Hierarchies and dichotomies exist in every observable aspect of the human condition and likewise the environment in which we find ourselves. There are many choices placed before us and many different paths that we might take as we journey through this short life. A multitude of belief systems and philosophies claim to originate from a divine or supernatural source. These structures of control and guidance often offer little logic or meaning; this can lead the rational man to withdraw. He sees no value in these things. Indeed, why should he?
As the growing number of self-proclaimed atheists and agnostics might illustrate, humans are finding less and less need for any kind of religion or dogma as time marches forward. This is not surprising given the compounding speed at which technology has advanced. When you are connected to the world and can access information as if flowing from a tap, the rational man quickly follows the lead of his civilized compatriots. It becomes laughable to even imagine taking part in a weekly ritual or observance of a religious nature. There is no separation to the modern-thinking-man, between religion and the supernatural mishmash that his church-going colleagues or neighbors preach on the daily.
This kind of thinking pervades the modern mind. Ironically enough, the people that think in this way do have their own observances, habits, and rituals (although these activities don’t always present themselves as such). I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for you to think of a few modern compulsions: whether it be a nightly drink, the hourly social media check, or the morning pre-work routine. The only tangible difference between habits or compulsions and a ritual is the intent and occasionally a history of underlying dogma. This is not to say that every habit would be labeled as “ritual” per se, this is covered in greater detail within the Rituals page.
Rituals of all kinds, if we were to call them this, have utility to even the most rational mind. Anton LaVey (founder of the Church of Satan) coined the term, “Intellectual Decompression Chamber”, to describe the area in which rituals would be performed. This always struck me as an apt descriptor. A therapeutic release of energy and emotion can often be a primary benefit of ritualization although this may not be consciously known to a general practitioner of any given religion. We will, of course, explore further applications and why these ceremonies might be natural and perhaps even needed for a healthy mind and body.
Opposite the atheists and agnostics, however, we have theistic mainstream religious adherents. A large majority of these may as well belong to long-deceased religions (even if the congregations haven’t quite noticed the smell). They have long since abandoned their ancestor’s lofty ideals or ways of living. You will see these hypocritical figures in their buildings of worship on their specified holy days; you will see these same humans completely disregarding their claimed morals and ethics any other day of the week. It isn’t that they’ve forgotten their books and the messages of old, but these do not hold sway over their lives in any observable way. At least not as they had for the thousands of generations before them.
All of this is not to say that every theist from every religion, from every timeline of human history, was morally sound ’round-the-clock before modernity took hold. Nor is this a call for every atheist to don a hooded robe and light candles in the forest. I will state now what I will likely paraphrase later within these texts:
As the author, I started documenting these ideas as a way to outline my system of ethics, and my ethos, and to codify this religious Order. I realized early on that having a written, concise, and concrete philosophy for guiding one’s life proves to be extremely beneficial. Indeed, depending on the person in question, it can be ultimately life-changing to finally connect thoughts and feelings to something tangible presented on the page before you.
These writings are not an attempt to proselytize or convert. I despise those who attempt to do so in general (although I understand their reasons well enough). I felt, as the author, personally compelled to put ink to paper. The spiritual or religious may refer to it as a “calling.” The urge to breathe life into The Order manifested itself seemingly at random. I later came to understand it to be a culmination of my studies and experiences along life’s path thus far.
I still must admit a motivation that sits apart from a translation of internal philosophy and ethos into a Religion or Sacred Order. Although the intention is not to forcibly seduce or convert, I did desire to make these writings discoverable and visible to the world. I believe that the correct path can often reveal itself to us as we search for meaning and I can potentially facilitate that for others if and when the time is right.
Often in this life, we cannot put words to the things that we feel deepest. For instance, you likely know right from wrong and how to succeed in your career or personal life. You may occasionally reach such a moment of clarity that you could conquer the world if only the thought could be captured and held. These revelations reveal themselves now and again but these realizations can be fleeting and vanish from week to week and hour to hour.
Now, this particular writing may not resonate with you on any frequency. This is to be expected as selective exclusion is a wonderous part of being human. A select few, however, may connect on a deeper level with the ideas presented herein and realize that their constellation of belief or philosophy was already aligned; they only needed to connect a few remaining stars or shift their perception in one direction or the other to finally see the image clearly.
If you find yourself intrigued, please read on to The Order.