'Zeitgeist' Follow-up

A couple of months ago I sent out a newsletter regarding two ‘Zeitgeist’ films - http://www.untamedlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1568 .

At that time I promised to comment about them at a later date, which I will now do, briefly.

While I have not researched all of the information presented in the films, and thus am unable to defend all of its factual accuracy, I generally share the perspectives presented there and strongly encourage everyone to watch these movies.

However, while viewing, two points jumped out at me about which I disagree.

First, the films state that there is no human nature, just human behavior.

Obviously there exists a wide array of personality styles among humans as well as many cultural differences, developed in response to varying environments.

That being said, at a species level, just as one might generally describe the usual patterns of conduct of elephants or starfish, the human animal has certain general tendencies that can be observed cross-culturally. One might define these tendencies as being ‘human nature’.

As well, a fundamental tenet of what I present is that, for each organism, the secret to well-being is to follow the path mandated by the free expression of its genetic program, leading to self-actualization. It is understood that this expression involves an interaction with its environment, with different outcomes occurring within different circumstances.

Nonetheless, when I strive to be true to myself (and encourage others to do the same), I have a powerful sense that there is a true ‘me’ that I am facilitating the revelation of, and I consider this person to represent my true individual human nature.

The purpose of untaming oneself is to stop following the agenda that our domesticators have imposed upon us to allow that personal version of human nature to flourish.

The second area of disagreement that I had with the films was to do with the conclusion of the second film, the ‘Addendum’.

What is offered there as a solution to the disaster that humans have created is a futuristic higher-tech and extremely centrally organized society in which all problems are solved and all needs are met.

While it is refreshing to be presented with a message of hope in these challenging times, I found what was put forward to be facile and ignoring of both reality and human nature.

Although I do not decry all technology, it is shocking to me that the sorcerer’s apprentice has not yet learned anything from its experiences thus far.

Furthermore, a core cause of the destruction created over the course of civilization, as well portrayed in these films, has been the evolution of very large depersonalized and disempowered groups manipulated by the ‘elite’, sitting on the tops of the pyramids of power.

So while highly centralized approaches may have a certain attractiveness, in a fascist sense, to clean up this mess, the true solution lies in the fragmentation of these large groups and the destruction of these pyramids.

Individuals regaining control of their own lives and developing local solutions to their problems in an anarchic fashion, while reconnecting with natural rhythms and systems, is how we can save ourselves from destruction, both individually and as a species.

With this in mind, I encourage the creators of the film to continue to pursue their own means of addressing the crisis at hand, and similarly invite everyone else to empower themselves and to seek out their own solutions that make sense for them.

It is time for a return to diversity.