
- | suddenly | + | |
- | given sight are amazed to discover that objects appear to get smaller and | + | |
- | smaller as they get farther away. Logically, there is no reason for this. | + | |
- | We, of | + | |
- | course, have come to accept this, because we re use to it. We see objects | + | |
- | get | + | |
- | smaller, but we know that in actuality they remain the same size. So even | + | |
- | the | + | |
- | common everyday pragmatic person utilizes a certain amount of sophisticated | + | |
discounting of what his eyes and ears tell him. | discounting of what his eyes and ears tell him. | ||
- | Little of what Heraclitus wrote has survived, and what we do have is | + | Little of what Heraclitus wrote has survived, and what we do have is obscure, |
- | obscure, but Fragment 54 is lucid and important: " | + | but Fragment 54 is lucid and important: " |
- | of | + | structure." |
- | obvious structure." | + | landscape. He also may have suspected that time was somehow not what it seemed, |
- | the | + | because in Fragment 52 he said: 'Time is a child at play, playing draughts; a |
- | true landscape. He also may have suspected that time was somehow not what it | + | child' |
- | seemed, | + | 18: "If one does not expect it, one will not find out the unexpected; it is not |
- | because in Fragment 52 he said: 'Time is a child at play, playing draughts; | + | to be tracked down and no path leads us to it." Edward Hussey, in his scholarly |
- | a | + | |
- | child' | + | |
- | Fragment | + | |
- | 18: "If one does not expect it, one will not find out the unexpected; it is | + | |
- | not | + | |
- | to be tracked down and no path leads us to it." Edward Hussey, in his | + | |
- | scholarly | + | |
book The Pre-Socratics, | book The Pre-Socratics, | ||
- | <i> | + | // If Heraclitus is to be so insistent on the lack of understanding shown by |
- | If Heraclitus is to be so insistent on the lack of understanding | + | most men, it would seem only reasonable that he should offer further |
- | shown | + | instructions for penetrating to the truth. The talk of riddle-guessing suggests |
- | by most men, it would seem only reasonable that he should offer | + | that some kind of revelation, beyond human control, is necessary... |
- | further | + | wisdom, as has been seen, is closely associated with God, which suggests further |
- | instructions for penetrating to the truth. The talk of riddle-guessing | + | that in advancing wisdom a man becomes Iike, or a part of, God . // |
- | suggests that some kind of revelation, beyond human control, is | + | |
- | necessary... | + | |
- | The true wisdom, as has been seen, is closely associated with God, | + | |
- | which suggests further that in advancing wisdom a man becomes Iike, | + | |
- | or a part of, God . | + | |
- | </i> | + | |
- | This quote is not from a religious book or a book on theology; it is | + | This quote is not from a religious book or a book on theology; it is an analysis |
- | an | + | of the earliest philosophers by a Lecturer in Ancient Philosophy at the |
- | analysis | + | University of Oxford. Hussey makes it clear that to these early philosophers |
- | the | + | there was no distinction between philosophy and religion. The first great |
- | University of Oxford. Hussey makes it clear that to these early philosophers | + | quantum leap in Greek theology was by Xenophanes of Colophon, born in the mid- |
- | there was no distinction between philosophy and religion. The first great | + | sixth century BC Xenophanes, without resorting to any authority expect that of |
- | quantum leap in Greek theology was by Xenophanes of Colophon, born in the | + | |
- | mid- | + | |
- | sixth century BC Xenophanes, without resorting to any authority expect that | + | |
- | of | + | |
his own mind, says: | his own mind, says: | ||
- | <i> | + | // One god there is, in no way like mortal creatures either in bodily form or |
- | One god there is, in no way like mortal creatures either in bodily | + | in the thought of his mind. The whole of him sees, the whole of him thinks, the |
- | form | + | whole of him hears. He stays always motionless in the same place; it is not |
- | or in the thought of his mind. The whole of him sees, the whole of | + | fitting that he should move about now this way, now that. // |
- | him | + | |
- | thinks, the whole of him hears. He stays always motionless in the | + | |
- | same | + | |
- | place; it is not fitting that he should move about now this way, now | + | |
- | that. | + | |
- | </i> | + | |
- | This is a subtle and advanced concept of God, evidently without | + | This is a subtle and advanced concept of God, evidently without precedent |
- | precedent | + | the Greek thinkers. "The arguments of Parmenides seemed to show that all reality |
- | among the Greek thinkers. "The arguments of Parmenides seemed to show that | + | must indeed be a mind," Hussey writes, "or an object of thought in a mind." |
- | all | + | Regarding Heraclitus specifically, |
- | reality | + | tell how far the designs in God's mind are distinguished from the execution in |
- | mind." Regarding Heraclitus specifically, | + | the world, or indeed how far God's mind is distinguished from the world." |
