Mike Zang - Atonement with the Father

Many ancients myths, through a heroic character, emphasize humanity's need to apologize for some universal fault encoded within them by default. Christianity tells this story through Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden with the fall of Man; presently, Christians believe we are born with original sin and for that reason, must seek reconciliation throughout our lives by offering ourselves up to Christ.

Some find that a radical concept, but other cultures have embraced this notion as well, although perhaps not through sacramental practices. Other cultures' myths tell of great ominous, patriarchial gods who execute brutish torture upon individuals, sometimes for no obvious reasons. In many Greek myths, characters are chosen at random, seemingly arbitrary, as the target for wrathful vengence upon the human race. Perhaps they were chosen to take the bullet for all of humanity's anguish and evilness. In any case, many mythologists have uncovered this archetypal idea and have used it to better understand the ideology of ancient peoples.

Joseph Campbell in his book, "The Man with a Thousand Faces" talks about atonement with the father, the hellish torture that mythical figures are put through, all the while testing their character and faith, until eventually that torment ceases and they are once again at peace with serenity.

Going through these trials and tribulations reminds me a lot about our conversation concerning pleasure and pain, and how in order to understand one we must certainly immerse ourselves in its opposite. Polarities create one another. And so it would make human sense that the vengeful father figure would be followed by a placated mother. "With that reliance for support, one endures the crisis - only to find, in the end, that the father and mother reflect each other, and are in essence the same" (Campbell 131). This illustrates the codependency of pleasure and pain.

"The ladder to paradise is infested with parasites/
and if you don't ride in the carriage right/
you would swear that life's a bitch."
-Eyedea