What is Modernity?

I read an excerpt from Charlene Spretnak's book "The Resurgence of the Real" about the many unfortunate assumptions roughly tied to what is called the ideology of modernity.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• modernity
• ecology
• protest
• spretnak
• charlene
• spirituality
• globalization

[9claudius]

How succesful is Mathew Fox's "Creaton Spirituality" in attempting a return to the hyper-female ? Worship is based on rave elements. Are there communities in your area ?

[0ThouArtThat0]

He is teaching a course at my school right now, but I couldn't tell you how successful it is, per say. I am not sure about communities, by which I suppose you mean a group of followers of his teachings?

[plenipotentiarius]

Good summary. And a much needed perspective.

Of course it plays into the hands of someone who accuses you of Romanticism and the desire to return to primal, medieval or ancient times.

Somehow, with six billion people those very modern systems seem necessary to prevent even more widespread starvation etc. I'm not sure if more "spirituality" would not make it worse; as the obese reach for spiritual solace while the hungry have to remain vehemently materialistic.

[0ThouArtThat0]

We should be careful not to mistake the techniques and ideologies of modernity as the only means of curtailing the very same circumstances said techniques and ideologies have contributed to creating in the first place.

I think there is nothing more important at this particular moment in human history than a renewed spiritual connection to the planet and its ecosystems. Spirituality does not necessarily mean striving to transcend; it can mean seeking a deeper connection to nature.

[silverbackman]

Sounds interesting......I'm very pro-science but I find it silly that many modern anthropologists find the tyrannical patriarchal structures like dominance, hierarchy, inequality, ect. as the rational scientific way. I think we can still have all the benefits of science/rationalism and all it can offer without reverting to old hierarchal/institutional/patri­archal practices. This in my opinion is more of a feature of authoritarian faith-based religions.

[0ThouArtThat0]

I will read a section from the same book where the author describes what she would like to hear the scientific community say about the scope of their enterprise.

[ThewildRageofGordon]

Put science in one of those compartments - a useful zealotic click coupled with a utilitarian practice - and let civilization itself finally blossom.

[ThewildRageofGordon]

So, has the post-secular age begun? or What?

[bellotti00]

thank you! I've been looking for something like this... for anyone interested in an older voice speaking in this vein, check out: Rene Guenon's The Crisis of The Modern World.

[coreolis7]

I should have written "create" instead of synthesize. Watts makes a distinction between the Grown and the Made. A tree and a table are both "made" of wood but one is born and one is assembled. Everything not "made" is in a lot of danger these days, but only the "born" can regrow.

[coreolis7]

--- Such a succinct summing up of the conceptual milieu we are soaking in --- wasn't it McLuhan who said that the immediate and sensible eventually becomes the invisible environment? To build, to grow, to synthesize is the best revolutionary response to Deathculture.

[JoshPhotographer]

Hey Matt,

Let me know where in the book the excerpt is.

Cheers,

Josh

[emblemOFbeing]

I understand, I sympathize, and further, I appreciate someone pointing out--or bringing up again--these prejudices to readers or those who will listen. Many of those features are exclusive to our epoch. But I feel, at least, some are not. When and where were people, or any other primates, 'less masculine' in their cultural style and simultaneously more encouraging of empathic behavior, insofar as the organization of structures i.e., social-normative / ritual / 'form of life' is concerned?

[chapero1]

Top man!

[1PostPoMoMaN1]

Or like now: people doing yoga breathing exercises to focus mind. Example: do this: breathe through one nostril and then through the other,change: first out then in, then with the other nostril, do that whenever you're too stressed, depressed, too excited, too sleepy, and do it as long as you want. This is the basic yogic method dof breath that leads to transparent and transformative states and stages of consciousness. As or the dao and zen, Im all for that, beacasue that's what I also practice.

[1PostPoMoMaN1]

Excellent.