The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 2:18 am
I think one thing that has been a constant in my life (and probably a constant among many since the beginning of writing) is that humans have always had a feeling that I can only describe as ominous that the world will "end". There's something interesting about that in so far as one might wonder if life could somehow be some other way, perhaps with a sense of optimism, joy, or bliss.
Whether it be the notion an individual has that his own life will end or else the notion that all that is will come to an end, the two beliefs seem intertwined. They seem to be a dominant theme of being alive. Everywhere I look in contemporary philosophy is the theme that "doomsday" is upon us or somewhere in the future. It's something I dwell on and many others seem to dwell on also. I see it in movies, TV, music, everything. There is some kind of sense of doom that pervades our entire culture--at least from where I sit. Why doom? Why not joy or bliss or anything like that? Does anyone in the world today truly have a sense of bliss or joy? If so, how does one attain a feeling like that? What is the secret?
Even Christianity, which preaches "good news" is permeated by stories and visions of doom and disaster--especially in the revelations. And the "good news" is really only that God is no longer mad at us. Will god ever be delighted with us? Isn't that what "good news" ought to be--that God wants to give us accolades or a pat on the back? What would life be like if it were blissful? Why do we even have that word in our human vocabulary? Does anyone really live in bliss?
Anyway, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists gives the time right now as "90 seconds to midnight." According to the website it's the closest the clock has ever been to midnight. What happens at "midnight"? Do we all vaporize, drop dead or maybe everyone breaks out party favors and goes into a wild celebration to celebrate the "new world" or something--as though it were New Year's Eve?
People wonder why I have so much doom and gloom about me. Why shouldn't I? I wonder why anyone who lives and breathes in our contemporary culture would have any sense of optimism.
Whether it be the notion an individual has that his own life will end or else the notion that all that is will come to an end, the two beliefs seem intertwined. They seem to be a dominant theme of being alive. Everywhere I look in contemporary philosophy is the theme that "doomsday" is upon us or somewhere in the future. It's something I dwell on and many others seem to dwell on also. I see it in movies, TV, music, everything. There is some kind of sense of doom that pervades our entire culture--at least from where I sit. Why doom? Why not joy or bliss or anything like that? Does anyone in the world today truly have a sense of bliss or joy? If so, how does one attain a feeling like that? What is the secret?
Even Christianity, which preaches "good news" is permeated by stories and visions of doom and disaster--especially in the revelations. And the "good news" is really only that God is no longer mad at us. Will god ever be delighted with us? Isn't that what "good news" ought to be--that God wants to give us accolades or a pat on the back? What would life be like if it were blissful? Why do we even have that word in our human vocabulary? Does anyone really live in bliss?
Anyway, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists gives the time right now as "90 seconds to midnight." According to the website it's the closest the clock has ever been to midnight. What happens at "midnight"? Do we all vaporize, drop dead or maybe everyone breaks out party favors and goes into a wild celebration to celebrate the "new world" or something--as though it were New Year's Eve?
People wonder why I have so much doom and gloom about me. Why shouldn't I? I wonder why anyone who lives and breathes in our contemporary culture would have any sense of optimism.
