1. The Gift of Death Bryan Dreiling Law and Society Seminar December 5, 2002

2. Asking the Ontological Question The attempt of this presentation is to step back and look at religion in the context of being … we will be looking at religion as a genealogy The attempt of this presentation is to step back and look at religion in the context of being … we will be looking at religion as a genealogy By examining religion this way, we will be able to better understand the intersections of law and religion. By examining religion this way, we will be able to better understand the intersections of law and religion.

3. Background Information Jacques Derrida is post-modern philosopher from France. Jacques Derrida is post-modern philosopher from France. Most of his texts deal with linguistic deconstruction Most of his texts deal with linguistic deconstruction French Jew French Jew This book he is critiquing Jan Patocka’s Heretical Essays. This book he is critiquing Jan Patocka’s Heretical Essays.

4. Religion as Responsibility “Religion is responsibility or it is nothing at all … In the authentic sense of the word, religion comes into being the moment that the experience of responsibility extracts itself from that form of secrecy called demonic mystery “ “Religion is responsibility or it is nothing at all … In the authentic sense of the word, religion comes into being the moment that the experience of responsibility extracts itself from that form of secrecy called demonic mystery “

5. Beginning the genealogy The starting point of this discussion is the time when uncontrollable violence and chaos ruled the earth. The starting point of this discussion is the time when uncontrollable violence and chaos ruled the earth. The orgiastic mystery The orgiastic mystery Can equate the orgiastic to the demonic Can equate the orgiastic to the demonic

6. The Orgiastic … The Demonic DESIRE DESIRE The urge everyone has to “sin” to do wrong The urge everyone has to “sin” to do wrong Internal Urge … External sources Internal Urge … External sources EVILNESS EVILNESS THE SEX OF THE DEMONIC THE SEX OF THE DEMONIC That pleasure of violence, chaos, destruction That pleasure of violence, chaos, destruction

7. To our savior … Plato The Form of the “Good” The Form of the “Good” The noble plight to lead ones-self away from the orgiastic to something better The noble plight to lead ones-self away from the orgiastic to something better External in nature External in nature Good became privileged over the orgiastic. Good became privileged over the orgiastic. Good existence was to control and master the orgiastic. Good existence was to control and master the orgiastic. In short, the orgiastic was repressed by Platonism. In short, the orgiastic was repressed by Platonism.

8. Next in Line … Christianity Christianity was an evolution of Platonic thought and incorporated it in a number of ways Christianity was an evolution of Platonic thought and incorporated it in a number of ways Changed from exterior to interior gaze. Changed from exterior to interior gaze. Continued the idea of “good” but not as something that was inaccessible … not a form … but rather a way of life to live Continued the idea of “good” but not as something that was inaccessible … not a form … but rather a way of life to live Hence, religion is responsibility Hence, religion is responsibility

9. To sum up … “Platonic mystery thus represses orgiastic mystery and Christian mystery incorporates Platonic mystery” “Platonic mystery thus represses orgiastic mystery and Christian mystery incorporates Platonic mystery”

10. The “Orgiastic Floodwaters” One must never forget, and precisely for political reasons, that the mystery that is incorporated, then repressed, is never destroyed …Orgiastic mystery recurs indefinitely, it is always at work, not only in Platonism, as we have seen, but also in Christianity... Patocka encourages us to learn a political lesson from this, one for today and tomorrow, by reminding us that every revolution, whether atheistic or religious, bears witness to a return of the sacred in the form of an enthusiasm or fever, otherwise known as the presence of gods within us One must never forget, and precisely for political reasons, that the mystery that is incorporated, then repressed, is never destroyed …Orgiastic mystery recurs indefinitely, it is always at work, not only in Platonism, as we have seen, but also in Christianity... Patocka encourages us to learn a political lesson from this, one for today and tomorrow, by reminding us that every revolution, whether atheistic or religious, bears witness to a return of the sacred in the form of an enthusiasm or fever, otherwise known as the presence of gods within us

11. Law and Society The orgiastic is with us … it works against us as desire as the demonic The orgiastic is with us … it works against us as desire as the demonic But at the same time it is repressed … mastered by Platonism and that repression is incorporated by Christianity But at the same time it is repressed … mastered by Platonism and that repression is incorporated by Christianity George Carlin says satirically that “Thou Shall not kill” should be “thou shall not kill unless your god is different than mine” George Carlin says satirically that “Thou Shall not kill” should be “thou shall not kill unless your god is different than mine” I will contend that is religion using the orgiastic mystery that it has mastered. I will contend that is religion using the orgiastic mystery that it has mastered.

12. Law and Society Continued Fred Phelps Fred Phelps Crusades Crusades War in Afghanistan War in Afghanistan WWII WWII Republicans Republicans

14. Back to Responsibility The Gift of Death The Gift of Death Maintain the History of Responsibility Maintain the History of Responsibility A Gift that you “give yourself” A Gift that you “give yourself” You give yourself this gift by not allowing the orgiastic to gain a foothold in your life You give yourself this gift by not allowing the orgiastic to gain a foothold in your life Since Christianity is internal with the external looking down upon you, it is up to you to maintain this responsibility Since Christianity is internal with the external looking down upon you, it is up to you to maintain this responsibility You are held accountable for it You are held accountable for it This is how you give yourself the gift This is how you give yourself the gift

15. Full Circle … Stephen Carter Carter wants the public square to be opened up to more religious thoughts. I now think I know how this could become a universal reality Carter wants the public square to be opened up to more religious thoughts. I now think I know how this could become a universal reality Follow me into this hypothetical world: Follow me into this hypothetical world:

16. Carters Reality A world where the orgiastic is repressed and not used as a tool. A world where the orgiastic is repressed and not used as a tool. A world where there is no middle ground of “benevolent evil” A world where there is no middle ground of “benevolent evil” You would not have to worry about the genuine nature of Pat Robertson anymore, or worry about Oral Roberts getting struck down, or the hate and intolerance of Fred Phelps. You would not have to worry about the genuine nature of Pat Robertson anymore, or worry about Oral Roberts getting struck down, or the hate and intolerance of Fred Phelps. TURN RELIGION IN RESPONSIBILITY and open up the public forum to all thoughts. TURN RELIGION IN RESPONSIBILITY and open up the public forum to all thoughts.