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The talk is structured with the same metaphors as 'traditional Christianity'. I don't know why the comment section sees such a divide. The few differences are t

The talk is structured with the same metaphors as 'traditional Christianity'. I don't know why the comment section sees such a divide. The few differences are that modern Christianity does not seek to provide metaphors for describing what the world is, only how to behave. Joscha is willing to do both. Christianity is happy to have 'magic' leaps of faith. That's what magic is, reasoning up from truth. Joscha calling magic impossible, is in itself a trap. But overall a lot of the metaphors are the same. For example don't be a pleasure-seeking hippy like the Dude. Christian values are replaced with reward reinforcing structures, but are ultimately the same conversation. The God that Joscha thinks exists and is evil, is a god Christians wouldn't believe in. Taking in all ideas and evaluating them is the same idea across both Christian and Joscha's stories. It's much of the sameness. For all the disdain for religion, Joscha's ideology and Christianity are both systems of metaphor. I would hope people are making up their own mind on what metaphors to use. I'm curious how many people agree wholesale with Joscha and/or Christianity without niggling disagreements.

state_less 8y ago
> For example don't be a pleasure-seeking hippy like the Dude. FWIW, I interpreted the Dude as not so much a pleasure seeking hippy rather as not a pleasure denying person. He make an extra effort for people, which isn't pleasure seeking. For example he goes to see his landlord's dance cycle to show support, and in fact the dance cycle is hilariously bad. He also shows concern for bunny, even if it's misplaced. When he stumbles across the german in the pool black out drunk and learns he's a nihilist and quips, "That sounds exhausting." In other words, the guy seems to have to work pretty hard (getting drunk to the point of being unconscious and proudly proclaiming his beliefs to everyone he meets) at not believing in anything. The narrator at the end says, "It's good to know the dude is out there taking it easy for all us sinners." The dude simply abides.
- friendlybus 8y ago
  >FWIW, I interpreted the Dude as not so much a pleasure seeking hippy rather as not a pleasure denying person. Yeah I agree, I rolled in Josch's 'too much meditation is bad' sentiment into that appraisal of the Dude. The Big Lebowski is the normal world turned upside, a deconstruction of our traditional symbols. The rich guy is a fraud, the trophy wife is a whore, the bad guy doesn't believe in anything or can achieve anything. Jesus is a pedophile (disturbingly prescient :P). The good guy dies pointlessly of a heart attack in a parking lot and nothing ever gets done in the end (does he ever get his rug back?). At best it's a comedy and worst it's a post modern deconstruction of our normal state of affairs. It's fun, bad and good. I watch it just to see what condition my condition is in, if I can't laugh at it, I need to improve my life conditions :P. The Dude is just the guy to be the hero of that story, laid back and unconcerned beyond the rug keeping his room whole.
  - state_less 8y ago
    Yeah, it really did tie the room together :)

state_less 8y ago

> For example don't be a pleasure-seeking hippy like the Dude. FWIW, I interpreted the Dude as not so much a pleasure seeking hippy rather as not a pleasure denying person. He make an extra effort for people, which isn't pleasure seeking. For example he goes to see his landlord's dance cycle to show support, and in fact the dance cycle is hilariously bad. He also shows concern for bunny, even if it's misplaced. When he stumbles across the german in the pool black out drunk and learns he's a nihilist and quips, "That sounds exhausting." In other words, the guy seems to have to work pretty hard (getting drunk to the point of being unconscious and proudly proclaiming his beliefs to everyone he meets) at not believing in anything. The narrator at the end says, "It's good to know the dude is out there taking it easy for all us sinners." The dude simply abides.

friendlybus 8y ago
>FWIW, I interpreted the Dude as not so much a pleasure seeking hippy rather as not a pleasure denying person. Yeah I agree, I rolled in Josch's 'too much meditation is bad' sentiment into that appraisal of the Dude. The Big Lebowski is the normal world turned upside, a deconstruction of our traditional symbols. The rich guy is a fraud, the trophy wife is a whore, the bad guy doesn't believe in anything or can achieve anything. Jesus is a pedophile (disturbingly prescient :P). The good guy dies pointlessly of a heart attack in a parking lot and nothing ever gets done in the end (does he ever get his rug back?). At best it's a comedy and worst it's a post modern deconstruction of our normal state of affairs. It's fun, bad and good. I watch it just to see what condition my condition is in, if I can't laugh at it, I need to improve my life conditions :P. The Dude is just the guy to be the hero of that story, laid back and unconcerned beyond the rug keeping his room whole.
- state_less 8y ago
  Yeah, it really did tie the room together :)