Watch now (70 mins) | Scott Mannion is an Au Directors Guild Award Winner and Christian mystic. He has a vast philosophical and spiritual understanding of the Western mythos, something he's reawakening for the next gen...
Scott Mannion's take on the insidious influence of modernism on the creative culture of today and how it is ultimately an exercise in egoism without divine inspiration is interesting. Do you think therefore that all art of this kind is basically humanist garbage? Also, is it possible to be both? Do you think certain literature works like Midnight's Children, for instance, which I think is considered post-modern - like all magic realism, can be both modern and works of divine inspiration? Do you think this kind of art corrupts the soul? Even though I fundamentally disagree with the post-colonial message of Rushdie's masterpiece, I can still find value in the beautiful language which surely could only come through the spirit.
I agree with Mannion when he talks about understanding that ethnicity, though important as a foundation, can only ever look into the past and we need providence to deal with the future. I've never really thought about how focusing solely on ethnicity impacts many on our side of politics, though. You can see this in some who are completely overcome by these internal demons and drenched in hate. The only way you can overcome this anger and hatred is by forgiveness, freeing yourself of those demons that are preventing you from finding your true spirit.
I also loved this concept of collective consciousness, which made perfect sense to me. It reminded me of Roger Penrose's quantum consciousness idea, which allows for collective consciousness over a quantum field. Penrose was originally ridiculed by the scientific community for his hypothesis but new scientific evidence appears to back his ideas.
I'm a Catholic, but there's so much interesting stuff here which is very complicated and didn't know about: rejection of the empirical self, working towards finding the true spiritual self through introspection and the stuff about hyper agents etc. - I'll delve deeper in the spare time that I have, but great video, cheers.
Thanks for the great comment, glad you got something from the interview. Scott is a very deep and interesting man, his focus on initiation in the modern era is vital IMO.
Regarding art in this day and age, I believe the transcendent can permeate all of us at any time, however, the big question is what we're using that divine energy for and what it's in service of. Is it God or the self? Tradition or corruption?
Many can't be blamed for pointing it in the wrong direction because they don't know they're doing it, ditto, sometimes even atheists can create beautiful art that's in the service of God and they may not know.
The final point is on our own discernment to ascertain the right way for us as Christians to receive the art of modernity, when to welcome it and when to be cautious, etc.
There is one thing with this, is that the Lord came to SAVE. The Buddhist way is the way of depersonalisation, rejecting the empirical self completely as illusion. That isn’t saving. I didn’t get a chance to address some Buddhist perspectives of the self as illusion mentioned. The Lord came so we have life abundantly. This means that the Empirical self is to transform into the divine likeness. Rather than being de-personed and destroyed by the divine image like in these other mysticisms. I have a youtube lecture on TYPES OF MYSTICISM which explains the difference. It’s not a Monadism.
Thanks for your comment, Scott and this engaging interview with Richard. Tentatively, I think I understand the basics of what you're saying: God gave us everything we need and it is up to us (which corresponds with what Catholic doctrine states re. predestination as a path because we also have free will). Rather than destroying the self, it is transformed into a spirit which is a true reflection of the divine.
I want to learn more about this stuff because it is enriching, positive and genuinely fascinating. We can lose ourselves sometimes in the negative mess which is the modern world. I will definitely check out your video on YouTube - I don't really know what Monadism is, to be honest with you!
Regarding pure mysticism, Thomas Merton is good, The New Man is quite accessible. Regarding initiation, I've read lots of Richard Rohr (who's actually quite left-wing, so you have to work around that) but Adam's Return is good. Scott is recommending Tomberg as per above as well, although I can't say I've read his work!
I also had/have no idea what monadism is Dylan! I looked it up when I read Scott's comment. The basic idea behind it - that matter/reality is ultimately composed of 'indivisible entities' - made me think of how scientific materialism ultimately reduces reality to matter colliding in three dimensional space 🤔
So yeah, fascinating stuff and I'll be checking out Scott's work too.
Thanks, I'll check that out today I think. Rupert Sheldrake has been speaking about this topic for years, how scientific dogma rejected a lot of this kind of stuff for years, preferring a purely mechanistic view of reality.
I discovered Scott's name elsewhere (on Paul Joseph Watson's YT channel I think it was, of all places), but as it happens, this was the first time I've watched him properly. As a first interview on this channel, I have to say - wow! Certain things seem to be coming into my life in the last few months, leading me in a particular direction, and from multiple sources too. A friend I made on the online world, a couple of Tom Rowsell's videos and now your chat with Scott - all mentioning Steiner, Evola, Christian mysticism and things of this nature.
There's that Silicon Valley adage about information wanting to be free - all I can say is that to me, it feels as though I'm being guided toward something, towards learning of a particular kind... I suppose it could be regarded as 'coincidence', but I've been moving inexorably away from the certainties of rational materialism in recent times!
I could go on, but I'll just reiterate that this was an excellent way to start this aspect of the channel off. I'm looking forward to more 👍🏼
Glad to hear the interview was a good listen for you. What you are talking to is the reawakening of 'tradition'. This comes in many forms, from Christian to spiritualist and so forth, yet it's ultimately what modernity has obfuscated. IMO, the reason we have a crisis of meaning in the West is because we're divorced from these deeper truths of life that hold us together individually and collectively.
