Syntheism - Creating God in the Internet Age

by Alexander Bard

A book that dares to describe individualism as a religion and paint a reality that is primarily virtual, rather than physical. While the authors don’t mind challenging the reader’s view of the self and the world, their main intention is to induce passive receivers of the future to become more active participants. Engaging observations and perceptive interpretations of contemporary society.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Theology, Spirituality, Nonfiction

460 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2014

Reviews

[Michael Hjerth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars on average. Half is 5 star brilliance, half is 1 star wordsallad. Most definitely worth it for the brillant parts and for the courage to stretch and spectacularly fail in the wordsallad parts. Perhaps the brilliance would be possible without the fail.

[Emelie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, it was interesting, although I don't think I understood anything.

[Andrei Hognogi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a very important book, because it treats religious experiences and philosophy with an open mind.

The way the authors approach "creating" a belief system, is to look at patterns in all religions. There are people whose awe originates from the inside, and people whose awe comes from outside, and people who wish to construct the awe through will to power, none of them are derided or ignored. If there is such thing as an meaningful experience it should be accounted for.

They use ceremonial practices to paint an aesthetic picture, because as a reader that's what you want, but the core of this book is to guide people who look beyond the material without having previously an established doctrine.

[Mage Burner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jag kom nästan halvvägs in i boken innan jag la den på hyllan igen. Anledningen till att jag inte slutförde boken var att jag kände mig väldigt lost. I boken används många referenser till filosofiska tankemodeller och koncept som underlättar om man förstår innan man ger sig på denna boken. Författarna har garanterat ägnat en hel del tankar i skapandet av boken och kanske jag en gång i framtiden väljer att plocka upp den på nytt för att ta del av dessa tankar.

[Jonatan Jansson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent summary of philosophical history, the current state of the world and a great assessment of where we are headed for the future as well as where we are wrong.

Admittedly for the reader who already feels quite comfortable with digesting philosophical literature, but less academic and grating than what Žižek and the likes tend to be.

[Maria Helgesson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Den mest informationstäta bok jag någonsin läst, wow. Stundtals helt fantastisk men ibland tappade jag fokus och förstod inte ett enda ord...boken kräver minst sagt högt fokus. Hur som haver är boken otroligt intressant, särskilt iom att den är tidsenlig och mycket aktuell. Betyg: 3,5/5

[Hanan Ryberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

En uppsättning av komplexa begrepp plockade ur olika teorier i ett försök att skapa något som låter genomtänkt och elegant. Men det är just vad den boken är; ett försök. I mina öron lät försöker krystat och utan djupare sammanhang. Så den ger jag upp efter ett par timmars lyssning.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You either gonna love it or hate it. Either way, it is a book that won't leave your grey cells inactive

[Peter Dodds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough and forward thinking.