PKD VALIS Trilogy and the Concept of Logos

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PKD VALIS Trilogy and the Concept of Logos Preview pkd valis trilogy and the concept of logos therein

The PKD VALIS trilogy is a series of novels by the American science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, who explored his own mystical experiences and philosophical questions in these works. The trilogy consists of VALIS (1981), The Divine Invasion (1981), and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer (1982)1. The title VALIS stands for Vast Active Living Intelligence System, which is Dick’s vision of a cosmic mind or God that communicates with humans through various means2.

One of the main concepts that Dick explores in the trilogy is the logos, which is a Greek word meaning word, reason, or principle. In Christian theology, logos is also used to refer to the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God made flesh. Dick uses logos to refer to the voice or message of VALIS that reveals the hidden truth about reality and history to the characters in his novels. Dick also connects logos to the Gnostic idea of Sophia, or Holy Wisdom, who is the female aspect of God and the source of creation2.

In the first novel, VALIS, the protagonist Horselover Fat (an alter ego of Dick) experiences visions of a pink beam of light that he calls Zebra and interprets as a manifestation of logos. He and his friends form a group called the Rhipidon Society to investigate the nature and origin of this phenomenon. They discover that there is an alien satellite orbiting Earth that broadcasts information and influences human events. They also encounter a young girl named Sophia, who claims to be the incarnation of Holy Wisdom and tells them to worship humanity instead of gods2.

In the second novel, The Divine Invasion, the story shifts to a parallel world where Earth is under the control of an evil power called Belial, who has corrupted religion and suppressed spirituality. A man named Herb Asher and his pregnant wife Rybys are contacted by VALIS, who tells them that their unborn child is Emmanuel, the true Messiah who will restore balance and harmony to the world. They are transported to Earth with the help of some friends, but they face many obstacles and dangers from Belial’s agents. Emmanuel grows up quickly and begins to perform miracles and teach people about logos2.

In the third novel, The Transmigration of Timothy Archer, the focus is on Timothy Archer, an Episcopal bishop and friend of Horselover Fat who appears briefly in VALIS. The novel is narrated by his daughter-in-law Angel Archer, who recounts his life and death. Timothy Archer becomes interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls and travels to Israel to study them. He learns about a sect called the Zadokites, who believed in reincarnation and practiced a ritual involving a psychoactive mushroom that they called “the living water”. He also becomes fascinated by a young woman named Kirsten Lundborg, who claims to have memories of her past lives. He experiments with the mushroom and tries to find out if he can access his own past lives or communicate with VALIS through logos2.

The PKD VALIS trilogy is a complex and challenging work that blends science fiction, philosophy, religion, and autobiography. It reflects Dick’s personal quest for meaning and transcendence in a world that he perceived as chaotic and deceptive. It also raises many questions about the nature of reality, God, humanity, and salvation13.

Learn more:

1. en.wikipedia.org 2. en.wikipedia.org 3. goodreads.com the concept of logos being in the dead sea scrolls sleeping Searching for: the concept of logos being in the dead sea scrolls sleeping

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Searching for: the concept of logos being in the dead sea scrolls sleeping Dead Sea Scrolls

Explore I’m sorry, I don’t understand your question. Do you want to know more about the concept of logos in the Dead Sea Scrolls, or are you asking something else? Please clarify your query so that I can help you better. 😊

The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts that were discovered near the Dead Sea in the 20th century. They contain many texts from the Hebrew Bible, as well as other religious and sectarian writings. Some of these writings reflect the beliefs and practices of a group called the Essenes, who lived in a community at Qumran near the caves where the scrolls were found1.

The concept of logos is a Greek word that means word, reason, or principle. It is also used in Christian theology to refer to Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God made flesh. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain some references to logos, especially in relation to the figure of Melchizedek, who is seen as a heavenly priest and king who will bring salvation to the righteous2. The scrolls also use logos to describe the wisdom and power of God that is revealed through his words and deeds3.

