About Cehualli
My Religious Journey Thus Far:
I have walked a rather rocky religious road in my life, but I have finally found a haven as a devotee of Huitzilopochtli. I was raised as a Christian fundamentalist of the Charismatic Evangelical flavor, though I long had a fascination with the philosophers of ancient China and the pre-Christian mythologies of Asia and the Americas. During graduate school, that childhood faith imploded cataclysmically due to a perfect storm of factors too extensive to go into here. One key factor that I will name though was the lack of any numinous experience of God, despite the well-known experiential emphasis of the Charismatic movement. Ultimately, it failed to answer my questions, and I left it behind.
I studied numerous other religions after that, searching for anything that might be true. I loved the writings of Laozi and Zhuangzi, the founders of Daoism, though they seemed incomplete. The Confucians had some valuable things to say as well. Still, neither seemed quite right. I explored Chan Buddhism for a year, enjoying the insights of the Sutras and the benefits of meditation and chanting. Still, that wasn’t quite right either. Too many metaphysical problems came up, and the claims of the transformative effects of Enlightenment were just as unsubstantiated as the “indwelling of the Holy Spirit,” in my experience. I realized that one of the recurring problems with the “revealed religions” was their one-sided view of humanity, and the unbalanced valuation of half the human soul. The stereotypically “positive” side of life was elevated, and the other half was condemned. But life can’t work without death, and peace sometimes must be gained through the sword. So, what to do?
Right around then, I came to wonder if the pagan traditions might not be where the answers lay, and that dormant interest in the religion of the Aztecs blazed to a new life. That surprised me, since that interest had always previously been outweighed by my fascination with Chinese thought. But… I decided it was worth a look. And when I looked, Huitzilopochtli was waiting.
What’s happened since then? Quite a bit, but that’s a story for another time. The important thing is, I’ve finally met the Divine and found a path I can call home. Feels good!
Other Stuff About Me:
Hmmm… well, I’m a serious research geek and lifelong computer nerd. I build and overclock computers for fun. I’m a rivethead in the fullest sense of the word – I don’t just listen to Industrial and Noize musics, but I take the questions about man, machine, technology, and society seriously. What’s human in the Information Age? What’s technology doing to society? What should it do? Stuff like that. Unsurprisingly, I love playing with synthesizers, though it’d be an insult to the word “musician” if I dared to apply it to myself. I’m not half bad at graphic arts though. And I love computer games. (Doom for the win!)
Otherwise… I’ve got a B.A. in Criminology & Criminal Justice, a J.D. in Law, and I’m licensed to practice law as an attorney. I’ve got a passion for criminal law and civil liberties, especially free speech and privacy. I particularly focus on where those areas intersect technology, and I’ve been watching the effects of the growing surveillance industry on them in the USA and the UK.
… Eh, that’s enough narcissism for now, even I’m bored hearing about me. I’ll join you back over in the Aztec stuff.
Contact Me
Hummm …hence you came to the conclusion that the Spaniards’ justification for the pillage and destruction of civilizations in the so-called “New World” in the name of greed, disguised as the (their?) “true god”, is, was, and will be a fallacy?
…and that those who, brainwashed beyond cure, mindlessly refer to the (their?) “Madre Patria” in an affectionate manner are in effect sanctioning the current oppression under which the modern Mexican lives; that which forces many of us to flee in search of that basic human dignity denied by Criollo-created institutionalized oppression in México (for instance)?
What else is new under the the Fifth Sun era? What else is new under Nanahuatzin?
And do you think that the majority of Mexican people will agree to replace their “Angel of Independence” (or is that slavery to the corrupt Criollo institutions?) for that of The Feathered Serpent statue? Or will they, after more than 500 years of being subject to the mantra of “El patrón rules”, will not recognize Quetzalcoatl anymore?
As an aside, from an geek to another, may I recommend an alternative blog software for your blog? Please do try b2evolution.
Best regards.
Hello and welcome, El Vato! Always nice to meet someone new.
Essentially… I’d answer “yes.” I’m not all-knowing, but I think one can say with a fair degree of certainty that the orthodox Christian (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, whoever) take on things doesn’t survive scrutiny. Is there some transcendent essence some people experience through those practices? Who knows, I never found it. But I’m a pretty strong atheist when it comes to the Abrahamic god.
I hesitate to describe the modern Mexican with the same words as you, as I am an outsider to that society, and as such, don’t feel I have the authority to level such criticism. Gods know they’ve been oppressed enough by outsiders in the last 500 years.
I would agree wholeheartedly though that by adhering to Catholicism, many are reinforcing the spiritual colonialism that Cortes brought centuries ago. I don’t know if they will revive their traditional customs and reject what’s been imposed upon them someday. I hope so, but every time I see someone demonize the gods of his or her ancestors and perpetuate the vicious slander they’ve been fed about their own heritage, or accept theology that’s essentially Catholicism with a Precolumbian facade, I could scream.
Still, there have been some hopeful steps. Maybe the revival of Danza Azteca and other traditional customs will spread, and will cause more Mexicans to view their indigenous heritage with pride and love. Maybe the ease of finding and connecting with other like-minded people via the Internet will help these people support each other better and spread their message.
Anyway, welcome again, and I hope you stick around! Thanks for the software suggestion, I may have to give it a look. Tinkering with such things is always enjoyable.