How much truth is in the use of the word “conventional”?
This is the word implying tried-and-true, trusted and assumed to be truth because it’s been in use for a long time by a lot of people, the conservative position to take if you want to be safe and well and don’t want to be risky or experimental.
A bit of etymology…..
“CONVENTION” (origin):
1375–1425; late Middle English convencio ( u ) n (< Middle French ) < Latin conventiōn - agreement, literally, a coming together.
“CONVENTIONAL” (modern meanings):
adjective of “convention”
1. following the accepted customs and proprieties, esp in a way
that lacks originality: conventional habits
2. established by accepted usage or general agreement
3. of or relating to a convention or assembly
To me we are using the word “conventional” in a mixed-up way that is not true to its intended meaning.
What we NOW call ‘conventional’ medicine, agriculture, religion, education, culture and behaviour contain much that is toxic, harmful, risky, overly-complex, separative and stressful, much that is experimental conducted and enforced by the few for power over the many. But they take for themselves the label “conventional” to con us into complying and choosing them over the so-called ‘alternatives’ – which are often our established healthy traditions that would complement the new ‘conventional’ if allowed to. More fools, us.
Modern medicine
A great example of the abuse of the term ‘conventional’ is in modern medicine, which should properly be called ‘allopathic medicine’ as it is only one branch of medicine. It is continually using new methods and can hardly be called lacking in originality. Also, there is a trend of proliferation of new drugs and technologies that ultimately prove to be harmful, and are certainly NOT tried-and-true or free of risk. However it has become the accepted usage in developed countries, partly by supplanting what was once the globally accepted usage and still is by much of humanity, ie the so-called ‘alternative and complementary medicines’ which are actually founded on traditional or once-conventional medicines.
I dispute that the way modern medicine rules today is by ‘general agreement’. My feeling is that this ‘agreement’ has been increasingly pushed and enforced by a small elite of vested interests, to the exclusion of traditions that most of us would have preferred to continue to use in conjunction with modern medical technology. We have become so used to feeling that there is only one choice that we give away our power and responsibility to the medical system, sometimes to our detriment. We no longer discern what is right for us, nor strive to make changes to our lifestyles that include traditional forms of health and healing plus the new knowledge available in diet, nutrition, exercise, energy and self-mastery in various forms. When we try to, we come up against great resistance from the modern medical system. I’m not denying we have progressed technologically and we have many amazing inventions and treatments to help us survive the mess we’ve created for ourselves. But our truly conventional wisdom is largely missing from modern medicine, which is guilty of denigrating everything that falls outside its increasingly exclusive scope.
I’ve always been a great supporter of combining ‘the best of the old with the best of the new’ and throwing out the worst of both!
Let’s look at some more examples of supposedly ‘conventional’ practices….
Modern agriculture
Modern agriculture is now ‘chemical agribusiness’ and is very dehumanizing, toxic and destructive, precipitating unexpected consequences at an alarming rate. Not only that, it’s no longer about looking after people’s food supply; it’s about corporations taking ownership of land, food and water in order to control the global population economically, psychologically and physically. This toxic modern agriculture has imbued itself thoroughly with the idea of it being ‘conventional’ but check out just one example of this trap in this video.
Modern education
Modern education is largely toxic and damaging. Children are forced, pushed to exhaustion, made to compete against each other and their parents, and programmed to be nice little robots who comply with the other systems herein mentioned, while thinking we have infinite choice. Yes we have accumulated great factual knowledge, but, as in the case of medicine, we have lost the love and connection out of it, lost the sense of proportion, and lost the wisdom needed for its right use.
Modern religion
Likewise modern religion (‘modern’ here meaning the last few thousand years – it’s been in a mess for arguably longer.) It has kept us tied up in unwieldy, separative dogma, empty rituals, unequal power distribution, and controlled by fear and comparison. It’s become a political machine that keeps us worrying, fighting, denying, rebelling and feeling inadequate, disconnected from our inner divine selves, humanity, God and our planet. Those who rule religion know precisely what they are doing, beginning with the total corruption of the meaning of the word ‘religion’ itself!
Modern culture and behaviour
Modern culture and behaviour include the widespread habits of consuming toxic drugs like alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, chocolate and their illegal buddies; of many other forms of self-harm; of competing and ‘beating’ others in sports and games; of disrespect and violence in relationships and against the female gender in particular; of excessive consumption, waste and disregard of the Earth; of greed and selfishness, and of uncontrolled emotion.
Yuk to all the above!
Coming back to truth
By the original sense of the word, and coming back with honesty to what we know deep within is true, the ‘conventionals’ would change, being the best of the old and the best of the new (without the worst of either).
Modern medicine
Medicine would be holistic mind, body and soul, using on a great scale the choices we make for our bodies as medicine, complementary to and extended by the least harmful of allopathic technological medicine. We would return to our original awareness of connectedness and oneness, and our way of living as an essential part of healing and the maintenance of wellbeing. We would simply incorporate whatever truly beneficial new things come along, after discerning their integrity, safety and effectiveness.
Modern agriculture
Agriculture would be truly ‘organic’ and earth-friendly, meaning without the use of toxic chemicals that damage life. It would incorporate a complex ecosystem of humans living on their land and deeply understanding it. We’d be once again rotating crops, resting fields, blending the care of livestock, water and soil with wildlife and native vegetation together in harmony. Modern technology, as in the case of medicine, would only be incorporated gradually once proven safe for the health of all living beings on the planet and the soil, air and water on which we depend.
Modern education
Education would be having our children with us while they are young; loved and cherished for who they are not what they do, participating naturally in the entire life and activities of home and community. Modern knowledge would be an addition to, not a replacement for, the natural loving learning of children in a supportive environment.
Modern religion
Religion would be simple connection to our inner Divine truth and the joy of living in harmony and love with others and the planet. We would have no need whatsoever for the churches and their massive properties, investments, riches, rituals and bureaucracies.
Modern culture and behaviour
Culture and behaviour would be living in the above self-loving, humanity-loving, earth-loving ways, so there would be no overall differences among people anywhere in the world. There would only be differences in regional details fitted to the local land and climate. No one would denigrate anyone else’s way, as it would be sensible and logical for each group to live in their local way. And freely relating to and visiting others anywhere on the globe, taking our same level of loving, respectful livingness with us.
Some say I’m a dreamer, idealist or romantic, and scoff at me to ‘get realistic’. Well so-called ‘reality’ hasn’t been working very well has it? Label me and those who agree by whatever name you will. I feel that we all know these loving, harmonious ways within, they ARE our true reality, and how we have been living is not. Can’t you feel the shift? We are returning slowly but surely to our true selves, even if it is not apparent overall at this time.