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The
Social "Defence-System"
Our
View of Humanity Decides our Future
by
Wolfgang Fischer
(download
pdf.file)
(german
) ( spanish)
The
tasks of the immune system of biological organisms are
threefold:
1.
to recognise and contain possible dangers,
2.
to defend against damage and injury, and
3.
to maintain the integrity of the
organism
-
i.e. in total, to safeguard that which we call health. The
term 'health', as here understood, does not refer to a state
but denotes a continuing process which may either be
supported or gravely disturbed.
In
the long process of evolution a part of the physical immune
system has learned to distinguish what is alien from that
which is its own, and that which is supportive from what is
creating disturbance. It continues this learning process in
the life of the individual. It "knows" from experience what
constitutes a danger or threat, and it endeavours to keep
this knowledge unreserved current so as to be able to
respond adequately and flexible and thereby protect the
individual's health from harm.
The
continuing evolution of the primate's brain has led in
humans to the emergence of a mental potential which in
comparison to that of animals is "free and new". This makes
it necessary to develop a kind of immune system also for the
domain of ideas and ideologies so as to ensure protection
from world views that are destructive and antisocial. And
just as the learning processes of the body's defense system
are based upon experience gathered in the course of
evolution, the experience of human history forms the basis
of a mental defense system.
If
humanity ever wants to learn from history it needs to face
reality, renouncing any view that's ideologically colored.
For just as in the immune system of the individual the
recognition of dangers constitutes a precondition for
successfully dealing with them, the same applies to the
successful maintenance of the integrity of humanity.
Wherever
rational and physical experience remains connected, the
mental immune system will develop undisturbed. In the life
of indigenous tribes life experience and the accumulation of
knowledge go hand in hand. Their trance techniques, whether
induced by hallucinogens or through breathing processes,
dancing or meditation, invariably serve to provide a
holistic experience. Feeling and the intellect are
considered of equal value and remain connected, thus
ensuring the maintenance of physical and mental health.
In
our modern society which seeks to set itself off against all
that's linked to nature, an imbalance has arisen: the
intellect is overvalued as compared to feeling; feeling and
sensitivity are given a negative connotation, being
considered effeminate if not a sign of weakness. Seen from a
historical point of view this development - according to
James DeMeo's Saharasia-Thesis
- started about 4000 years ago when dramatic changes in
climate in Africa and Asia forced peacefully existing
societies to new social concepts. We cannot tell definitely
whether or not these specific changes or others initiated
the emphases of Ratio by neglecting sensitivity. Anyhow,
giving more value to Ratio as compared to sensitivity
created intellectual potentials. However, these growing
abilities made themselves independent and on the long run
lost their connection to the fundamental conditions of Life.
This loss is the loss of religion in its very sense.
Aggressivity getting stronger up to open and deliberate
destruction of Nature only was possible by a finally
systematical negation of sensitive attitude towards Life by
a coldhearted intellect.
This
loss of sensibility robs us of a natural regulator,
aggravating the imbalance to the point of pathological
destructiveness: individual pain is negated, social pain
erased from reality. The dying of the diversity of species,
the increasing pollution of our water, our air and our food,
together with the resulting health problems - all these
natural regulators in our life are being rationalized and
remain inaccessible to feeling. They thus miss what is their
real function: to shake us into actively changing our
all-consuming way of living. Without shedding a tear we
freeze and neutralize that inner force of sensation which
would have the power to wake us up and move us. Pain and the
feelings of joy as "vital guide rails" are not being
acknowledged. The source of intuition, which makes life
richer, is being dried out by only calculating
reason.
Just
as pain as a regulator is meant to prevent us from acting in
a way that is harmful to ourselves, the feelings of joy or
happiness are rewards for right action (=action that is
advantageous in the evolutionary sense). Both pain and joy
seek to guide the individual along a safe path. Their
fallibility arises solely from the fact that they may not be
acknowledged, since we are concentrating upon different,
rationally based interests. In this pursuit we are
separating ourselves from the reality of the given moment of
sensation (=the appropriate feeling), thereby submitting to
a lack of direction in the space of any given possibility
which prepares the way for illusion. The illusions of
'civilized' present-day human social systems negate reality
by no longer perceiving the interwoven character of all life
and the resulting necessity of global cooperation and
respect. This makes it increasingly difficult to respond and
act meaningfully.
