Metaphors, Analogies, Whatever

Howdy.  Partner.  Yeah, that's right, John Wayne here.  Not fooling you?  Ok, ok, its just me, Josh, starting the wagon wheels rolling on another blog post.  Last time (earlier today, actually), I began a post by saying I was going to, and I quote, "keep things loosey goosey."  Well, I apologize.  Besides being a ridiculous phrase-loosey goosey, who says that??-I didn't actually stay true to my promise.  The post quickly became heavy chevy or serious, er, sirius?...wait.  Whatever.  Let me try to get back to the goose.

Here's another stupid idea for a blog that I scribble in a notebook:

I thought of an analogy for our human condition.  I thought it was kind of good, i.e., correct-ish, if not highly unoriginal.  It goes a little something like this.

There's this farm, see?  And on the farm there are all these animals, see?  The old farmer-let's call him, um, McDonald-looks after the animals.  Old McDonald talks to them as well.  He tells them that they are much better off being confined to the farm.  He explains that he takes care of them and keeps them out of harm.  He says that evil exists out beyond the tall wood farm fence.  Sometimes the animals get restless in their small world and feel the "call of the wild".  Other times the animals are overwhelmed  by the instinctual urges of their ancestors.  They begin to wonder what is on the other side of the fence.  When these things happen, Old McDonald reminds the animals of their higher purpose:  To serve the farm and feed his family.  He reminds them that there is nothing but danger out beyond the fence.  He declares that there is nothing worth knowing outside the farm.  He assures the animals that life on the farm is the most comfortable, fulfilling life there is.

See, now wasn't that Fun!  I know this is an incredibly complex analogy, so let me interpret it for you.

We are the farm animals.  Yes, you and I and everyone else on this planet.  We have been domesticated by various belief systems, religious or otherwise.  (hint: the farm represents the belief systems)  Its been many generations since we lived in a more natural, free existence; its been hundreds/thousands of years since we were corralled by religion (or what have you) and told that we would be better off if we suppressed our natural instincts and do what we were told.  Religion gave us treats to keep us satisfied. You could say it even made us addicts of its unnatural, high-fructose emotional drug.  And we were made to believe that there was a higher purpose which we were selected for.  That purpose had little to do with what was good for us, and more to do with the good of something out of touch and abstract-something we never really saw. We were told that we exist to serve God. We didn't need to know anything else. We were encouraged to not only ignore our natural instincts and self interest, but to demonize them.  Nothing outside the church or holy text was worth knowing.  Everything else was dangerous.

We should not just return to the wild; we should take over the farm and open the gate.  Those who wish to live a comfortable, predictable life may choose to do so (for themselves); and those who'd rather live on the wild side, exploring new territory are free to.

The end.

Wait, the loose goose just ran off.  Here's another direction my mid went today, while thinking about freedom/free will:

What is freedom if we are controlled by natural urges/instinct?  Wouldn't it be the freedom to obey urges, and wouldn't that be a paradox?  If we were able to rid ourselves of our natural desires, where then would freedom come from?

What sounds more correct?

Freedom to do what genes are compelling me to do?
Freedom to do what my meager intellect thinks is most wise-or best-based on limited information from biased sources?
Freedom to choose to obey other people/dogmas?
Freedom to disconnect, emotionally, and choose what is best for our health/happiness based on the best information we have (similar to #2).

Ok, the end.