Man and Sin by Piet Schoonenberg (1964) 2.3 NS
Summary of text [comment] page 83
[I now want to examine ‘the thought experiment where ‘I choose to smoke a tobacco cigarette’’.
Let me start with an off-the-cuff history.]
Human psychology evolved under in the social milieu of constrained complexity. Currently, humans live in unconstrained complexity. What has this done to our minds? These topics are addressed in various parts of An Archaeology of the Fall, particularly in chapters 8C and 11B.
Summary of text [comment] page 83
[Each sovereigninfra demands ‘something2a’.
Often, this is a prohibition.
For example, smoking tobacco cigarettes was rendered taboo in the 1990s.
A health-minded sovereigninfra decreed, “The subject shall not smoke cigarettes.”
I want to explore this example because the elements of conversion are obvious and sensical.]
[The passage of an institution from point 1 to point 3 changes the message of the institution.
The message goes from conversion by persuasion (or example) to conversion by the sword.
All sovereigns have the sword, so why not use it?
If the objectorganization is so important that it must be imposed by sovereign power, it is important enough to worship as an idol.
Thus, sovereign religions veer towards idolatry.]
[Politics substitutes for religion, in the passage of an institution from point 1 to point 3.
Political machinations become a screen for religious convictions.
There is much to be said about this.
However, the topic is far from Schoonenberg’s text.]
Summary of text [comment] page 83
Schoonenberg wrote that we exercise freedom in serving either God or Satan.
[Now, let me consider Satan in the guise of an (infra)sovereign religion and how it plays into ‘the thought experiment where ‘I choose something’‘.]