The Problem Of Pleasure

Ecclesiastes 1:14 (KJV)
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

My daugther, 18, wrote me this email:

I was listening to a speech by Ravi Zacharais:


But here is a nice blog post that summarizes it.

http://melissakranzo.com/2011/12/the-problem-of-pleasure/


About the passivity of our generation…


“What George Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Aldous Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny “failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distraction.” ln 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. ln Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us. This is about the possibility that Huxley, and not Orwell, was right.” (George Orwell: author of 1984. Aldous Huxley: author of Brave New World)
- Neil Postman, in his book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

Huxley is correct.
 
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I believe in different senses both men were correct but as for Huxley's "the things we love will take us down" (paraphrased) I see it now...the American culture specifically is so complacent...ever chasing the newest pleasures and entertainment devices...Satan's kingdom knows what works...they keep the masses so distracted by the chills, thrills, and the belief of needing all the trinkets that they become so distracted no one sees the encroaching tyranny being politically developed behind their backs...and that is the way these social engineers, rhetoricians, and propagandists, want it...the socio-political life lived by the masses in the USA is a kind of Matrix like delusion...even their opinions are "shaped" (manipulated and predetermined)...but as long as I have my bone or a new carrot to chase I am ineffectual....that's just how they want us...dumbed down, self centered, pleasure seeking, and complacent.

We should have no allegiance, not believe the press in our time, counter much of the public education's brainwashing, be always writing our senators and congress persons, breaking down the engineered "two party system", and seek truth always loving the dumb sheep being led to the coming slaughter.

Did I get the idea AB? Or have I gone off the deep end...

brother Paul
 
No idea... I was amazed one so young would find such a compelling sermon on so a valid point. Did you listen to all of the sermon?
 
I have touched upon almost every pleasure of the flesh, and indulged to the point of death. No drug no lust of the flesh no amount of pride in this life can compare to the day that Gods Spirit gave me "joy unspeakable and full of glory" kind of religion. :D
 
I have touched upon almost every pleasure of the flesh, and indulged to the point of death. No drug no lust of the flesh no amount of pride in this life can compare to the day that Gods Spirit gave me "joy unspeakable and full of glory" kind of religion. :D

Amen Mitzpa
 
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