Some half bullshit rambling about art and religion

Every once in awhile when I'm alone I convince myself that whatever I happen to be thinking about is worthy to be written down. I'll get in an intellectual funk, the result usually being some kind of self-crafted higher-than-thou propaganda. Most of this "thoughtful" writing is characterized by a hugely pretentious tone and a mildly schizophrenic attitude. I'm not even sure I believe any of this. For shits and giggles I decided to include a recent example. No, I am not serious about this. Please, feel free to laugh at it because I certainly do:

A CHRUCH IS AN INSTITUTION. THIS IS OBVIOUS.

EACH CHURCH MUST HAVE ITS OWN TENETS OF BELIEF.
THE CHURCH ITSELF REPRESENTS THESE TENETS SYMBOLICALLY.

TO JOIN OR FOUND A CHURCH IS TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS VIA IDENTIFICATION.
THE IDENTIFICATION WITH THE IDEOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM OF THE CHURCH IS A PROCESS OF REIFICATION.
REIFICATION IS THE OBJECTIFICATION OF BELIEF INTO A SYMBOLIC PROCESS.

BELIEF IS THE PROCESS OF REPRESENTING (CREATING, CONSTRUCTING) ONES "PERSONAL" IDEOLOGY THROUGH THE ADOPTION OR APPROPRIATION OF PRE-EXISTING SYMBOLIC CONTENT. WE REIFY THIS CONTENT BY ADOPTING IT INTO OUR WAREHOUSE VIA IDENTIFICATION WITH THE PROCESS ITSELF (SYMBOLIZATION).

THE RITUAL PRODUCTION OF SYMBOLS IS SYMPTOMATIC OF A CULTURE THAT IS DESPERATE TO PROVE THE ADEQUACY AND INFALLIBILITY OF ITS CIVIL MYTHOLOGY. THE CHUCH IS A CATALYST FOR ITS SYSTEMATIC MOBILIZATION.

ART IS ALWAYS ABOUT SOMETHING HIDDEN. RELIGION IS ALWAYS ABOUT SOMETHING HIDDEN "WHICH MUST BE REVEALED". IT IS NEVER THE RESULT OF REVELATION BUT THE ACTION ITSELF WHICH IS ABSOLUTE.  THE PARTING OF THE CURTAIN IS "FOR ITS OWN SAKE".

IN RELIGION, THE HIDDEN, FORBIDDEN, OR SECRET KNOWLEDGE IS ALMOST ALWAYS NUMINOUS. AT ITS CORE, ART IS ABOUT NUMINOSITY, THE ATTRIBUTION OF A TRANSCENDENTAL OR SIGNIFICANT "SOMETHING" TO MATERIAL. RELIGION'S MATERIAL IS "THE HUMAN CONDITION" AND ITS CONSTRUCTION. ARTISTS, LIKE PREACHERS, MANUFACTURE TRUTH BY RE WRITING THEIR MYTH EVERY DAY. THIS CIRCULAR PATTERN OF REPRESENTATION IS "PROGRESS".

LIKE ARTISTS, THE CHURCH CLAIMS SELF REFERENTIALITY:

ART FOR ARTS SAKE
LESS IS MORE
JUST HAVE FAITH
MAN IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
TRANS-SUBSTANTIATION

IF ART IS A CHURCH, I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE NEXT JIM JONES.


I ALREADY INDULGE MYSELF IN ART'S RITUAL PRACTICE, AS HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 


I WOULD LIKE TO THINK I AM AWARE OF THE FATALISTIC ATTRACTION TO THE "NUMINOUS" (WHICH MUST ALWAYS REFUSE SOMETHING) AND THE FUTILITY OF AUSPICIOUS IMAGES.


I AM AWARE THAT ALTHOUGH I APPROPRIATE THEIR FORMS, I ADOPT ALSO THEIR FUNCTIONS AND ITS PROBLEMATIC NATURE, WHICH IS INHERENTLY SELF DEFEATING. 


TAKE THE CASE OF PASTOR JIM JONES OF THE PEOPLE'S TEMPLE.


IN THE SAME SENSE HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH - A BELIEVER, AND A FOLLOWER. EVENTUALLY HE WAS CORRUPTED BY HIS ATTRACTION TO THE "HIGHER" CALLING OF THE BIBLE'S PHILANTHROPIC IDEALS. 


HE USED THE BIBLE AS A CATALYST - APPROPRIATING THE POLITICS OF THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF SYSTEM BY NATURALLY EXTENDING IT TO SERVE HIS OWN INTERPRETATION AND DESIRE - THIS TOOK THE FORM OF CREATING A MARXIST-CHRISTIAN EDEN IN AFRICA. HE BECAME GOD BY RE WRITING THE POLITICS OF THE BIBLE AND ATTEMPTING TO ACTUALIZE THEM IN REALITY. 


"IF YOU SEE ME AS YOUR GOD I WILL BE YOUR GOD" HE SAID.


HIS OCCULT SUICIDE AND THOSE OF HIS FOLLOWERS IS THE NATURAL RESULT OF REALITY'S MARTYRDOM FOR ITS SYMBOLIC REPLICA, THE MOMENT OF ITS ULTIMATE FUTILITY. HE LIVED A DREAM TO WAKE UP DEAD - A TRULY IDEAL STATE. HE BECAME A CULTURAL GOD, RESPLENDENT IN THE IRONY OF HIS "ACHIEVMENT". I'M CONVINCED THAT FOR THIS REASON THE MAN WAS A GENIUS.