San Manuel Bueno, Martir - Miguel de Unamuno

Rating: ★★★★

15/02/16

I don’t know what is true and what is a lie, nor what I saw, or what I dreamed—or rather what I dreamed and what I only saw—nor what I knew, nor what I believed. I don’t know if I am transferring my consciousness to this paper as white as snow, and if it will remain there, leaving me without it. Why should I still keep it…? Do I know anything?; do I believe anything? Has what I am writing about here really happened, and did it happen like I am telling it? Can things like these really happen? Is this just a dream, within another dream?

A priest, a village, faith and doubts.

I could write many paragraphs about this short novel, but I would be repeating¹ myself.²

First time I read Unamuno's prose. Definitely not the last.

You can find this little gem online. Spanish - English

* Photo credit: Book cover via Goodreads.

The Grand Inquisitor - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Rating: ★★★★★
22/01/16

Know, then, that now, precisely now, these people are more certain than ever before that they are completely free, and at the same time they themselves have brought us their freedom and obediently laid it at our feet. It is our doing, but is it what you wanted? This sort of freedom?

This is a chapter from one of my favorite novels, The Brothers Karamazov. Some friends already know about my unconditional love for Dostoyevsky's work. Anything I say is extremely subjective and ultimately forgettable. Anyway, it is preferable to read the entire novel so as to not only enjoy that gem, but to basically understand the characters' particular views.

Ah. The Lord and the inquisitor.

‘Everything,’ they say, ‘has been handed over by you to the pope, therefore everything now belongs to the pope, and you may as well not come at all now, or at least don’t interfere with us for the time being.’

Even when read separately, this section stands out for its lyrical force and, essentially, for the depth and intensity of its philosophical meditations concerning religion and human nature. Themes that—as someone who is always struggling in this small fragment of the world filled with fragile, ambivalent impressions—have been haunting one reader for many years now.

We corrected your deed and based it on miracle, mystery, and authority. And mankind rejoiced that they were once more led like sheep, and that at last such a terrible gift, which had brought them so much suffering, had been taken from their hearts.

Assumptions, everywhere. Confusion. Always the doubts. Always the fear. Ivan speaks. Alyosha, stunned.

He comes for the chosen ones. The ones that will inherit the kingdom of God. The ones that amidst all the possible and impossible notions and mysteries that humanity cannot unveil, were chosen before they were even born. He was always aware of their identities. Their acts, their benevolence, their purity of heart. He always knew. They were created to be saved. As for the rest of us, we are left wondering if fate can take a turn. If simple mortals can bend the rules of eternity and challenge the decisions of an omniscient being by behaving like devoted Christians—that would be one case, since the concept of paradise and its constant truth is deeply connected to geography. Illusions of a mind that wonders if the unchosen ones can still create a path towards salvation.

Many efforts have been made to reconcile the arguments of such delicate nature. And yet...

We have a game. A war. The last battle between predestination and freedom, before the hunting begins.

You want to go into the world, and you are going empty-handed, with some promise of freedom, which they in their simplicity and innate lawlessness cannot even comprehend, which they dread and fear—for nothing has ever been more insufferable for man and for human society than freedom!

The Concept of Anxiety: A Simple Psychologically Orienting Deliberation on the Dogmatic Issue of Hereditary Sin - Søren Kierkegaard, Reidar Thomte (Editor), Albert B. Anderson (Editor)

Rating: ★★★★
12/07/13

These things always create conflicts in me. I liked it, it's a major philosophical work. Kierkegaard's influence on contemporary thinking is unquestionable, thanks to little details such as being the first existentialist, having an incredibly creative mind that made him a relevant figure in literature, psychology, theology... However, it's not something I can relate to, or agree with (I'm not quite comfortable saying this, but well, it's the truth). Reflections about anxiety, which, according to Kierkegaard, existed even before the original sin. He states that it can make you sin, but it also may lead you to salvation. He's not talking about just one form of anxiety, he explores a lot of them. This book may give you a new perspective on life, if you can relate to its content. If not, it's still a truly interesting reading.
I read this a while ago and, although it wasn't easy, I'd like to come back to it, someday.

Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects - Bertrand Russell

Rating: ★★★★★

12/6/14

You just have to read this. Even if you are a Christian, you should read about every point of view, to form or change (or not) your own. Russell explains complicated things which such clarity, a little of humor... It doesn't get tedious, at all.

Take "The argument of design", for instance.

"I really cannot believe it. Do you think that, if you were granted omnipotence and omniscience and millions of years in which to perfect your world, you could produce nothing better than the Ku Klux Klan, the Fascisti, and Mr. Winston Churchill? Really I am not much impressed with the people who say: "Look at me: I am such a splendid product that there must have been design in the universe." Therefore, although it is of course a gloomy view to suppose that life will die out -- at least I suppose we may say so, although sometimes when I contemplate the things that people do with their lives I think it is almost a consolation -- it is not such as to render life miserable. 

