Matrixism - A religion based on The Matrix

[Blizzardry]

It's ok. I don't expect you've heard of Baudelaire, Coleridge and Edgar Allen Poe...

And having volunteered in drug information and advice, I've personally met about 30 LSD addicts.

The point I'm making is that ALL these chemicals have benefits and risks and using what we have at our disposal, whether it be speed ("It's not method in our madness, it's the madness in our methedrine" - David Byrne), opiates, mushrooms or acid, we should be respectful and not ignorant to the risks.

I can't agree with you because my own personal life experiences have taught me otherwise. And most of my friends who use opiates for spiritual or meditative reasons would disagree with you.

I don't believe that they produce religious experience, I have personally had profound religious experiences from poppy tea, raw opium, or occasionally pure heroin. Now who's dissing MY religion?

I still love you though...

[DynoMight]

Blizzard & 17th,

You guys act like Matrixism is only about the use of psychedelics when in fact there is much more to the religion.

First there is the prophecy and Matrixism's connection with Abrahamic and Dharminic traditions. It seems that all the world is waiting for a Messiah, return of the Messiah, Mahdi, future Buddha, incarnation of Shiva or Vishnu etc. Stating the imminence of this from a post Baha'i perspective is a noble attempt at a syncretic world religious movement.

Secondly there are new social laws specific to Matrixism. The reason's for their being are not spelled out; But when have prophets ever been so transparent as to fully explain their reasons? In the contexts of postmodern thought the laws of Matrixism seem to be well reasoned in MHO.

Lastly there is the statement regarding the semi-subjective nature of reality. This is in keeping with the modern scientific while opening the door to higher ways of looking at the world. Again the higher ways of looking at the world are not spelled out on the website but there is referrence among Matrixism's recommened reading. And should everything be spelled out by Matrixism anyway? They are after all looking for the next One.

So again there is much more to this religion, this meme if you will, than just its sacrament.

ps - You talk about informing people of the risks associated with drugs but it seems that you deliberately are misleading people who read this forum. To correct your errors;

1) LSD is not addictive like opiates (i.e. heroin). Blizzard sights anecdotal evidence when scientifically and clinically psychedelics are considered to be non-addictive.
2) Heroin is highly physically and mentally addictive so much so that people often resort to crime (even against their own family) to feed their addiction.
3)People often overdose and die as a result of using heroin.
4)It is nearly impossible to overdose on LSD. There has never been a case of someone dying from an LSD overdose.

Letting people believe that these two classes of drugs are comparable is not only wrong it is irresponsible. ... but I digress.

[Blizzardry]

Ok, heroin is physically addictive because it mirrors our own "home-made" opiates, like endorphins. If we take it for extended periods of time, our endorphins don't need to pump anymore, and the opiates take over. If you come off it the next day, there is usually no withdrawal. If you've taken it for long enough, you'll feel a body without endorphins - painful. Comparable to a vicious flu fever.

Knowing this, why would anybody take it for extended periods of time? Sheer psychological dependency and lack of willpower. And please don't give me this nonsense about people committing crimes against their families for the drug. These people are criminals without the drug. They are taking the drug because something has already snapped in them to the point where they couldn't care less about themselves and the people around them.

They did not take opium to receive mystic insights on the scale of Kubla Khan, or to assist in Zen and Yogic meditation, or even for the lucidity of a stilled mind. There is a HUGE difference.

Labelling herbalist alchemical practise with nihilistic criminality is just not where it's at. Calling me a junkie because I choose to use all God's plants wisely is very different to me calling the Matrixist website irresponsible because it's reactionary and pushes drama over actual content.

As for acid. True, it's not known to be physically addictive. However, there is a very real and documented psychological addiction. It's a beautiful and important part of the shaman's garden, but it's risks need to be.

Perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps only in my deluded fantasy do people occasionally freak out, end up in murder cults, develop incurable recurring flashbacks, kill themselves, or develop paranoias about demons. Yes that's it. Really, in the REAL world, I'm sure people trip along happily with nothing but a copy of Doors of Perception (and understand all the heavy language) and a handful of Matrixian Symbol posters to stick up. Sweet. If only there were a drug that could get me there!

When I took LSD I had made my choice. I still stand by it. The NASA astronauts that died on their way to the moon knew it was a possibility. They were willing to stake their lives on the chance that they would advance science for humankind, and make history in the process. Nobody put up posters saying "Fly to the Moon, it'll be fine..."

When I first started in herbalism, alchemy and mysticism, I was taught to understand and respect the role ALL medicines play in improving our lives spiritually and physically, the risks and dangers involved with each one, and that education stood me in good stead.

God, if I could count the amount of misguided reactionaries I've seen ranting on about the movies they've seen and the acid trips they've had, it makes me really sad. All the screaming, freaking out and floods of tears have made me stronger, but I'm one of the lucky ones.

