As Dostoyevsky wrote, When there is no God, everything is permissible. And as Nietsche wrote, God is dead, and we killed him.
So man became his own god, with disastrous results. We believed in scientism and foresook the metaphysical. And now we see how science has failed us in so many ways. We still can’t explain how a soup of inert chemicals transformed into living cells. We don’t understand the universe. We’re using molecular biology against ourselves. Maybe it’s time we recognized our attempts at godhood have wrought disasters, and we need a return to humility and a belief in something bigger than ourselves. Something that reminds us daily how to be good, honest and decent people. Where we seek truth and beauty and know right from wrong.
Thoughtful, nuanced discussions like this are why I love Substack. I subscribe to Paul Kingsnorth (though I'm a dreaded atheist ;-) because his essays nevertheless speak to those who, as he says, want to understand why the modern world seems so wrong, or are disturbed by what they see happening to civilization. Grateful for his perspective, even when I may disagree. Thank you for this!
Having this show up in my inbox is like the new Twitter algorithm that keeps shoving disinformation in my face. Vaccines are important. Activism is important. I'm not interested in some guy's take on why being selfish is actually fine.
Who in their right mind would not thrive living on a few acres of land, eating the fruits of the good earth and one's own labor? This is a choice that most do not have, There are not enough acres in the world for all humans to live this sort of life, on this scale. I do think it is possible to find peace and balance within ourselves even in a city, even when using technology, even when respecting science, as imperfect as it may be due to human nature.
I am not favorably impressed by Paul Kingsnorth's excuses for being an anti -vaxer. If everyone would have cooperated, we could have promptly snuffed out Covid. Instead, Covid deniers have forced upon the most vulnerable the option of being lifelong hermits to avoid danger.
I am very interested in surviving a lifestyle that reacts as little as possible with the mainstream which is very difficult. Our governement seems to be more dictatorial and oppressive since covid..I can see where the simple parts of religion can be positive and useful, but I do look at history and the wars that have been in the name of religion so I do have a problem. I appreiciate your thoughtful thought Paul. thankyou
I started to listen, but Mr. Kingsnorth, I encourage you to embrace the overwhelming complexity of living with a world replete with catastrophic problems that individuals cannot control. As a lifelong activist myself, the problem is philosophical and societal (created by the church and capitalism) and the answer is the opposite: Community, mutuality, cooperation which of course leads us to mutual liberation and acceptance. Nothing simple about any of these. But we got this! Join us!
It seems to me that the pro-lockdown crowd had become a power-cult. To question it was (is?) taboo and one was somehow tainted as being vile to even ask what the real consequences might be. Thank you for having Paul Kingsnorth as a guest. Kyrie Eleison!
As a 25 y/o who might be in the ‘know everything phase’ I disagree and agree with so much of this.
I also find it interesting to denounce writing as career, when you have a livelihood on Substack. Sure, it’s an art form that many people have found a way to monetize. But if that monetization went away on some large scale, wouldn’t you have to adjust toward a new way to make money? Sure, you can replace the word career when you speak to it - but the principle is the same. Interesting place for Substack to place this message.
I've got Kingsnorth's "Alexandria" on my bookshelf—haven't started it yet.
His Buccmaster trilogy is fascinating. "The Wake" (book 1) was a beautiful, challenging read. The entire book is written in a unique hybrid phonetic version of Old English.
E.g., "words now is left my only waepens and non wolde sae i has efer been afeart to wield what waepens i has."
Looks like gibberish at first, but eventually you get the hang of it.
--
I'm looking forward to this conversation.
We need such dissenters that press back against the current orthodoxy. Regardless of their position or angle. They produce a friction that presses us toward reason and balance.
I ended up turning off this episode because it appeared to me that this person who was very passionate and solid in their positions as a younger person just gave up. The more I read and learn the more I understand that if I don't do my part, the cascade effect is much larger. I believe in fighting for what is right through my actions, even if it is only a drop in the ocean.
Minimizing those who don't believe in an 'all knowing' entity is rude. I am not here because of technology, I am here because I have witnessed what horrible things humans do to one another in the name of an entity that they made up to explain the unexplainable, at the time. If religion worked, we would have a unified world, instead we have people like this person spouting off and further separating people into 'other' groups. This doesn't make the world better.
As Dostoyevsky wrote, When there is no God, everything is permissible. And as Nietsche wrote, God is dead, and we killed him.
