The first ones are constant; the second ones are transitory.
Thomas Merton, an American Catholic theologian, chose the life of a reclusive monk at a particular stage. His goal was not to oppose society, as the fashionable “hippies” in the West did in the 1960s and 70s. Merton’s aspiration was the opposite: to seek his own path and encourage all members of society and humanity to do the same. “Hippies,” with their exotic behavior, always “had” the community in mind: “Look, look, we say “no” to your way of life.”
Merton’s idea was more profound, as much as possible, to free a person from the myths and illusions that oppress him, having, however, a positive program, which, naturally, in his opinion, was Christian teaching. “A person under the influence of a ‘social image’ grows in himself only what society prescribes as a praiseworthy example for its members… Social stereotypes grow in him like seeds, presenting as his own ‘living experience’: Let’s add from our side, also as an “age-old experience of the people.”
I have already had to write that people cannot live without myths. It’s just that Merton counters the “public” myth with the myth of his spiritual tradition, which I think is really helpful. But after all, we are surrounded by myths, starting with our names; by giving us a particular name, our parents have built a specific myth around us. Any of our bodily manifestations is also shrouded in mythology; it is enough to remember what we mean when we say “right hand,” “left hand,” “blood,” “heart,” “brain,” and so on. Depending on our cultural traditions, we mythologize all these material phenomena in one way or another.
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Of course, it is very desirable to distinguish myths from hallucinations and delusions, although, let’s admit, it is sometimes tricky. At the most primitive level, it is clear that when a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs sees snakes instead of electric wires, it is not a myth; it is a delusion that will pass after sobering up.
In more complex cases, delusions are shaped by years of propaganda and mythologized. “We lost because the former were looting,” “the revolution of 2018 was more important than the liberation of Artsakh”, and “our main national problem is the fight against corruption” – these are delusions that have become official doctrine and acquired “state myth” status. But like any mass hallucination, it’s a temporary phenomenon.
When Merton spoke of “social stereotypes” (the theologian uses the word “stamp”), he meant more profound phenomena. And such mythology also exists among our people and many other peoples. Let me bring two provisions specific to such mythology, which are always there but gain new momentum during disasters. One/ Our people are kind, generous, philanthropic, have a conscience, and there is no cruelty in them; that’s why we always suffer in history. 2/ We are always deceived and betrayed; the whole world has turned against us, and that’s why we are in this situation.
It is clearly a special “bandage” put on people’s wounds (I repeat, not only Armenians) in case of tragedies so that the pain will be alleviated a little. “We have always suffered throughout history because we are good” is a worldwide myth that has been reflected in the stories of different nations, from epics to historical novels and other literary works.
Going against it is a challenging task. Sooner or later, Armenians will be convinced that the reason for our recent defeats is the policy of our government in the last five years. But that all the peoples of the world have suffered, have been “deceived,” have been “betrayed,” and that attributing some “moral qualities” to these peoples (your own or others) is wrong, it sounds almost like a sacrilege.
It is against the world’s laws to attribute those moral qualities to specific groups, including nations. Requiring these qualities from you, individually, is again highly desirable. But we need not laws (as we see, they do not work), but authority. “They were all amazed at how he taught because he taught with authority and not like the teachers of the Law” (Mark, 1:22).
Aram ABRAHAMYIAN
“Aravot” daily, 10.10.2023
