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In this interview, gnostic author Adrian Charles Smith shares his intimate understanding of fundamentalism as a fractal pattern that permeates all institutions, from literalist churches to corporate life to politics. An ex-pastor and lawyer, Smith defines fundamentalism as possessing the form of law yet lacking the spirit of truth, and its methods of control are ever the same, no matter where you find it.
You can read more about these topics at Adrian’s blog: Autonomy Now: – Gnosticism in a (Post)Modern World (aprisonforthemind.blog)
I also enjoyed Adrian’s book, A Prison for the Mind: Reflections of a disappointed fundamentalist.
Adrian’s writing is a pleasure to read, and his book is chocked full of great quotes that shed light on our current geo-political climate. Quotes like these:
“We have a predator which came from the depths of the cosmos and took over the rule of our lives. Human beings are its prisoners. The predator is our lord and master. It has rendered us docile, helpless. If we want to protest, it suppresses our protest. If we want to act independently, it demands that we don’t do so.” — Don Juan of Carlos Castaneda fame, Mexican shaman
“If you would be a seeker after truth, it is necessary, at least once in your life, you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” — Rene Descartes
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms–to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” —Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Adrian uses broccoli as an example of how fractals work. It just so happens I have explained fractals the same way in the following video posted to my youtube channel —