Upon (re)starting this blogging endeavor, I realized I had alot to say along one general topic trajectory. This idea is one that crosses many specific topics but is something that I, personally, have tried to avoid more and more over the years. Its the idea of “systematic living“. As many of us make conscious decisions in the direction of our lives (and the beliefs we hold) there’s always a pressure to fit into a systematic way of thinking. We have an array of “ready made” choices and we’re pressured into choosing one of them and living inside that box.
All aspects of our lives get squeezed, pushed, folded, or jammed into one of these ready made boxes. Republican or Democrat. Vegetarian or Meat Eater. Christian or Non-Christian, Atkins or Low Fat, Workaholic or Lazy Freeloader, Hippie or Yuppie. These pre-defined ways of living help us easily make choices. It makes it easy to see a piece of meat and decide to eat it or not because I’m either a herbivore or a carnivore. It’s much too difficult, every time we’re presented with a choice to make an unique decision, rather than give a stock answer determined by our “-isms”.
In my view, systematic living and systematic thinking is one of the biggest problems in Western culture. We’ve been told that we only have x-amount of options and that we must choose one. I reject this false choice. My experience and my soul tells me that the options are infinite and that I’m able to, not only choose from these pre-fab decisions, but that I’m able to mix and match without regard for the system. I’m able to be a chef with the world at my fingertips instead of a consumer who orders off a limited McMenu.
Is this sounding a little idealistic to you? Maybe a little naive? If I was an 18 year old kid fresh out of high school, that might be true. But the longer I live, the MORE I see this reality of “the man” implementing pre-sets on my life. My daily addition of knowledge only confirms that society praises group-think and punishes individualism.
So, as these next few blog posts move forward, I hope you’ll evaluate some of your life choices and worldviews along with me. It’s easy for all of us to think that we’re unique and that our choices are our own…but the insane popularity of chain restaurants, pop culture, and Coca Cola betray you. They instead tell us how the large majority (including you?) only sees the few options laid out in front of them and chooses one without any second thought.
#1 by Kwang Lee on June 19th, 2009
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I think the ultimate punishment for individualism was the crucification of Jesus. Here was a man who was challenging the “isms” of the time and people didn’t like it. And admittedly, it is all, too, easy to rest on our “isms.” And it’s funny that we as believers in Christ are called to be “holy.” Holy meaning set apart, different, unique for God. Just my two cents.
#2 by Bob on June 19th, 2009
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Oh, don’t you worry…I’ll get to “systematic theology” and “christianity-ism” quicker than you can chug a can of Coke. :)
#3 by Geoff Hankerson on June 19th, 2009
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Wayne Dyer call this the mantra of the tribe. “What will they think if I do this”? Very trivial and very real at the same time. I can’t up and decide to be a Buddhist Monk overnight without lots of push-back from my wife and kids. It disrupts their life too much. Si its easier to keep on with the routine. Looking forward to the series.
#4 by John Kozicki on June 19th, 2009
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An area that I personally see systematic living completely over the top is in the business world. I can’t stand it. In the typical American office you’re expected to conduct yourself a certain way, dress a certain way, speak a certain way, etc., while on the clock, even though NOBODY maintains those qualities once they leave the office at 5 o’clock. To a significant degree, this is what made me quit working in offices. Yet, I still resent that I have to deal this false front any time I have to call my insurance company, cable company, government offices, etc.
Maybe I’m simply drawing a straight line between two distant points, but to me, when I peel back the layers it says that most of us have “careers” that are based on trading time for money. And during that time you must act, dress, speak, a certain way.
#5 by Bob on June 19th, 2009
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Man, John, I’m with ya. I always thought it was, literally, laughable how different people act when in an office as opposed to every other second of their lives. (I say literally because I have laughed out loud when thinking about it). It’s so false…so phoney…and everyone pretends it’s normal.
Weird and sorta sick, if you ask me.