Another beautiful thing about having Gods is that you can name people after them --naming someone Vishnu, Siva, Sriram has such power and must have an influence on their lives... Post-pantheism, a lot of Christian countries moved more to Saints and virtues (e.g., very common in older Mexico - "Piedad" "Dolores"), but it seems we might have lost a magical quality we could impart on each other...
Eliot Weinberger’s Angels & Saints and Borge’s Bestiario come to mind as early models. Both are less interested in the physical reality of their subjects than how believing in them shapes the world. They’re also cracking good reads.
I think it was J.P (I may be worng) who says that God is like a personification of life itself and I never stopped to think about it since then. Also I would like to say that I would love to see the psychofauna bestiary
Psychofauna sounded silly but by the end I already like it.
Would definitely be a cool lens to look from, most likely very insightful.
The obvious nomination that comes to mind is the god of money/capitalism.
The book Sapiens had a similar idea the the parallels between the old religions and the newer ideologies, but going down to psychofauna level could highlight the "Interdependent Incentives" -> "Agency of the System" mechanisms.
Great stuff! I am late to the party but I have immediately got hooked to the term and very excited about your book idea. If I can help with anything, let me know, I would be happy to participate!
Another beautiful thing about having Gods is that you can name people after them --naming someone Vishnu, Siva, Sriram has such power and must have an influence on their lives... Post-pantheism, a lot of Christian countries moved more to Saints and virtues (e.g., very common in older Mexico - "Piedad" "Dolores"), but it seems we might have lost a magical quality we could impart on each other...
Eliot Weinberger’s Angels & Saints and Borge’s Bestiario come to mind as early models. Both are less interested in the physical reality of their subjects than how believing in them shapes the world. They’re also cracking good reads.
I did not know either of these books (though I've read some other Borges) but they both seem great.
love it, especially as "egregore" and the idea behind it become more popular. that 2x2 is fantastic
I think it was J.P (I may be worng) who says that God is like a personification of life itself and I never stopped to think about it since then. Also I would like to say that I would love to see the psychofauna bestiary
"Psychocreature" immediately evoked Pokemon for me haha, catch em all on the psychodex (psy-codex?)
On the topic of composite animals, may I present you with Wishiwashi (https://img.pokemondb.net/artwork/large/wishiwashi-school.jpg)
Psychofauna sounded silly but by the end I already like it.
Would definitely be a cool lens to look from, most likely very insightful.
The obvious nomination that comes to mind is the god of money/capitalism.
The book Sapiens had a similar idea the the parallels between the old religions and the newer ideologies, but going down to psychofauna level could highlight the "Interdependent Incentives" -> "Agency of the System" mechanisms.
A+ post. Fresh, actual, and a great intro to the idea. Also, I’d like to propose The Midwit (or Rationalist) as one of the psychoanimals.
Great stuff! I am late to the party but I have immediately got hooked to the term and very excited about your book idea. If I can help with anything, let me know, I would be happy to participate!