Personal exceptionalism

This is an English version of an older Romanian article on the same topic.

Now and again there occur disputes concerning which religion is the biggest, or enjoys the benefit of the most numerous faithful, or longest history, or most notable impact on the unfolding of human civilisation. All these are natural extensions of the popular Medieval disputes over which imaginary guy in the sky would best which other imaginary guy in the sky, at wrestling or throwing the midgetⁱ or speed-beard growing ; these in turn natural extensions of the ever popular yomamma.

The fact of the matter is that all known as well as unknown world religions are nothing compared to the one and true religion of people in all places and all times : personal exceptionalism. That sweet and unwavering conviction, past facts, past reason, past even mere religious belief ;pure, primordial and absolute certainty of each given oxen that he is special and different.

So very powerful is this one true religion of humanity that it does not even need a written code, it being implicitly known and wholly assumed by any human being alongside breath. It needs no churches built, as we carry its church anywhere with us, in us. It needs no priests, there are no stray from the flock, there's no question of hell and punishment : how would you punish, and whom ?! Nobody ever walks outside of the word wispered every heartbeat in every ear. Things other religions merely aspire to, the so called "hearth prayer", are universal matter of fact for the sheepsies of this true true faith.

So very strong is it that its numerous confessors don't even feel it, as you won't see diamonds under water. It makes one body with their very mind and just as a knife can't cut its edge just so can't the believer believe his belief.

Of adamantine strength, if unseen, personal exceptionalism plays wonders and enacts miracles each and every day. Millions of people wearing t-shirts saying they're different and distinct. Identical t-shirts, covered in identical messages spelled out in identical letters painted with the exact same paint, made in the same factory by the same workers, packed indistinctly and sold randomly to some individuals so very blinded by their faith that they actually feel different through the very working of the divine word, in spite of plain earthly evidence.

So very blinded by their faith are the faithful that they breach security rules that were established statistically, in the belief that "it won't happen to them". And it happens to them. And they still believe, and still breach, and still in the faith that "it won't happen to them". And it happens to them. And they still believe, and still breach. They're not going to get run over if they jaywalk, they won't get cancer whether they stick their boobies in the flattening machine or not, whether they smoke or not. Surely it can happen. To other people. Not to them. Because they are exceptional, perambulating statistical singularities in their own mind. Like all the other faithful.

There's no need for language to share this faith. At most for expressing it, if absurdly it'd require expression. People are born with it, whole and integral, the lowest troglodytes in whatever forgotten caves have it to the same complete degree anyone else enjoys it.

What could be said in the face of such Godly work ? "Eat shit and die" comes to mind, on the spur of the moment, but it does not seem to matter.

1. An actual sport, no less. [↩]