Scott Mannion's take on the insidious influence of modernism on the creative culture of today and how it is ultimately an exercise in egoism without divine inspiration is interesting. Do you think therefore that all art of this kind is basically humanist garbage? Also, is it possible to be both? Do you think certain literature works like Midnight's Children, for instance, which I think is considered post-modern - like all magic realism, can be both modern and works of divine inspiration? Do you think this kind of art corrupts the soul? Even though I fundamentally disagree with the post-colonial message of Rushdie's masterpiece, I can still find value in the beautiful language which surely could only come through the spirit.
I agree with Mannion when he talks about understanding that ethnicity, though important as a foundation, can only ever look into the past and we need providence to deal with the future. I've never really thought about how focusing solely on ethnicity impacts many on our side of politics, though. You can see this in some who are completely overcome by these internal demons and drenched in hate. The only way you can overcome this anger and hatred is by forgiveness, freeing yourself of those demons that are preventing you from finding your true spirit.
I also loved this concept of collective consciousness, which made perfect sense to me. It reminded me of Roger Penrose's quantum consciousness idea, which allows for collective consciousness over a quantum field. Penrose was originally ridiculed by the scientific community for his hypothesis but new scientific evidence appears to back his ideas.
I'm a Catholic, but there's so much interesting stuff here which is very complicated and didn't know about: rejection of the empirical self, working towards finding the true spiritual self through introspection and the stuff about hyper agents etc. - I'll delve deeper in the spare time that I have, but great video, cheers.
Thanks for the great comment, glad you got something from the interview. Scott is a very deep and interesting man, his focus on initiation in the modern era is vital IMO.
Regarding art in this day and age, I believe the transcendent can permeate all of us at any time, however, the big question is what we're using that divine energy for and what it's in service of. Is it God or the self? Tradition or corruption?
Many can't be blamed for pointing it in the wrong direction because they don't know they're doing it, ditto, sometimes even atheists can create beautiful art that's in the service of God and they may not know.
The final point is on our own discernment to ascertain the right way for us as Christians to receive the art of modernity, when to welcome it and when to be cautious, etc.
Just my thoughts!
Have a great day, Dylan!
Thanks for your thoughts and time, Richard.
I am on a bit of a journey at the moment, so I very much appreciate your work.
Anytime. Feel free to DM if I can ever be of assistance.
There is one thing with this, is that the Lord came to SAVE. The Buddhist way is the way of depersonalisation, rejecting the empirical self completely as illusion. That isn’t saving. I didn’t get a chance to address some Buddhist perspectives of the self as illusion mentioned. The Lord came so we have life abundantly. This means that the Empirical self is to transform into the divine likeness. Rather than being de-personed and destroyed by the divine image like in these other mysticisms. I have a youtube lecture on TYPES OF MYSTICISM which explains the difference. It’s not a Monadism.
Thanks for your comment, Scott and this engaging interview with Richard. Tentatively, I think I understand the basics of what you're saying: God gave us everything we need and it is up to us (which corresponds with what Catholic doctrine states re. predestination as a path because we also have free will). Rather than destroying the self, it is transformed into a spirit which is a true reflection of the divine.
I want to learn more about this stuff because it is enriching, positive and genuinely fascinating. We can lose ourselves sometimes in the negative mess which is the modern world. I will definitely check out your video on YouTube - I don't really know what Monadism is, to be honest with you!
Have a lot more material of this nature coming down the line. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Richard. Could you suggest any good books on this subject?
Regarding pure mysticism, Thomas Merton is good, The New Man is quite accessible. Regarding initiation, I've read lots of Richard Rohr (who's actually quite left-wing, so you have to work around that) but Adam's Return is good. Scott is recommending Tomberg as per above as well, although I can't say I've read his work!
Much appreciated, Richard, thanks.
I also had/have no idea what monadism is Dylan! I looked it up when I read Scott's comment. The basic idea behind it - that matter/reality is ultimately composed of 'indivisible entities' - made me think of how scientific materialism ultimately reduces reality to matter colliding in three dimensional space 🤔
So yeah, fascinating stuff and I'll be checking out Scott's work too.
His YouTube video on the subject of 'true mysticism' is very good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7lfqEZCuos
Interesting how modern science is sort of catching up with this stuff.
Thanks, I'll check that out today I think. Rupert Sheldrake has been speaking about this topic for years, how scientific dogma rejected a lot of this kind of stuff for years, preferring a purely mechanistic view of reality.
I actually went to a talk with Rupert Sheldrake a few years back, he's an interesting man
Great interview this.
I discovered Scott's name elsewhere (on Paul Joseph Watson's YT channel I think it was, of all places), but as it happens, this was the first time I've watched him properly. As a first interview on this channel, I have to say - wow! Certain things seem to be coming into my life in the last few months, leading me in a particular direction, and from multiple sources too. A friend I made on the online world, a couple of Tom Rowsell's videos and now your chat with Scott - all mentioning Steiner, Evola, Christian mysticism and things of this nature.
There's that Silicon Valley adage about information wanting to be free - all I can say is that to me, it feels as though I'm being guided toward something, towards learning of a particular kind... I suppose it could be regarded as 'coincidence', but I've been moving inexorably away from the certainties of rational materialism in recent times!
I could go on, but I'll just reiterate that this was an excellent way to start this aspect of the channel off. I'm looking forward to more 👍🏼
Glad to hear the interview was a good listen for you. What you are talking to is the reawakening of 'tradition'. This comes in many forms, from Christian to spiritualist and so forth, yet it's ultimately what modernity has obfuscated. IMO, the reason we have a crisis of meaning in the West is because we're divorced from these deeper truths of life that hold us together individually and collectively.