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Post by gillianlaird on Jun 14, 2024 19:35:09 GMT
A tactic that has gained popularity and replaced religion for a lot of people over the past four years is something called "manifestation." I remember first noticing it grow in popularity amongst young women on TikTok during the first few months of the pandemic. Manifestation is essentially the idea that one must put their desires out into the Universe, act and live their life as if those desires are already their's, and then, as if by magic, the Universe is meant to bring that manifestation to life. I remember falling for this hook, line, and sinker. Looking at it now (and with Absurdism attached), I think manifestation is just another way for humans to try and take control of their existence. However, unlike religion, manifestation cuts out the middle man. The idea of Heaven or Hell and doing good in order to gain entry into the former does not exist. For those who believe in manifestation, good comes to them simply because they will it so. I find it very interesting that a belief system like this should surge in popularity during a worldwide pandemic where so many people felt like they lacked so much, but especially control. Did/does anyone else practice manifestation?
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Post by Dr. Nemmers on Jun 16, 2024 16:03:42 GMT
Interesting, Gillian-- I hadn't heard of that directly, but I guess I've seen various mentions on social media and commercials and whatnot. To some extent it does have similarities with ideas like karma, kismet, prayer, and the like. So, I don't know that it's any more absurd than these notions, which, as you note, stem from people wanting to exercise control over their existence-- especially in the arenas where they don't have it.
I also wonder what the relationship is between manifestation and meditation? They both seem to be inner interactions, but one seeks inner change and the other seeks outer change?
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Post by dianarmartinez on Jun 16, 2024 23:10:12 GMT
I do think religion is a soothing concept for people who do not want to keep acknowledging the absurdity of life. However, those who do not believe in religion are also ignorant because they aren't trying to develop or figure out the meaning of life. I think this concept of absurdity has two main phases: people who choose to follow our societal structure and those who choose not but do not actively do something to enhance their side. I think it is part of human emotion to feel secure, safe, and soothed to prevent ourselves from killing one another.
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Post by gillianlaird on Jun 17, 2024 19:02:06 GMT
I do think religion is a soothing concept for people who do not want to keep acknowledging the absurdity of life. However, those who do not believe in religion are also ignorant because they aren't trying to develop or figure out the meaning of life. I think this concept of absurdity has two main phases: people who choose to follow our societal structure and those who choose not but do not actively do something to enhance their side. I think it is part of human emotion to feel secure, safe, and soothed to prevent ourselves from killing one another. I feel like there might be two camps when it comes to people who do not believe in religion. There are those who aer purely pessimistic and refuse to acknowledge the absurdity of human existence, and then there are those who take a more scientific view on things. The latter are the types of people who do not believe in god/manifestation/any type of religion/"the Universe" because they believe more so in the "Big Bang," which is the theory that the universe began as a tiny ball of fire that then exploded and shaped the world as we know it today. To me, that is equally as absurd as any religion of manifestation. Either way, I definitely agree that the human belief system (no matter what that belief system consists of) is meant to aid us in maintaining our humanity. I am a firm believer in souls and the idea that there is a Heaven for said souls to travel to upon the death of our physical body, however I have sat in thought many times about the world around me and the people inhabiting it. What is truly absurd is the notion that we are less animal than a lion, or a bear, or a shark, etc. It truly does not take much for us to degenerate to out baser instincts when we feel threatened or under attack. This might be a long, unnecessary tangent, but this is where my brain went. |
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