A couple of events
By Mark Vernon on Tuesday, November 3 2009, 07:46 - Events - Permalink
I'll be talking about agnosticism and atheism with Ray Tallis at the Mary Ward Centre on Saturday 28th November.
Also at the Leeds Philosophy Café on The Original Self-Help on 11th November, in the evening.
I'm giving lectures at King's College London on God and the new physics, on 23rd November, and at Goldsmith's College London on happiness and science, on 24th November.
Then I'm taking part in what looks a fantastic day in which philosophers and theologians gather to discuss Paul, at St Paul's cathedral, London, on 25th November.
Comments
Mark,I see that your talk is titled the Failure of the Happiness Industry.
Perhaps so!
But our entire culture is based on unhappiness, and has been so for at least 3 millennia.
We are not supposed to be happy or ecstatic in this life-time--our so called religions tell us this.
Happiness is what you get in the next life-time when you go to "heaven"--and even then only is you are "good".
Plus look at all of the usual main-stream psychology, beginning with Freud.
Most of it is about peoples unhappiness and neurosis. All of the text-books and writings are full of such negativity.
Then of course there is the entirely pernicious influence of Calvin. This place is entirely a vale of tears and we are all wretched "sinners" tainted by the "fall of adam".
Another entirely negative influence is the dreadful "Paul" who turned the ecstatic way taught and demonstrated by Saint Jesus into
the dreadful "sin"-saturated religion about Jesus. Happiness is always "else-where".
Never mind that there is always only here, or whatever is arising in the present moment.
It is time that we threw everyone about "Paul" away with both hands.
Only men and women of pleasure are capable of understanding and thus incarnating happiness and truth. And of thus being good company to all other beings.
Freedom is the only law, and Happiness is the only Reality.
Mark, A quote which addresses the themes of your posting.
"Happiness is the now-and-forever Mystery that IS the Real Heart and the Only Real God of every one".
From a book on how to remember to Be Happy for children of all ages.
Dear John, Forgive my bluntness, but I never know whether to reply 'if only it were that simple' or 'I haven't the vaguest idea what you're talking about'.
Sound like great events . Any of them being recorded or likely to be available online afterwards Mark ?
Regards ...
I think the Goldsmith's lecture might. Not sure to be honest.
Ok . thanks !