Thou art God now FUCKING ACT LIKE IT

[Phox]

I never read the book but I listened to the Iron Maiden album - does that count?

No, but you didn't miss much by skipping the book. I'm quite serious when I say that I have no idea what the hell Coyote's getting at with this shit. No one else seems to either. Then again, I don't remember the book all that clearly, so who knows, he may very well be onto something.

[hooplala]

Coyote - lay off the PCP.

[Phox]

Coyote - lay off the PCP.

I think he should stay on the PCP.



But, on topic: Just read a plot summary to refresh my memory and remembered that book was fucking stupid as hell. About the only point that  I can derive from it is that Coyote wants us to understand is that we have the power to influence the culture and should be exercising that ability. But I don't think that we, as individuals, do, and we, as group, couldn't even begin to try. But, on the other hand, i suppose a fatalistic attitude prevents even an effort. But there still remains a question, for me at least. Should we try to change it? To what end?

[BadBeast]

I think it may be too late for that.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

I agree with the OP.

Stranger in a Strange Land has a number of extremely fucking awesome philosophical ideas... mixed in with the hippie, free love, naked nest nonsense. (However, just as a side note, my house does occasionally end up something like his Nest, but its usually not intentional).

However, I disagree with the OP conclusion.

Michael Valentine Smith (for those who haven't read it) is a human. The first human born on Mars, after which the colony dies and he is rescued decades later, after having been raised by the martians.

MVS has never encountered the idea of God before coming back to earth. So its explained to him as the most powerful being, the cause of all things, that which gives you life... etc etc

So, when MVS has sex, he looks into the eyes of the person he's with and says "Thou Art God". He does this with WHOEVER it happens to be (he's really into free love). But, the point was that for MVS, when he was with someone, that someone was his entire focus. Sex for MVS wasn't egocentric like it is with most humans, it was entirely focused on the other person.

Its one of the most beautiful ideas I've ever read and in my opinion, it affected my err... behaviors for the better.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I disagree,  RAH's philosophy was unmitigated crap, ESPECIALLY Stranger in a Strange Land.

And I'm not God, and you should all be very, very grateful for that.