The Cogitating Ceviché Week in Review (25-46)
Discussion via NotebookLM
Cogitating Ceviche’s Week in Review (Nov 17–22)
Editorial Summary
A sharpened edge marked this week’s reflections as our contributors turned their gaze toward the tensions at the heart of belief—in faith, in systems, and in stories. Calista Freiheit’s investigation of secular moral absolutism asks whether we’ve traded one orthodoxy for another, while Conrad Hannon ventures into machine mysticism and its uncanny resemblance to religion. His second offering warns of automated doom dressed in progress. Meanwhile, Conrad T. Hannon resurrects Heinrich Heine, that biting prophet of paradox and poetic exile. Gio Marron contrasts with quieter power, stitching suspense into Victorian settings with “The Signal-Man” and advancing the wily Mimi Delboise in a tale of deception. Together, the pieces form a study in conscience, control, and the eerie allure of systems—old, new, human, or algorithmic.
Articles
The New Puritans: How Secular Morality Became More Intolerant Than the Old FaithCalista Freiheit — November 17, 2025An unflinching critique of modern moral culture that asks if today’s intolerance stems less from belief than from fear of dissent.
Machine Faith: When AI Becomes Our Most Devout ReligionConrad Hannon — November 18, 2025Explores how we imbue artificial intelligence with quasi-spiritual trust—and what that says about our need to believe.
The Signal-ManGio Marron — November 19, 2025Dickens’ eerie tale of forewarning and fatalism is revisited with haunting precision.
Heinrich Heine (1797–1856): The Poet of Exile and the Irony of BelongingConrad T Hannon — November 19, 2025A tribute to Heine’s wit, estrangement, and his warnings to both tyrants and their critics.
If Anyone Uses It, Everyone DiesConrad Hannon — November 21, 2025A scathing look at how our most advanced systems carry the seeds of collective failure.
The Boardinghouse TheftGio Marron — November 22, 2025Mimi Delboise returns with quiet cunning in a mystery of stolen spoons, mistaken trust, and a truth hidden in plain sight.
Quote of the Week
“The trouble with secular purity is that it doesn’t leave room for mercy—only metrics.”— Calista Freiheit, The New Puritans
Questions
The New Puritans
* What distinguishes moral clarity from moral rigidity?
* Can a culture of tolerance become intolerant in the name of inclusion?
Machine Faith
* Do we revere AI because it “knows” or because it never doubts?
* What happens when belief is outsourced to systems?
The Signal-Man
* How does foreknowledge affect responsibility in the face of tragedy?
* Is the signal-man haunted by ghosts or by the limits of communication?
Heinrich Heine
* What does Heine teach us about satire under censorship?
* How can exile be both wound and weapon?
If Anyone Uses It, Everyone Dies
* Why do we keep designing systems with single points of failure?
* Is collective reliance on automation a form of shared blindness?
The Boardinghouse Theft
* What makes a clue invisible to those closest to it?
* How does class shape trust and suspicion in domestic mysteries?
Additional Resources
* The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
* Technopoly by Neil Postman
* The Idea of a Christian Society by T.S. Eliot
* The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff
* The Ghost Stories of Charles Dickens
* Satire: A Critical Reintroduction by Dustin Griffin
Calls to Action
* Calista: Reflect on where today’s moral boundaries come from. Are they rooted in justice or fear?
* Conrad: Consider whether the systems you trust have earned it. Question their design, not just their results.
* Gio: Reread a classic ghost story and ask what still feels real.
* General: Share your favorite insight from this week’s pieces with a friend who disagrees with you.
Thank you for your time today. Until next time, stay gruntled, curious, and God Bless.
