THE SYNCRETIC PARADOX
THE INTERACTION:
The Structure of this installation involves a podium, a screen and sound devices. The podium has two metal plates which are connected to a circuit, whenever someone places their hands on the podium they connect the circuit which triggers a random encounter with one of the multiple deities, or lack thereof. Although these are random , the texts are written in a format that makes the user feel like they were chosen/rejected by these gods and adds a flavor of mysticism in the mix like one feels when they use a Tarot card deck or an Ouija board.
CONCEPT:
The Syncretic Paradox deals with the analysis of the inherent contradiction at the heart of
religious(mainly monotheistic) practice and our ways to deal with that. Religion needs to be in a state of constant evolution in order to remain relevant and offer devotees the best possible chance of achieving their spiritual goals. Religion is inherently resistant to change. Dogma and tradition are central to religious practice, and any attempt to alter them is met with fierce resistance from the faithful. This creates a paradoxical situation where the very thing that would allow religion to thrive and endure over time – a willingness to change and adapt – is also the thing that is actively opposed by its adherents.
Through a series of incisive analyses of religious practices throughout history, from ancient mythologies to contemporary religions, we explore the tension between the need for syncretism and the desire for dogma by using AI to create new gods and rituals and asking people to put their faith in one of them or none. This tension is not only present within religion, but also reflects a broader paradox of modernity, where progress and tradition are constantly at odds. Overall, “The Syncretic Paradox” is an exploration of one of the fundamental contradictions of religious practice using a very old thought experiment – Pascal’s wager, which suggests that one’s chosen religion (or lack thereof) may not be the “correct” one, and thus the rational thing to do is to adopt the religion/Deity/pantheon that has the best chances of getting you to heaven. But doing that in a world where monotheism exists means invoking the wrath of Deities which are vindictive in nature. The wager is elevated to a broader work by the introduction of multiple new Artificially generated deities and having people choose a deity/pantheon from them. If one chooses to believe and worship a particular god or goddess, and that deity does indeed exist, then the rewards for this belief and worship may include blessings, protection, guidance, and a positive afterlife. On the other hand, if one does not believe in or worship any of the deities, and at least one of them does exist, then the potential consequences may include curses, misfortune, punishment, and a negative afterlife.