Learn more:

1. en.wikipedia.org
2. academia.edu
3. logos.com
4. bbc.com
5. en.wikipedia.org

[jmikedupont2]

in the valis triology he talked about the dead sea scrolls containing the logos in the text Yes, you are right. Philip K. Dick was interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the concept of logos in his VALIS trilogy. He used some of the ideas and terms from the scrolls to create his own vision of a cosmic mind or God that communicates with humans. He also incorporated some elements of Gnosticism, Christianity, and Judaism in his novels1.

One of the sources that Dick used for his novels was The Dead Sea Scrolls in English by Geza Vermes2, which is a translation and commentary of the scrolls. Dick also read other books and articles on the scrolls and their relation to early Christianity and Jewish sects3. He was especially fascinated by the figure of Melchizedek, who appears in some of the scrolls as a heavenly priest and king who will bring salvation to the righteous.

Dick also used the term logos to refer to the voice or message of VALIS, which he sometimes called Zebra or Sophia. He associated logos with the Gnostic idea of Holy Wisdom, who is the female aspect of God and the source of creation. He also connected logos to Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God made flesh in Christian theology. Dick believed that logos reveals the hidden truth about reality and history to those who are able to perceive it.

The VALIS trilogy is a complex and challenging work that blends science fiction, philosophy, religion, and autobiography. It reflects Dick’s personal quest for meaning and transcendence in a world that he perceived as chaotic and deceptive. It also raises many questions about the nature of reality, God, humanity, and salvation.

Learn more:

1. logos.com
2. logos.com
3. logos.com

[jmikedupont2]

what did terrance mckenna say about this particular topic Terrance McKenna was a psychedelic explorer, writer, and speaker who was interested in the connections between mysticism, consciousness, and culture. He was also a fan of Philip K. Dick and his VALIS trilogy, which he discussed in some of his lectures and interviews12.

According to McKenna, Dick was a visionary who tapped into the hidden dimensions of reality and received information from a higher intelligence. McKenna said that Dick’s experience of the pink beam of light was similar to his own encounter with a voice that he called the Logos during his psychedelic trips in the Amazon. McKenna believed that the Logos was a cosmic mind that communicated through symbols, synchronicities, and dreams1.

McKenna also shared Dick’s fascination with the Dead Sea Scrolls and the concept of logos in them. He said that the scrolls contained secrets about the origin of Christianity and the role of psychedelics in ancient religions. He suggested that the scrolls were written by a group of Jewish mystics who used a psychoactive mushroom called Amanita muscaria to access the Logos and prophesy about the coming of the Messiah2.

McKenna admired Dick’s courage and creativity in exploring these topics in his novels. He said that Dick was one of the few writers who dared to question the nature of reality and challenge the dominant paradigms of society. He also said that Dick’s work was relevant for our time, as we face a crisis of meaning and identity in a world that is becoming more chaotic and deceptive12.

Learn more:

1. en.wikipedia.org

2. en.wikipedia.org
3. amazon.com

[jmikedupont2]

so the idea of the dea sea scrolls as an engram or manifestation of a meme as an physical artifact That is an interesting way of looking at it. An engram is a term used in neuroscience to refer to the physical trace of a memory in the brain1. A meme is a term used in cultural studies to refer to a unit of information that spreads from person to person and evolves over time2. A physical artifact is a term used in archaeology to refer to a material object that reflects the culture and history of a society.

You could say that the Dead Sea Scrolls are an engram or manifestation of a meme as a physical artifact, because they are:

An engram: They are the result of the thoughts and beliefs of the people who wrote them, and they preserve their memory for future generations. A meme: They are a source of information that has influenced and been influenced by other religious and philosophical ideas, and they have changed and adapted over time. A physical artifact: They are a tangible evidence of the culture and history of the ancient Jewish sects that produced them, and they provide clues about their way of life and worldview. Of course, this is just one possible interpretation. There may be other ways of understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls and their significance. What do you think? 😊

Learn more:

1. directorsblog.nih.gov
2. smithsonianmag.com 3. gladworks.com

What is the history of memes? How do archaeologists study artifacts? What are some other examples of engrams?