Walden Cabin: Observations typed on an old Underwood

Friday, June 07, 2002

Crisis of consciousness

"We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep."

- Henry David Thoreau, in Walden

* * *

A book I read recently links religious tradition to a human "crisis of consciousness". We are the only species that knows that its existence is finite. So the common theory goes, to cope with this inevitability, we have traditionally sought an external answer, a hope, a reason. The ultimate relief and release from uncertainty has been the Will of God. This accounting for religion is not new, of course, but what is interesting is its two-part extension. Put simply, jet travel has undone God. Science, multiculturalism and exposure to other beliefs are helping us to let go of our regional manifestations of the search for the big answers. But as we give up these traditions, other ways of coping with the human crisis of consciousness seem to be on the rise. How many coffee shops are on an average city block these days? I would be interested in a study that tracked the statistics on gambling, alcoholism and and coffee consumption against the decline in the traditional belief in God. Think about this next time you're idling in the drive-thru at Tim's. And then look around: Is there a funeral chapel close by?

posted by Stuart Hickox | 1:32 PM

Wednesday, June 05, 2002

Gobble Gobble Oink
A coin fell and clanked loudly on the polished marble floor next to the X-ray machine. Sounded heavy like a toony. Despite the line-up of eyes queued for QP, nobody saw where the money went. Figures. Parliament Hill has a way of making money disappear, but usually there's no sound.

>> Reports of the Auditor General of Canada.
>> A compilation: Top ten Liberal broken promises (from the Red Book).

posted by Stuart Hickox | 7:41 PM



	Friday, June 07, 2002 Crisis of consciousness "We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep." - Henry David Thoreau, in Walden * * * A book I read recently links religious tradition to a human "crisis of consciousness". We are the only species that knows that its existence is finite. So the common theory goes, to cope with this inevitability, we have traditionally sought an external answer, a hope, a reason. The ultimate relief and release from uncertainty has been the Will of God. This accounting for religion is not new, of course, but what is interesting is its two-part extension. Put simply, jet travel has undone God. Science, multiculturalism and exposure to other beliefs are helping us to let go of our regional manifestations of the search for the big answers. But as we give up these traditions, other ways of coping with the human crisis of consciousness seem to be on the rise. How many coffee shops are on an average city block these days? I would be interested in a study that tracked the statistics on gambling, alcoholism and and coffee consumption against the decline in the traditional belief in God. Think about this next time you're idling in the drive-thru at Tim's. And then look around: Is there a funeral chapel close by? posted by Stuart Hickox \| 1:32 PM Wednesday, June 05, 2002 Gobble Gobble Oink A coin fell and clanked loudly on the polished marble floor next to the X-ray machine. Sounded heavy like a toony. Despite the line-up of eyes queued for QP, nobody saw where the money went. Figures. Parliament Hill has a way of making money disappear, but usually there's no sound. >> Reports of the Auditor General of Canada. >> A compilation: Top ten Liberal broken promises (from the Red Book). posted by Stuart Hickox \| 7:41 PM				(04.09.2002) I'd ask again today, hon. Someone found this old link on-line. I didn't know it was still live. Great memories of an exciting day. See photos of Engagement Day 1998. See she said Yes. Find out more about renting Walden Cabin. Head for the Hills of Prince Edward Island Walden Cabin >> "I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front the essential facts of life and to see if I could learn what they had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Walden; Or Life in the Woods (08.21) Walden Cabin is a publishing creation of Accolade Intermedia, an Ottawa-based communications company that specializes in content-rich Web products. www.accolade.ca >>
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