The Pursuit of Truth and Meaning: An Interview with Chris
Chris, possessing an exceptionally high IQ (estimated between 190 and 210), shares his unique perspective on intelligence, reality, and the search for meaning in life. Unlike many intellectuals from academic backgrounds, Chris comes from a farming background in Missouri and has worked as a bouncer, offering a grounded perspective on complex topics.
The Allure of Knowledge and Truth
Chris explains that his pursuit of knowledge stemmed from a childhood where resources were scarce. Books and reading became a refuge and a path to understanding the world. His driving force is a deep desire to uncover the truth about reality and his place within it.
Understanding Intelligence: Focus and Aperture
For those with more average intelligence, Chris clarifies that IQ is about focus. It's the ability to concentrate intellectual energy on a specific subject. However, he emphasizes the importance of mental aperture as well, drawing an analogy to a camera.
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Focus: Directing your intellectual energy.
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Aperture: The ability to widen your mental perspective, allowing for flexibility in thinking.
Many highly intelligent individuals struggle with widening their mental aperture.
Choosing Intelligence vs. Ignorance
When asked whether he would choose to be born highly intelligent, of middling intelligence, or of low intelligence, Chris emphatically states he wouldn't trade his mind for anyone else's. He believes that cultivating intelligence is crucial because losing sight of truth leads to conformity and being manipulated by ideologies that serve the powerful.
Serving Truth vs. Mammon
Chris emphasizes that individuals must choose between serving truth (which he equates with God) or serving Mammon (money). He believes it's impossible to serve both simultaneously and made the decision early on to prioritize meaning and truth.
The Primacy of Meaning
Chris believes the search for meaning is a primary motivator for humans, even more so than basic desires. While some may question why he isn't a billionaire, he acknowledges that making money often requires compromising one's principles and aligning with those who already possess wealth and power. He prioritized truth over financial gain.
The Cognitive Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU)
As a young man working on a ranch, Chris combined the theories of Einstein and Bertrand Russell. He developed the Cognitive Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU), a theory of everything. The CTMU sees language, the universe, and the model are all the same thing.
The Existence of God and Consciousness
According to CTMU, reality has an identity and when you say "reality", you are naming an identity. The properties of this identity align with those attributed to God in major world religions. Chris argues that God's existence is undeniable based on the properties of reality's central substance. Consciousness, in his view, exists throughout the universe at different levels and is related to the identity operator.
Connecting with the Divine
Chris concludes by advising people to search for God and ask for a personal relationship. By being receptive to God's will, individuals can connect with the identity of reality itself. Rejecting this connection, he warns, can lead to spiritual disconnection and a lack of continuity after physical death.
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