-Watts' thesis is religion is not the commonly thought idea that is spread throughout our society
-Watts' view of religion is the same as his thesis; religion is taught today through churches as specific people and events, but it is much more abstract than that.
-the problem with conquering nature as viewed by watts is that we should not fight nature, we should learn how to interact with it and use it to its full potential while not causing harm. In Watts' words “We are forever “conquering” nature, space, mountains, deserts, bacteria, and insects instead of learning to cooperate with them in a harmonious order,” (pg.8, 3)
-The definition of a new “experience” in this sense is not a physical object to try to understand, but a new way to look at things or a new point of view.
-Watts sees myths as a way to put huge concepts into perspective and to shrink them into something the mind can grasp. “to most children, and many adults, the myth is at once intelligible, simple, and fascinating. By contrast, so many other mythical explanations of the world are crude, tortuous, and unintelligible.” (pg. 15, 4)
-to find ones true identity watts believes that one has to look inside themselves from a different point of view
- this reading challenges the reader to think in a different view, which is challenged of winston in 1984
1 comment:
Nick-
Is his thesis really just about religion? Think about that.
Good point about our approach to nature.
What else should we know about the "new experience."
Your point about myths is right on.
I don't see a strong/convincing enough connection to 1984.
Remember, these responses should stand alone. We'll talk more about that tomorrow.
Overall, good insight, not enough depth.
-Mr. Hughes
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