Funny. You could then talk about free will and that is acceptable; we could discuss it until we reach the point of uncomfortable silence because we both know we are not going to change our minds, and then we'll have a cup of coffee, a piece of pie and never leave the safe "weather conversation" zone, again. Or, at least, for a couple of days. Because, if I am one of the products on which design in the universe is based... That is something only my mom would say.

Anyway, my point is, he is that clear. His thoughts are written with the wit and simplicity of great philosophers. The moral and emotional questions are a key ingredient in this brilliant essay that tries to explain "a religion based primarily and mainly upon fear". You can like it or not, but it is still a memorable work. 

Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse

Rating: ★★★★★


* There may be a little spoiler *

The time: an old one. The place: India.

There's this guy named Siddhartha, who was everyone's love and joy. A wise and decent young man who inspired everyone around him, but himself. He was not content with his life and everything around it, spiritually speaking. He felt it was not enough. And why wasn't it enough? I don't know, but it is in human nature to wonder about the essence of things, like the existence of God, of any god.

He was in a better position, though. He was certain that a superior entity existed, he just needed to know and feel more. Those who are not sure, who are floating in the middle, those people experience the worst kind of uncertainty, a painful one. Doubt mercilessly corrodes the body until it reaches the soul.

After a while, Siddhartha thought that everything he had was not enough to feel satisfied, blissful. He thought that his father and the other Brahmans already gave him all the wisdom they had. But <i>the vessel was not full, the spirit was not content, the soul was not calm, the heart was not satisfied</i>.

So, he leaves his family and good friend Govinda, and begins a life of contemplation, hoping to gain some spiritual enlightenment. He became a Samana. However, these guys' philosophy did not satisfy his heart either, therefore, he continues his quest, alone.

A river and a ferryman later, he finds a city called From living a peaceful, contemplative life to livin' la vida loca. Siddhartha meets a beautiful and intelligent woman who teaches him everything about love and... stuff. Nevertheless, after some years, this empty lifestyle of earthly pleasures tires him, and makes him go back to the river, which gave him the inspiration he was looking for.

After some time, after certain situations, he was able to listen to the river's voice with the ferryman, now Siddhartha's spiritual guide, and he finds enlightenment. He reaches the Nirvana on his own.

This is a beautiful story about a man's journey of self-discovery. A wise young man that had his ups and downs like every human being. After that time of pleasures and materialism, he went back to the spiritual life he was longing for. However, that time he spent with the woman, cannot be considered a waste. He needed that in order to achieve something greater. Everything helped him to gain experience and thus, to return to the path he was intended to walk. Sometimes, we all need to hit rock bottom just to go back to the right track again. And if staring to an apparently talking river helps you and your spiritual growth, so be it.

Despite any ironic comment, I loved this book. It kicks that Alchemist's butt; several times. It really is an inspirational book, in my opinion; it makes you wonder and think about things you thought you knew. I read it in English and Spanish at the same time; it was like reading two different books, of course. But I can say I liked Hesse writing, if there is something of his style in those translations. (I have to learn French, German and Italian, and thus, I shall find peace.)

Metaphors, reflections, descriptions, people, feelings; they are all beautifully written. He tends to repeat terms in one passage and that gives it a graceful sound when you read it (and sometimes it is just redundancy). I don't know if that only makes sense in my head. Probably.

I like philosophical novels, and this one was no exception. I don't know if it is going to change my perspective on life (I think I am still on my "discontent phase" and haven't found any rivers yet) but it was a delight to read.

Jun 23, 2013

***

I should reread this marvelous book, soon. Just to see if I found my talking river.

Ago 5, 2014

Los Diez Mandamientos en el Siglo XXI - Fernando Savater

Rating: ★★★★
28/09/13


Do you think philosophy is boring? Do you feel your eyes are heavily falling down because you can't resist reading that stuff and suddenly you have the imperiously need of taking a nap? Well, then Savater is the right guy for you. The boredom of philosophy depends on the author, his intentions and writing skills, of course. Some people only write for a certain crowd: the intellectual with funny glasses crowd. Or the snobs with funny glasses. But other people write with the main purpose of massively communicate their ideas. In order to do that, the book must be written in a simpler way, although not so simple that he's underestimating the readers. But in a digestible way, if there's such a thing. And Savater definitely knows how to keep the reader interested. He writes about the essential questions that we make ourselves at some point in our lives, and he does it in an entertaining way, making philosophy something more approachable. Serious and complex stuff with some humor and light ironies. I'm sorry, I love that mixture.

In this particular case, he writes about the ten commandments (I'm guessing you could figure that out on your own), their origins and influence through history. He makes some excellent points, but, at the end of the day, whether you believe in a god or not, and from a practical point of view, those commandments are needed. The idea of a vindictive god that punishes you if you don't obey him, suddenly, it's not that bad...

Savater invites us to imagine a world without a god. Without someone telling us basic things like not to kill each other, not to steal from each other, etc. A world without a powerful figure of authority telling us how to behave.

“Es cierto que ese Yahvé puede resultar espantoso, pero los hombres sin tabúes pueden resultar peores”.