- | difficult to tell how far the designs in God's mind are distinguished from | + | further leap by Anaxagoras has always fascinated me. " |
- | the | + | to a theory of the microstructure of matter which made it, to some extent, |
- | execution in the world, or indeed how far God's mind is distinguished from | + | mysterious to human reason." |
- | the | + | by Mind. These were not childish thinkers, nor primitives. They debated serious |
- | world." | + | issues and studied one another' |
- | had | + | time of Aristotle that their views got reduced to what we can neatly -- but |
- | been driven to a theory of the microstructure of matter which made it, to | + | wrongly -- classify as crude. The summation of much pre-Socratic theology and |
- | some | + | philosophy can be stated as follows: The kosmos is not as it appears to be, and |
- | extent, mysterious to human reason." | + | what it probably is, at its deepest level, is exactly that which the human being |
- | determined by Mind. These were not childish thinkers, nor primitives. They | + | is at his deepest level -- call it mind or soul, it is something unitary which |
- | debated serious issues and studied one another' | + | lives and thinks, and only appears to be plural and material. Much of this view |
- | was | + | reaches us through the Logos doctrine regarding Christ. The Logos was both that |
- | not until the time of Aristotle that their views got reduced to what we can | + | which thought, and the thing which it thought: thinker and thought together. The |
- | neatly -- but wrongly -- classify as crude. The summation of much | + | universe, then, is thinker and thought, and since we are part of it, we as |
- | pre-Socratic | + | humans are, in the final analysis, thoughts of and thinkers of those thoughts. |
- | theology and philosophy can be stated as follows: The kosmos is not as it | + | |
- | appears to be, and what it probably is, at its deepest level, is exactly | + | |
- | that | + | |
- | which the human being is at his deepest level -- call it mind or soul, it is | + | |
- | something unitary which lives and thinks, and only appears to be plural and | + | |
- | material. Much of this view reaches us through the Logos doctrine regarding | + | |
- | Christ. The Logos was both that which thought, and the thing which it | + | |
- | thought: | + | |
- | thinker and thought together. The universe, then, is thinker and thought, | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | since we are part of it, we as humans are, in the final analysis, thoughts | + | |
- | of | + | |
- | and thinkers of those thoughts. | + | |
- | Thus if God thinks about Rome circa AD 50, then Rome circa AD 50 is. | + | Thus if God thinks about Rome circa AD 50, then Rome circa AD 50 is. The |
- | The | + | universe is not a windup clock and God the hand that winds it. The universe is |
- | universe is not a windup clock and God the hand that winds it. The universe | + | not a battery-powered watch and God the battery. Spinoza believed that the |
- | is | + | universe is the body of God extensive in space. But long before Spinoza -- two |
- | not a battery-powered watch and God the battery. Spinoza believed that the | + | thousand years before him -- Xenophanes had said, " |
- | universe is the body of God extensive in space. But long before Spinoza -- | + | |
- | two | + | |
- | thousand years before him -- Xenophanes had said, " | + | |
- | all | + | |
things by the thought of his mind" (Fragment 25). | things by the thought of his mind" (Fragment 25). | ||
- | If any of you have read my novel Ubik, you know that the mysterious entity | + | If any of you have read my novel Ubik, you know that the mysterious entity or |
- | or | + | mind or force called Ubik starts out as a series of cheap and vulgar commercials |
- | mind or force called Ubik starts out as a series of cheap and vulgar | + | |
- | commercials | + | |
and winds up saying: | and winds up saying: | ||
- | <i> | + | // I am Ubik. Before the universe was I am. I made the suns. I made the |
- | I am Ubik. Before the universe was I am. I made the suns. I made the | + | worlds. I created the lives and the places they inhabit; I move them here, I put |
- | worlds. I created the lives and the places they inhabit; I move them | + | them there. They go as I say, they do as I tell them. I am the word and my name |
- | here, | + | is never spoken, the name which no one knows. I am called Ubik but that is not |
- | I put them there. They go as I say, they do as I tell them. I am the | + | my name. I am. I shall always be. // |
- | word | + | |
- | and my name is never spoken, the name which no one knows. I am | + | |
- | called | + | |
- | Ubik but that is not my name. I am. I shall always be. | + | |
- | </i> | + | |
- | It is obvious from this who and what Ubik is; it specifically says | + | It is obvious from this who and what Ubik is; it specifically says that it is |
- | that it | + | the word, which is to say, the Logos. In the German translation, |
- | is the word, which is to say, | + | the most wonderful lapses of correct understanding that I have ever come across; |
- | is one | + | God help us if the man who translated my novel Ubik into German were to do a |
