Friday, January 3, 2014

The meaning of enlightenment (#1799)

If the Renaissance period taught us anything at all it is that fear of myth and superstition can be overcome. We had the greatest array of thinkers and artists come into being to raise the human condition up to more than just a subservient being. We were shown that our imaginings need have no bounds despite our own insecurities. We could and should accomplish acts based upon our knowledge and our understanding of our natures. As a creature of care and wonder, I often find it difficult not to help others while also wanting to know more and more. These two traits go hand in hand as we all need each other's insights in order to expand our own imaginations. That thing most responsible for thwarting our quest to surge into the great unknown we are perpetually surrounded by is our lesser acts based upon fear. Being afraid of what could be has been the scourge of all of enlightenment. It is okay to prepare for the worst while also moving into the unknown, yet to stifle forward movement based upon fear is detrimental to our natures and our possibilities. I have never been so proud of our species as when as a child I learned that we humans fought and won many battles to strip off the chains of ignorance and embrace the logic of understanding as a baseline for living. No more at the mercy of fear, enlightenment gave and continues to give us marvels and innovations that in our futures portend even more possibilities. I refuse to live my life in the fear of what may happen instead of living my life in the idea that anything could happen. Enlightenment gives me the boldness I so desperately need to find the courage to always accept would could be over the depressing fear that myth and superstition wish to chain me with.

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