I have no problem with you believing in the coming of The One, really. Or even taking a good metaphor (and it was a good one, if derivative and a blatant Hollywood cash-cow) and using it as a guide on your journey of inner discovery. If you REALLY believe that this one website is how you would like your spirituality to be defined, then I can't really dis your Matrixism, or Pathism.

In fact, I'd like to compare experiences and findings with you.

But I'd have to see something that says this isn't just some guy sticking up a few assorted ideas based on a movie, backing it up with a FAQ that is a complete mishmash of religious and philosophical quotes mixed in with a "you don't really have to do anything" clause.

I mean, is this a genuine path? The website says it's a religion based on a movie. Then goes on to tell you to join another religion and wait for the messiah. What is it? Is it a mystic discipline? Which Abrahamic traditions? A way of life? Or just another Join Me or King Danny? Come on, even the Discordians are more organised! The Church of the Subgenius has more inspiration. And they never get much airtime on these forums.

Now obviously, if we're up for criticising each others way of life, we're up for getting it. I don't really mind being called a Junkie or having my beliefs ripped on, because it's all in good humour, isn't it? If you did any damage to my philosophy I would thank you. As I'm sure you would.

I think you run a little deeper than that. Peace, dude...

[DynoMight]

Originally Posted by Blizzardry

And please don't give me this nonsense about people committing crimes against their families for [heroin]. ...

As for [LSD]. True, it's not known to be physically addictive. However, there is a very real and documented psychological addiction. ...

I mean, is this a genuine path? The website says it's a religion based on a movie. Then goes on to tell you to join another religion and wait for the messiah. What is it? Is it a mystic discipline? Which Abrahamic traditions? A way of life? ...

I think you run a little deeper than that. Peace, dude...

The truth is that many people become addicted to heroin the first time they use it. It is that physically addictive. And yes it is true not all heroin addicts become slaves to organized crime. But it seems that there are more than enough deaths attributed to heroin overdose to support the notion that the good addicts end up committing suicide just so that they won't do harm to other people. Many many people overdoes on heroin.

As for LSD psychological addiction to it is not only not well documented it is virtually non-existent. Why? Because LSD really isn't addictive at all. I believe that the anecdotal cases of LSD addiction that you site are really people who take LSD in combination with other drugs. Good science says that it is the other drugs (stimulants, opiates, barbituates, etc.) that they are addicted to.

Anyhow, we clearly disagree about this subject of entheogens and we have played it for all it is worth. I for one would like to just agree to disagree.

I will grant you that Matrixism and its website are rather light perhaps even whimsical (I would say fun). Matrixism is after all based in part on a Hollywood movie. How serious do you want it to take itself? That being said is not good humor one of the characteristics of a true mystic? I believe that is written in tradition.

Matrixism is pluralistic in terms of its relation to other religions. I find this refreshing. Most religions exclude themselves from each other and thus become a source of division and prejudice. Matrixism at least takes a step (small or large?) in the right direction towards exchange and understanding.

As it is stated on the Matrixism homepage it comes from the lineage of the Baha'i Faith which is an Abrahamic religion.

Lastly you are right I do "run deeper" but I'm not really here to expose all of my depths. Truly I hardly know you.

Peace to you all the same as long as you are truly peaceful and fair.

[Blizzardry]

groovy

[FlyByNight]

Matrixism is a crock of a manufactured religion if I ever saw one. There is nothing at all genuine about it.

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by DynoMight

Blizzard & 17th,


3)People often overdose and die as a result of using heroin.

4)It is nearly impossible to overdose on LSD. There has never been a case of someone dying from an LSD overdose.

Letting people believe that these two classes of drugs are comparable is not only wrong it is irresponsible. ... but I digress.

People have NEVER overdosed using LSD? Sure about that one?

Almost impossible to overdose on acid? LOL... It is very possible.

Shall we count, Accidental death, suicide and homicide? Also from overdose you can expect repiratory failure also hyperthermia... The average lethal dose for humans ranges from 0.2mg/kg to over 1mg/kg taken orally. Obviously peoples opinions on the amount vary and people are built up differently... If you take more than the body can handle you WILL over dose I have seen it happen tons of times.

I have taken more acid tabs and drops then I can count in my life time... So I am not saying "Booo down with acid, you lunatic it is going to kill you!!!" I am saying you CAN over dose, been there, done that got the t-shirt, forgot most of it...

[BeckyThatch]

I found this when I did a Google video search for "matrixism".

YouTube - Youtube Matrix

Apparrently God is on YouTube now ;)

[17th Angel]

Six minutes and forty-seven seconds...Sorry I couldn't endure that longer than the first brief moments...

[BeckyThatch]

Trust me. You missed out.

[17th Angel]

My attention span is worse than a rabid gerbils!! I can't help it.

[BeckyThatch]

Honestly, you of all people should watch this video.

YouTube - Youtube Matrix

If not how about you just leave room for other people to comment on it? Or are you trying to be a wet blanket?