Illusions
as Visions leading to a Loss of Reality - what are the
factors facilitating them?
In
comparison to the new-born of other species, human infants
at birth are the least able to survive on their own and the
most dependent on a postnatal learning process. In contrast
to that of most animal species, the innate programming in
humans is insufficient for assuring survival. And culture
still is not successful in creating a social conscience for
global survival.
In
the case of animals, a genetic programming takes care of the
survival of the individual, thereby also ensuring social
cohesion, whereas humans are born into a kind of "mental
vacuum". Their cerebrum needs to be filled with concepts and
images of reality via a process of learning. A precondition
for reality and concept to be in agreement and illusory
misconception being avoided is, that this learning should be
unimpeded - that experience be possible without dogmatic
restrictions let alone prohibitions. Only such unrestricted
process of experience will assure a meaningful
psycho-cultural development.
On
the other hand, any coercion to adopt a certain belief in
pre-formed images precludes the authentic copying of reality
in the brain, in our concepts and dreams. The perception
will then be distorted, leading to a loss of truthfulness
and thereby of necessity into illusion, which may be
aggravated to the point of insanity.
And
as reality too is subject to a continuing process of change,
the illusory misconception will increase to the extent to
which the mental images and concepts are dogmatically
solidified as being meant never to be changed.
This
shows that any political initiative that is to have
practical consequences needs to face the issue of ideology,
and religion in particular, for in the final analysis it is
their mental potential which shapes social reality, in its
insanity as well as in health.
In
the domain of Christianity the concept of a God who reserves
his love for the diligent and wealthy is leading to the
callous exploitation of both the living and the dead
resources of our planet. The idea of a Savior keeps our
self-healing energies unutilized in paralyzing fatalism. The
concept of a God who favors a chosen people is preventing,
even after the experience of the holocaust, a learning
process towards tolerant peaceableness and equal cooperation
with people who have been deprived of their homeland. The
concept of a God who fights for his ideas with fire and
sword gives rise to the madness of a Holy War. The idea of a
male God is used to disadvantage women. The idea of a God
outside our human existence deprives us of our own
responsibility. The mechanical idea of karma favors the
maintenance of the status quo: those of low status have to
blame themselves for it while those at the top can revel in
their self-righteousness! The notion of re-incarnation, of
having several lives, does emphasize on an individualistic
EGO, which marginalizes the 'transpersonal reality', the
interconnectedness of all being. The view that we exist
separately from Nature and are meant to rule over it
perverts the instinct of self-preservation into an
unfeeling, merciless craving for power.
It
is when we leave God aside to begin with, making our human
existence in all its natural contingencies the focal point
of our deliberations and research that we will be able to
learn, in justice to ourselves, to advance our life style
and ensure a future for all.
Let
us take the natural laws which apply and have effect
throughout the universe, without at this point pondering the
question how they came into being. Let us concentrate on
Life which, as physicists tell us, owes its existence on
this planet solely to the light energy and organizing power
of the sun. Until the emergence of mankind this power,
resisting entropy, developed a continuity of fine-tuned
processes of equilibrium. Characteristically, all of these
promote the unfolding of their underlying potential. They
thereby give rise to a development from simplicity to highly
complex diversity which maintains its direction and
adjustment (=justice) by means of feedback processes
(=religion).
With
the emergence of humanity a new kind of scales in Nature has
come into being - one which still has not fully realized
that finding its equilibrium is not only its task but also a
precondition for its continued existence. A majority of
human concepts and ideas developed in the course of history
is still lingering in areas where awareness of the contexts
of the biosphere is lacking. Worse still: many of them are
even used to destroy this context of wholeness. In so doing,
'civilized' humanity is attacking the very foundations of
its existence, a behavior which may fittingly be
characterized as 'insane'. The above-mentioned examples of
misconceptions, religious or otherwise, all share a lack of
holistic orientation, which in view of the actually given
situation renders them destructive.
A
simplifying and false picture of reality is being generated
when we place 'rationality' versus 'irrationality', as we
normally do, thus completely neglecting our sensitive
potentials. Acting rational never guarantees to act rightly,
seen from a holistic perspective. Irrationality exposes
itself where rational lies combine with disharmony of
feelings whereas rational truth together with harmony of
feelings produce 'emotional intelligence'. Irrationality
based on mental and/or emotional deficits is being opposed
by emotional intelligence of mature human wisdom.
