Robert, I’m wondering why you see this, as far as I can tell from this quote, as an “either/or” question? I’ve come to view Creation as a glorification of transcendence. To me that means, albeit oversimplified, that as the Universe expands, it expands as well in the organization of matter as more and more refined vehicles for what we call Soul or even awareness. I confess that I believe that there are other forms elsewhere that also have the dimension of soul, but that is speculation.
Nevertheless, it seems to me that while there is a mechanistic aspect to the human (and what a miraculously intricate structure that is!) and perhaps even an instinctual one, there is nevertheless a potential present in humankind, even if it is evidently little taken advantage of. We are more than matter. And we are not, essentially, the body, though through ignorance and lack of maturity, we tend to identify with both it and mind. Essentially we are Conscious Awareness Soul. And that is why many practice religion, a word which means “to tie back to.” And what we tie back to is that part which is made in the image and likeness of God, and the ligatures are the teachings we accept as given by God as best we see them.
We also can develop our awareness into higher states of appreciation of who and what we are and by extension apply that to others. And there is some question about the utility of distributing our self perception over all of humanity. Maturity, indeed, seems to be a process of disidentifying with the narcissism of the infant, hopefully into the vision of a Saint who sees everyone as a Child of God. Animals don’t do that, and meat can’t do that. But at the same time, we have this wonderful imagination that can play adult versions of “let’s pretend.” We might all have done this as kids, and had disagreements about what the game is. When we read the news, we can see that most of us are still there. But that is why we want to seek and live what is most Universally True. For my part, those who succeed at that and demonstrably love their fellow man prove that there is more than a mechanistic mind or even one restricted to heard or hive mentalities. In other words, the ability to create newness in relationships, art, technology, and community is beyond the scope of “exiled” meatbots.
But as one man said when asked “What is a zombie?” he replied “One who walks the twilight zone thinking thoughts not their own. Don’t be one.” So while there are people who are “mechanically” inclined, that doesn’t have to be your way. You and we can choose, by virtue of vision and example, a happier, higher Way. What comes off as the feeling of exile is simply the unfulfilled innate knowing that “I am more then this” and the desire to be with and God. It is the desire to earn Home. That takes effort, and if the literature is correct, even includes a “dark night of the Soul.” So for all you know, that feeling, if you have it, might actually be a good sign. Go figure. And go find out.