- | of the most wonderful lapses of correct understanding that I have ever come | + | translation from the koine Greek into German of the New Testament. He did all |
- | across; God help us if the man who translated my novel Ubik into German were | + | right until he got to the sentence "I am the word." That puzzled him. What can |
- | to | + | the author mean by that? he must have asked himself, obviously never having |
- | do a translation from the koine Greek into German of the New Testament. He | + | across the Logos doctrine. So he did as good a job of translation as |
- | did | + | possible. In the German edition, the Absolute Entity which made the suns, made |
- | all right until he got to the sentence "I am the word." That puzzled him. | + | |
- | What | + | |
- | can the author mean by that? he must have asked himself, obviously never | + | |
- | having | + | |
- | come across the Logos doctrine. So he did as good a job of translation as | + | |
- | possible. In the German edition, the Absolute Entity which made the suns, | + | |
- | made | + | |
the worlds, created the lives and the places they inhabit, says of itself: | the worlds, created the lives and the places they inhabit, says of itself: | ||
- | <i> | + | // |
I am the brand name. | I am the brand name. | ||
- | </i> | + | // |
- | Had he translated the Gospel according to Saint John, I suppose it would | + | Had he translated the Gospel according to Saint John, I suppose it would have |
- | have | + | |
come out as: | come out as: | ||
- | <i> | + | //When all things began, the brand name already was. The brand name dwelt |
- | When all things began, the brand name already was. | + | with God, and what God was, the brand name was. // |
- | The brand name dwelt with God, and what God was, the brand name was. | + | |
- | </i> | + | |
- | It would seem that I not only bring you greetings from Disneyland but from | + | It would seem that I not only bring you greetings from Disneyland but from |
- | Mortimer Snerd. Such is the fate of an author who hoped to include | + | Mortimer Snerd. Such is the fate of an author who hoped to include theological |
- | theological | + | themes in his writing. "The brand name, then, was with God at the beginning, and |
- | themes in his writing. "The brand name, then, was with God at the beginning, | + | through him all things came to be; no single thing was created without him." |
- | and | + | |
- | through him all things came to be; no single thing was created without him." | + | |
- | So | + | |
it goes with noble ambitions. Let's hope God has a sense of humour. | it goes with noble ambitions. Let's hope God has a sense of humour. | ||
- | + | Or should I say, Let's hope the brand name has a sense of humour. | |
- | Or should I say, Let's hope the brand name has a sense of humour. | + | |
- | As I said to you earlier, my two preoccupations in my writing are | + | As I said to you earlier, my two preoccupations in my writing are "What is |
- | "What is | + | reality?" |
- | reality?" | + | have not been able to answer the first question. I have an abiding intuition |
- | that I | + | that somehow the world of the Bible is a literally real but veiled landscape, |
- | have not been able to answer the first question. I have an abiding intuition | + | never changing, hidden from our sight, but available to us by revelation. |
- | that somehow the world of the Bible is a literally real but veiled | + | is all I can come up with -- a mixture of mystical experience, reasoning, and |
- | landscape, | + | faith. I would like to say something about the traits of the authentic human, |
- | never changing, hidden from our sight, but available to us by revelation. | + | |
- | That | + | |
- | is all I can come up with -- a mixture of mystical experience, reasoning, | + | |
- | and | + | |
- | faith. I would like to say something about the traits of the authentic | + | |
- | human, | + | |
though; in this quest I have had more plausible answers. | though; in this quest I have had more plausible answers. | ||
- | The authentic human being is one of us who instinctively knows what | + | The authentic human being is one of us who instinctively knows what he should |
- | he | + | not do, and, in addition, he will balk at doing it. He will refuse to do it, |
- | should | + | even if this brings down dread consequences to him and to those whom he |
- | do | + | loves. This, to me, is the ultimately heroic trait of ordinary people; they say |
- | it, even if this brings down dread consequences to him and to those whom he | + | |
- | loves. This, to me, is the ultimately heroic trait of ordinary people; they | + | |
- | say | + | |
no to the tyrant and they calmly take the consequences of this resistance. | no to the tyrant and they calmly take the consequences of this resistance. | ||
- | Their | + | Their deeds may be small, and almost always unnoticed, unmarked by |
- | deeds may be small, and almost always unnoticed, unmarked by history. Their | + | history. Their names are not remembered, nor did these authentic humans expect |
- | names are not remembered, nor did these authentic humans expect their names | + | their names to be remembered. I see their authenticity in an odd way: not in |