Solidarity
with life finally proves human maturity
It
is by activating and utilizing our full rational and
sensitive potential that we shall be able to learn to
recognize, and accept, the holistic nature of the natural
laws we are subject to. And we must learn to comply with
them, for they are our actual roots that ensure our
survival.
However,
doing this we need to expand our view to take in a global
perspective. If it remains limited to the concerns of an
elitist minority, we will be violating the laws of wholeness
and health and miss out on our salvation.
Human
history is dotted with examples of partial knowledge being
used in the service of a small elite as an instrument
against others. In our times, such repressive conduct is
leading to more than just a limited conflict: it is the
harbinger of catastrophes on a global scale. Nor can it be
overcome unless we open our perception. Only a precise
knowledge of the global laws governing Life will bear fruit
in holistic ethical values of a culture deserving to be
called truly human. In this culture, not only practices such
as clitoral circumcision or cannibalism will be perceived to
be a-natural, but likewise colonialism, neo-liberalism and
all the rest of pseudo-religious/ ideological/moral
concepts, all of which when measured by the exigencies of
global survival are counterproductive. Such perception is
the basis for a global humanism which is fully conscious of
its inherent connectedness with the given conditions of life
and survival, and will therefore take responsibility for its
actions to the benefit of all involved.
This
I consider to be the starting point of any political vision
that seeks to support the development of society in the
direction of world-wide solidarity. Party platforms only
will be socially helpful if they meet the challenges of the
reality of life. Religion only will be cultural productive
under the condition easy to understand and onward leading if
real answers to people's questions are offered.
Liberation/emancipation and a healthy development assume
mental flexibility as well as the readiness to
learn.
Dogmatism
hampers mental growth
Outdated,
fundamentalistic, and dogmatic answers tend to become
rationally untrue thus becoming false, like irrationality of
metaphysics. When Christian tradition invites us 'become
again like children', this invitation aims at the children's
mental freedom, their huge power of imagination, their
ability to admire and to believe. Again we should be able to
perceive and trust our visions. Visions are trans-cultural
resembling perspectives on future. Their source is the hope
of human soul for solidarity among people and with nature.
We regain our chances to make come true our deeply routed
visions and hopes for peace and security only if we really
believe in them.
'Free
from prejudice' - it is exactly this unspoiled belief in
ourselves and our inner potentials which is abused by
religious institutions world-wide. Religious as well as
ideological tutelage does violence to the 'divine' within
humans. Tutelage, with its coerced belief in prefabricated
ideas creates the monster out of us, the real evil.
Subjugation ensures a continuous discord by
violence-addicted use of power.
"A
childlike belief " encourages, enforces one's own opinion
and leads to a encreasing readiness to engage actively in
all questions of public interest. Today, this becomes more
and more necessary as political parties only pretend to
stand for general welfare. Long ago they have lost
perspectives which could encourage solidarity. They have
become selfishly subservient to the dictates of Capital, and
on a global scale are trying to excuse this subservience by
portraying it as in accordance with natural law, hence not
allowing any alternative. They will continue to lose their
credibility to the extent to which their 'neo-liberal'
policies solely subservient to isolated interests and due to
their home-made narrowed horizon continues to produce
impoverishment and social misery by following a defective
spiritual orientation.
Moreover,
as the people's hunger for answers to their social problems
and questions is growing, so too is the danger of
irresponsible answers being offered. To immunize society
against this danger, we need to encourage visions which
offer truly holistic answers. The forming of a critical
opinion along the lines of the thoughts here presented would
constitute an effective social defence system against man
made life threatening dangers. It is my hope that there are
still a sufficient number of intellectuals around who, on
account of their mental flexibility and emotional empathy,
would be able to convey this: All life stems from the same
source, and the foundation of a healthy future is universal
cooperation. A Cooperative Competition by raising the
social standards serves the realization of the newly set
goal of a worldwide sustainable society. This goal is
identical with Paradise as portrayed by the various
religions.
Taking
into account the laws of nature and the requirements of
eco-social health, the vision here outlined portrays the
picture of a kind of present of which humans need no longer
be ashamed. The realization of this, however, requires not
only a change in consciousness but also concrete action in
accordance with it.