So man became his own god, with disastrous results. We believed in scientism and foresook the metaphysical. And now we see how science has failed us in so many ways. We still can’t explain how a soup of inert chemicals transformed into living cells. We don’t understand the universe. We’re using molecular biology against ourselves. Maybe it’s time we recognized our attempts at godhood have wrought disasters, and we need a return to humility and a belief in something bigger than ourselves. Something that reminds us daily how to be good, honest and decent people. Where we seek truth and beauty and know right from wrong.
Thoughtful, nuanced discussions like this are why I love Substack. I subscribe to Paul Kingsnorth (though I'm a dreaded atheist ;-) because his essays nevertheless speak to those who, as he says, want to understand why the modern world seems so wrong, or are disturbed by what they see happening to civilization. Grateful for his perspective, even when I may disagree. Thank you for this!
Having this show up in my inbox is like the new Twitter algorithm that keeps shoving disinformation in my face. Vaccines are important. Activism is important. I'm not interested in some guy's take on why being selfish is actually fine.
"It was terrifying. It was really disturbing. And it wasn’t the vaccine that was disturbing, it was the system that was rolled out around it. ".
Would you have preferred the vaccine was rolled out by the girl scouts ? I guess you didn't know anyone who died of covid.
Interesting interview.
Who in their right mind would not thrive living on a few acres of land, eating the fruits of the good earth and one's own labor? This is a choice that most do not have, There are not enough acres in the world for all humans to live this sort of life, on this scale. I do think it is possible to find peace and balance within ourselves even in a city, even when using technology, even when respecting science, as imperfect as it may be due to human nature.
I am not favorably impressed by Paul Kingsnorth's excuses for being an anti -vaxer. If everyone would have cooperated, we could have promptly snuffed out Covid. Instead, Covid deniers have forced upon the most vulnerable the option of being lifelong hermits to avoid danger.
I am very interested in surviving a lifestyle that reacts as little as possible with the mainstream which is very difficult. Our governement seems to be more dictatorial and oppressive since covid..I can see where the simple parts of religion can be positive and useful, but I do look at history and the wars that have been in the name of religion so I do have a problem. I appreiciate your thoughtful thought Paul. thankyou
I started to listen, but Mr. Kingsnorth, I encourage you to embrace the overwhelming complexity of living with a world replete with catastrophic problems that individuals cannot control. As a lifelong activist myself, the problem is philosophical and societal (created by the church and capitalism) and the answer is the opposite: Community, mutuality, cooperation which of course leads us to mutual liberation and acceptance. Nothing simple about any of these. But we got this! Join us!
It seems to me that the pro-lockdown crowd had become a power-cult. To question it was (is?) taboo and one was somehow tainted as being vile to even ask what the real consequences might be. Thank you for having Paul Kingsnorth as a guest. Kyrie Eleison!
Why isn't The Holy Bible on your list of recommended reading?
As a 25 y/o who might be in the ‘know everything phase’ I disagree and agree with so much of this.
I also find it interesting to denounce writing as career, when you have a livelihood on Substack. Sure, it’s an art form that many people have found a way to monetize. But if that monetization went away on some large scale, wouldn’t you have to adjust toward a new way to make money? Sure, you can replace the word career when you speak to it - but the principle is the same. Interesting place for Substack to place this message.
He is an incredible writer.
IMO Paul is the most profound writer on Substack. thank U guys so much for giving him a bigger platform!
I've got Kingsnorth's "Alexandria" on my bookshelf—haven't started it yet.
His Buccmaster trilogy is fascinating. "The Wake" (book 1) was a beautiful, challenging read. The entire book is written in a unique hybrid phonetic version of Old English.
E.g., "words now is left my only waepens and non wolde sae i has efer been afeart to wield what waepens i has."
Looks like gibberish at first, but eventually you get the hang of it.
--
I'm looking forward to this conversation.
We need such dissenters that press back against the current orthodoxy. Regardless of their position or angle. They produce a friction that presses us toward reason and balance.
I ended up turning off this episode because it appeared to me that this person who was very passionate and solid in their positions as a younger person just gave up. The more I read and learn the more I understand that if I don't do my part, the cascade effect is much larger. I believe in fighting for what is right through my actions, even if it is only a drop in the ocean.
Minimizing those who don't believe in an 'all knowing' entity is rude. I am not here because of technology, I am here because I have witnessed what horrible things humans do to one another in the name of an entity that they made up to explain the unexplainable, at the time. If religion worked, we would have a unified world, instead we have people like this person spouting off and further separating people into 'other' groups. This doesn't make the world better.
Ruin comes when the trader, whose heart is lifted up by wealth, becomes ruler. Plato, c375 BC. Perhaps nothing in 21st Century is new!