Prompt 12: December 1, 2021
Identity, as it relates to the Self, is a story. The story assumed by an individual provides the cosmic context with which the Ego is justified. This phenomenon has traditionally been understood as religious belief, but is still true in modern “secular” society, which begs the question: have we redefined the meaning of religion?
To form an identity, the questions What am I? , and What should I be? must be answered to provide an aim to act toward. Identity, in this sense, is built upon a narrative that provides a role or set of actions for the individual to take up. If the narrative is compelling enough, or shared with the surrounding culture, the individual will find psychological safety by living within this assumed role; identifying with their culture. In Eugene MacCarraher’s We Have Never Been Disenchanted, the god-like influence of ideas like capitalism, socialism, patriotism, liberalism, or scientism have over people and societies has been tested to reveal the religious nature of these worldviews. His case rejects the idea that modernity is achieved by ridding cultures of their superstitious religions and argues that the false-gods have changed names and their sacraments are less conspicuous.
Religious instinct remains innate to our species, and I believe it is connected to identity. Though most people don’t explicitly struggle with identity, we can make the case that it is wrapped up in all sorts of everyday issues like unemployment, politics, sports, home ownership, church participation, child rearing, or job performance. The spiritual forces that construct our worldview instruct our actions toward validating that worldview, and it is shown by our lives.
Strangely enough, identity is often valued above one’s own life. Take these historical examples to help frame the relationship between worldview, identity, and existence: christian martyrs, manifest destiny, Bolshevik informants, mass suicides of german and japanese civilians in the last year of the second world war, national mournings of the death of leaders like Mao Zedong or Kim Il Sung, mass suicides within cults, the perpetual turmoil within the State of Palestine, war-time propaganda. Each of these examples shows how people act out corporate ideals; in other words, they become possessed by the spiritual forces of ideas. What are you possessed by?
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession that you proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9
The thread is open. Create boldly, and may the Spirit guide us all.