The
vision of world-wide peace, the interconnectedness of all
being
The
basis of moral acting is awareness of reality, which is the
human prerequisite for a flourishing future. 'Awareness of
reality' is nothing but mysticism.
And
mysticism, unfortunately, still is not yet a generally
accepted issue among those people in front of the
switchboards of power, who try to plan the future. Many
indigenous peoples with their traditional knowledge being
orally passed on and people who are able to practise
sympathy never have been alienated from mysticism.
Unfortunately, scientific world-view still does not realize
the potential and value of an 'inner perception' thus
neglecting basic connections. This is why we find such an
irreverence concerning the interconnectedness of all being,
the disregard of universal welfare. Support of 'partial'
interests neglects the universal interests of life, is a
vital mistake which strengthens the tyranny of power or
majority and represents a threat for all of us. The use of
weapons to find decisions does not refer to a guaranteed
future. War and terror are nothing but an addicted clinging
to a destuctive and degenerated way of living. They only
increase insecurity and never create peace.
Here
I see the worldwide opponents of corporate globalization,
the anti-WTO activists, amnesty international, Greenpeace,
WEED, civil peace forces - to mention but a few groups of
the society which is participatorily organizing itself from
below - on paths alternative and supplementary in direction
to grassroot democracy or other forms and facets of a
non-violent social existence.
"Liberté,
égalité, fraternité!" (Equality,
fraternity, liberty!) was once the catch-cry of a European
revolution.
Today
this motto, amplified by the words "tolerance, justice,
socio-ecological sustainability" might serve to
coordinate a global movement of solidarity which will be
able to constitute an alternative force against the - solely
economically motivated - push towards globalization. The
neo-liberal dogma of a crushing competition in all fields of
life for the benifit of Capital leads directly to universal
destruction.
Only
a merciless intellectual and emotional evaluation of the
established system of canonized greed and lies and of
gloryfied destruction and death, which would continue to
lead us into ever increasing misery, can produce awareness
of the true reality of our situation. Only then can the
commitment and energy required for transformation and
healing occur on all levels of society including within the
minds and hearts of politicians and corporate executives.
This
awareness of the urgency and magnitude of the desperate
global situation automatically confers a moral imperative on
everybody without exception and it takes precedence over any
contradictory laws or customs. If those sharing similar
concern and motivation can work together in united and
effective action to create change like for example the
implementation of the polluter pays principle, and if this
happens all over the globe at the same time, this can create
a simultaneous
policy (SP),
on the basis of which decisions on social-ecological affairs
all over the world can be made at the same time. Thus
overcoming synergetically two decisive disadvantages of the
current political system: destructive competition and
profits at the cost of the general public and the
environment. No nation, no corporation, no peoples, not a
single person would lose out.
Simultaneous
Policy is a quantum leap in respect to the quality of social
action which is led by global responsibility.
Problems could effectively be solved, hunger and all the
destructive aspects of our current system could be banished.
The concentrating on common values within a global
perspective will strengthen the immune system of humanity.
The vital potential will be reinvigorated whilst the
reactionary, patriarchal forces of alienation and
suppression - whether represented by multinational
corporations, despots or ideological/ religious
misconceptions in their manifold forms - will be denied all
further support. Utilizing the liberated resources we will
begin on a global scale to dismantle the man-made threats to
the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Mental
blueprints which do recognize natural dependencies of
mankind gain new, creative potentials and start with taking
the feasibility of a socio-ecological alternative for
granted as a matter of course. It is, after all, our only
chance of an open future.
We
begin to work actively for the maintenance of the integrity
of life. Fallible as humanity may be, the natural indicator
of feeling pain or joy - no longer subject to emotional
alienation or dogmatic misrepresentation - will mature into
a mental immune system. Characteristic expression of a fully
functioning mental immun system are sensitivity and
intuition which will effectively protect us from turning
human faults into inhumane systems.
--
> Paul Hawken: Blessed
Unrest
ISPO
International Simultaneous Policy
Organisation
Here
is more on the subject: http://emanzipationhumanum.de/english/titels.html#1
-
http://www.artdsm.com/religiondetoxification/
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http://purereason.org
(german
version)
Emanzipation
Humanum,
version 12.2003, translation from german to english by
Rainer
Taëni.
Criticism, suggestions as to form and content, dialogue,
translation into other languages are all
desired
http://emanzipationhumanum.de/english/immunize.html
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