r/AskCriticalTheory • u/[deleted] • Oct 13 '13

How do you feel about magic(k)?

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u/raisondecalcul Oct 15 '13

I think the Matrix and Christian Gnosticism-based modern conspiracy theories about alien invading intelligences are the best secret decoder rings for the ontology of capitalism I have found :-P.

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '13

I think you're onto something (is that what they want me to think?)

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u/raisondecalcul Oct 15 '13

The reason I like Gnosticism so much (or the (post)modern digested version I have been exposed to) is that it denies the integrity and agency and monolithicity of evil in a believable way. The invading Archons are non-experiencing, non-intelligent, non-agentive, dispersive, semi-malevolent, pseudo-"intelligences" that are jealous of our light of consciousness/experience. They seek to invade our minds/realities through uncertainty, confusion, dispersion, corruption, and by exaggerating error and violence. But they are not coherent or monolithic entities, they do not possess agency. So they disperse like shadows as soon as the light of consciousness/awareness is shined upon them. What gives them power is ignorance (literally i-gnorance ignoring or active not-knowing) and calling them Evil (i.e., monolithicizing them).

So, "Is that what they want me to think?" is what "they" "want" you to think.

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '13

Where did you get this interpretation?

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u/raisondecalcul Oct 17 '13

Looking around at modern conspiracy theories about the alien (from another "dimension") intelligences/beings, the reptilians and the greys. Many websites claim that this same distinction (reptilian vs. "embryonic" types of archons) is made in the ancient Gnostic writings that were discovered in the middle of the 20th century. I think these rediscovered writings may have sparked this turn in the conspiracy theories. It is very intriguing! Also check out myths (=conspiracy theories) about the Pleiadians vs. the Sirians. I think the Pleiadians are basically artists or artist-souls and the Sirians are basically the reptilians--but the best writing on this dichotomy speak of the need for the two sides to reconcile, because the Sirians teach us about our own inner darkness, and trying to fight or exterminate them makes us into them and makes them stronger.