Rachel K.
Rachel K.
Sep 8, 2018 · 3 min read

Ben, so well said. I especially love, love, love the point you have made about how more Christianity, more western colonization, did not yield better societies. Love, love, love the mention of the Windigo and its metaphoricals- this gem has always, always been one of my favorites to delve into. (Not to mention, really creeped out and fascinated me as a kid)

How any scientist, or science-driven personality, whether neuro, medical, psychologist, social- any realm, can not hear or know these ancient stories and ask WHY? Where did they come from and what do they really, really mean? What was going on in the background as the first teller created them? Or, can not look within them for their parallels and importance in human intellectual, social, and psychological development and curiosity astounds me.

I can only speak for myself, but….I grew out of love with Sam Harris about 5-ish years or so ago. I haven’t followed the debates between these two closely, but I’ve read (loosely skimmed) the first transcripts and found myself laughing out loud. (at myself, namely because I realized that a) the dead horse image kept coming into my head, yawn….and b) I was probably more interested in the background STORY behind the speakers than I was in what they were actually speaking about.) Yes. I said I was more interested in the story. If a good story wasn’t important to me, I would not be a writer. A reader. A listener. I would not be here. If a story, if the rich dark chocolate with nuts and pretzels mythological universe had no place in my brain, I would’t have even learned to write, to survive catholic school, medical school, would’ve given up altogether on this terrible awful shit-stained life a long-ass time ago. (Like, in preschool.) The very language I am using here to tell this- my version- of a story was developed thousands of years ago, in brains learning and developing and getting larger by telling better, more fascinating and thrilling stories……..

I mean, c’mon, are these two serious with this, or is just about the show? (A show is also a good story, i may add?) I’d really like to see them debate using your proposed parameters, as well. I’d like to tell Peterson to wake up and notice the entire cultural world going on outside his vision that has nothing at all to do with a Christ. I’d like to ask Harris, personally, what he thinks enlightenment is or consists of- and please don’t give me the Buddhist version, give me yours. In any form, whatever it may mean to him- doesn’t matter if he thinks it happens here on earth or after death or if there even is such a thing. I’d just like to hear him say it has many meanings, many answers, has many paths to and from…..I’d like to hear both their minds click open with the snap when they realize they are both correct, and both wrong, about so many things, and shut up about it already. (well, metaphorically, anyway) I dunno, just me; I see possibilities in limitations.

Any debate on anything is, of course limited to the room within which it’s taking place. (like my metaphor here? or is it?) And lordy lord, do I love a good argument. Nothing sexier than someone that can…..argue. Effectively and respectfully. It’s the stuff of drool. But we already know mistakes were made. In violent history, everywhere, all the time, religious and otherwise. A shitload of good people have died with pain and terror, given their lives in pursuit of truths. Isn’t that the point? We evolve? Stories are important. Facts are important. To some folks, religion, laws, spirituality, myths, books, texts, meditation, or any/all the above, is important. There is no one answer to growth, to travel, to getting from point a to b. It’s horribly hard and no one person or thing or tenet is the answer- you have to pack a basket and collect and discard as you go, hoping you don’t make a fatal or irrevocable mistake. ‘When we are on the right path we are rewarded with joy’ is only the beginning, man.

I always enjoy you’re POV, and your writing. Thanks.

    Rachel K.

    Written by

    Rachel K.

    regrowing torn limbs. one-eyed. swimmingly.