In a certain sense, postmodernism seems to be the last step of secularization.
As long as we still have essences and foundations, we are still in the awe inspiring presence of the Divine, we have not really killed God. We have simply given him a series of majestic new names: Nature, Humanity, Reason, History, Progress, and so on...
Rather than dismantling the whole outdated apparatus of metaphysics and theology, we have simply given it a new content. Only by breaking with the whole notion of 'deep' meaning can we break free. Not, to be sure, free to be ourselves, because the metaphyscal essence or substance formerly known as 'self' has also been dismantled.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Depends on how you identify “self.” Arguably the whole point of all religious practice has always been a “dismantling of self”; a shift of identity, at least, from natal self to identity with “ground of being.” If you remove the thing of highest value from the stack, the next thing in line becomes the highest. God is whatever we experience as highest. God is a category that can’t be obliterated by juggling ideas or contents.
skado
Level 9
Oct 16, 2019
2
What if we just refer to “The Great Unknown”? Do you think that would be another name for God, tainted with metaphysics and theology? Ultimate Reality?
As far as I’m concerned theology can be dispensed with, but I’m not so sure about metaphysics. Some of today’s science was once considered metaphysics. Creative scientists continually wrestle with new and unproven ideas.
James Clerk Maxwell:
“It has been asserted that metaphysical speculation is a thing of the past, and that physical science has extirpated it. The discussion of the categories of existence, however, does not appear to be in danger of coming to an end in our time, and the exercise of speculation continues as fascinating to every fresh mind as it was in the days of Thales.”
WilliamFleming
Level 8
Oct 16, 2019
2
I agree to a certain extent but to do that we must remove all frames including the non- framing of having no frames, which is a framework in itself.
To achieve what you suggest there can be no sense of freedom or restriction for they both frame confinement. The self must dissipate for true existence to come forth
Geoffrey51
Level 8
Oct 16, 2019
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