- | to | + | their willingness to perform great heroic deeds but in their quiet refusals. In |
- | be remembered. I see their authenticity in an odd way: not in their | + | essence, they cannot be compelled to be what they are not. |
- | willingness | + | |
- | to perform great heroic deeds but in their quiet refusals. In essence, they | + | |
- | cannot be compelled to be what they are not. | + | |
- | The power of spurious realities battering at us today -- these | + | The power of spurious realities battering at us today -- these deliberately |
- | deliberately manufactured fakes never penetrate to the heart of true human | + | manufactured fakes never penetrate to the heart of true human beings. I watch |
- | beings. I watch the children watching TV and at first I am afraid of what | + | the children watching TV and at first I am afraid of what they are being taught, |
- | they | + | and then I realise, They can't be corrupted or destroyed. |
- | are being taught, and then I realise, They can't be corrupted or destroyed. | + | listen, they understand, and, then, where and when it is necessary, they |
- | They | + | reject. There is something enormously powerful in a child' |
- | watch, they listen, they understand, and, then, where and when it is | + | the fraudulent. A child has the clearest eye, the steadiest hand. The |
- | necessary, | + | hucksters, the promoters, are appealing for the allegiance of these small people |
- | they reject. There is something enormously powerful in a child' | + | in vain. True, the cereal companies may be able to market huge quantities of |
- | withstand the fraudulent. A child has the clearest eye, the steadiest hand. | + | junk breakfasts; the hamburger and hot dog chains may sell endless numbers of |
- | The | + | unreal fast-food items to the children, but the deep heart beats firmly, |
- | hucksters, the promoters, are appealing for the allegiance of these small | + | unreached and unreasoned with. A child of today can detect a lie quicker than |
- | people | + | the wisest adult of two decades ago. When I want to know what is true, I ask my |
- | in vain. True, the cereal companies may be able to market huge quantities of | + | |
- | junk breakfasts; the hamburger and hot dog chains may sell endless numbers | + | |
- | of | + | |
- | unreal fast-food items to the children, but the deep heart beats firmly, | + | |
- | unreached and unreasoned with. A child of today can detect a lie quicker | + | |
- | than | + | |
- | the wisest adult of two decades ago. When I want to know what is true, I ask | + | |
- | my | + | |
children. They do not ask me; I turn to them. | children. They do not ask me; I turn to them. | ||
- | One day while my son Christopher, | + | One day while my son Christopher, |
- | of me | + | his mother, we two adults began discussing the figure of Jesus in the Synoptic |
- | and his mother, we two adults began discussing the figure of Jesus in the | + | Gospels. Christopher turned toward us for an instant and said, "I am a |
- | Synoptic Gospels. Christopher turned toward us for an instant and said, "I | + | fisherman. I fish for fish." He was playing with a metal lantern which someone |
- | am a | + | had given me, which I had never used... and suddenly I realised that the lantern |
- | fisherman. I fish for fish." He was playing with a metal lantern which | + | was shaped like a fish. I wonder what thoughts were being placed in my little |
- | someone | + | boy's soul at that moment -- and not placed there by cereal merchants or candy |
- | had given me, which I had never used... and suddenly I realised that the | + | peddlers. "I am a fisherman. I fish for fish." Christopher, |
- | lantern | + | the sign I did not find until I was forty-five years old. Time is speeding |
- | was shaped like a fish. I wonder what thoughts were being placed in my | + | up. And to what end? Maybe we were told that two thousand years ago. Or maybe it |
- | little | + | wasn't really that long ago; maybe it is a delusion that so much time has |
- | boy's soul at that moment -- and not placed there by cereal merchants or | + | passed. Maybe it was a week ago, or even earlier today. |
- | candy | + | only speeding up; perhaps, in addition, it is going to end. |
- | peddlers. "I am a fisherman. I fish for fish." Christopher, | + | |
- | found | + | |
- | the sign I did not find until I was forty-five years old. | + | |
- | Time is speeding up. And to what end? Maybe we were told that two thousand | + | |
- | years | + | |
- | ago. Or maybe it wasn't really that long ago; maybe it is a delusion that so | + | |
- | much time has passed. Maybe it was a week ago, or even earlier today. | + | |
- | Perhaps | + | |
- | time is not only speeding up; perhaps, in addition, it is going to end. | + | |
- | And if it does, the rides at Disneyland are never going to be the | + | And if it does, the rides at Disneyland are never going to be the same |
- | same | + | again. Because when time ends, the birds and hippos and lions and deer at |
- | again. Because when time ends, the birds and hippos and lions and deer at | + | Disneyland will no longer be simulations, |
- | Disneyland will no longer be simulations, | + | |
- | bird | + | |
will sing. | will sing. | ||
- | </ | ||