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Babel_17

(5,400 posts)
32. Ask me again after Mercerism/Dudeism becomes a thing. :)
Mon Nov 23, 2015, 01:48 PM
Nov 2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep%3F#Overview

The main Earth religion is Mercerism, in which Empathy Boxes link simultaneous users into a collective consciousness based on the suffering of Wilbur Mercer. In the shared experience of the Empathy Box, Wilbur Mercer takes an endless walk up a mountain while stones are thrown at him, the pain of which all users share. The television appearances of Buster Friendly and his Friendly Friends, broadcast twenty-three hours a day, represent a second religion, designed to undermine Mercerism. Mercerism is ambiguously portrayed in the novel.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudeism

Dudeism is a philosophy and lifestyle inspired by "The Dude", the protagonist of the Coen Brothers' 1998 film The Big Lebowski. Dudeism's stated primary objective is to promote a modern form of Chinese Taoism, outlined in Tao Te Ching by Laozi (6th century BC), blended with concepts by the Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BC), and presented in a style as personified by the character of Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, a fictional character portrayed by Jeff Bridges in the film.[1] Dudeism has sometimes been regarded as a mock religion,[2][3] though its founder and many adherents regard it seriously.[4][5][6][7] March 6 is the annual sacred high holy day of Dudeism: The Day of the Dude.


Instead of climbing a hill with Mercer, and getting hit with rocks, I think people will plug in to hang out with The Dude, and throw bowling balls. Though maybe if you like, you can climb the hill with The Dude, while he shares your suffering.

I can see people paying to have that kind of experience. Lol, it would make a good SF story. The actor Jeff Bridges having his personality digitally hijacked while he's in a coma, and his brother Beau starting up a new religion capitalizing on it.

WE have become radical. Sanders has stayed the same. DirkGently Nov 2015 #1
heh heh -- you're being too kind -- i told that James Madison Institute jackass that nashville_brook Nov 2015 #15
reform vs revolutionary -- it's what the RW has wrought nashville_brook Nov 2015 #23
I can tell by the vitriol from people not supporting Sanders how scared they really Fawke Em Nov 2015 #2
yep, it's beyond just him being a primary threat - he threatens the status quo nashville_brook Nov 2015 #4
+1 daleanime Nov 2015 #7
Insecurity is as important as inequality starroute Nov 2015 #3
Add to that the hyper-partisanship used to distract us and get us pointing the finger at Dustlawyer Nov 2015 #5
Very well stated, starroute FlatBaroque Nov 2015 #13
Most people are asleep starroute Nov 2015 #18
i have to respond to this tomorrow nashville_brook Nov 2015 #20
we must stop replacing the interests of people with the interests of money nashville_brook Nov 2015 #27
Thanks for this great post Nashville_brook, and great article! sorechasm Nov 2015 #54
^ This is a critical point! n/t DirkGently Nov 2015 #28
"He’s signaling that the social contract has been broken, and it’s our responsibility to fix it." Luminous Animal Nov 2015 #6
Indeed, it cannot be done any other way Demeter Nov 2015 #9
+1 nashville_brook Nov 2015 #21
it's called a social contract for a reason :) nashville_brook Nov 2015 #10
We thought we were being called into service in 2008.. FlatBaroque Nov 2015 #14
yeppers. such a missed opportunity. nashville_brook Nov 2015 #16
Such a critical point. Neither Sanders nor anyone else DirkGently Nov 2015 #11
The only way it can be done, LWolf Nov 2015 #24
BTW if you Google man in the high castle pdf you can read it for free Doctor_J Nov 2015 #8
people might not know if you have Prime Amazon, Man in the High Castle is Free streaming nashville_brook Nov 2015 #22
Amazon's streaming video of The Man In the High Castle is remarkable. hedda_foil Nov 2015 #26
I have Amazon Prime Spirochete Nov 2015 #35
Thank you so much reading it now Ichingcarpenter Nov 2015 #30
Youtube The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick Audiobook Full Ichingcarpenter Nov 2015 #45
every one should read w0nderer Nov 2015 #12
it' a thought that's always in the back of my mind nashville_brook Nov 2015 #25
Long time ago w0nderer Nov 2015 #34
thankyou for this! gosh, i wonder if civics is taught anymore. nashville_brook Nov 2015 #39
sad isn't it w0nderer Nov 2015 #41
HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Nov 2015 #17
Kicked and recommended to the Max! Enthusiast Nov 2015 #19
K&R Babel_17 Nov 2015 #29
totally checking this out! nashville_brook Nov 2015 #31
Ask me again after Mercerism/Dudeism becomes a thing. :) Babel_17 Nov 2015 #32
DURec. bvar22 Nov 2015 #33
A better world is not unimaginable Babel_17 Nov 2015 #36
"the ideal could be made real." DirkGently Nov 2015 #38
That's the second most important thing! Utopian Leftist Nov 2015 #37
Is that satire...? AOR Nov 2015 #40
Not satire, fact. Utopian Leftist Nov 2015 #43
That's very sad that it's not satire... AOR Nov 2015 #44
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Utopian Leftist Nov 2015 #46
I think you already know what's incorrect in your thinking... AOR Nov 2015 #49
Wow. Great article. I hope we can fix this mess. jwirr Nov 2015 #42
me too. thanks! nashville_brook Nov 2015 #48
Thank you silenttigersong Nov 2015 #47
Thank you! burrowowl Nov 2015 #50
i'm simply fascinating by him. i love scifi, and especially love his take on it... nashville_brook Nov 2015 #52
Me too. P K Dick showed incredible foresight as he unraveled his deep neurotic tales. sorechasm Nov 2015 #53
Bookmarking for later, thanks! n/t slipslidingaway Nov 2015 #51
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