Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA08055 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 18 Feb 2002 23:19:18 GMT From: "Richard Brodie" <richard@brodietech.com> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Cc: "Level-3" <level-3@yahoogroups.com> Subject: RE: Words and memes: criteria for acceptance of new belief or meme Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 15:13:09 -0800 Message-ID: <JJEIIFOCALCJKOFDFAHBKECMEGAA.richard@brodietech.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2911.0) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20020218163615.02ca4170@pop.cogeco.ca> Importance: Normal Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
[Philip]
><<Religion, cults
>and other pathological idealogies are founded on
>fantasy.>>
>
[Richard]
>Would most people (even scientists) consider religion to be a pathological
>ideology? On the contrary, it is usually atheism that is considered
>pathological.
[Keith]
<<See my recent posting on this subject.
Of course, when you understand what makes lightening, you no longer need a
thunder god to account for it.>>
Rational empiricists take for granted that the best thing to fill your mind
up with is facts and good science. I'm a big fan of facts and good science
and it's difficult to argue this point in a room full of them without coming
across as a nutcase or a new-age charlatan. However, most people believe
that facts and good science are not the be-all and end-all of a good,
rounded education. That means there is a purpose for filling your mind with
something else. What could this purpose be?
Classic literature, for one example, fills the mind with a variety of
narratives describing various aspects and points of view about the human
condition. A healthy person synthesizes and references those narratives,
using them to deal with everyday events and create goals and aspirations for
the future. He or she uses them as guidelines for behavior and as a
reference to judge what is and is not appropriate. By making and recognizing
literary allusions, we smile and bond with others. This all has real value
although it's difficult to test empirically, if for ethical considerations
alone.
A good religion is part of a default set of narratives. Rational empiricists
get hung up on the myth aspect of religions, taking it on blind faith that a
make-believe story cannot possibly have any value. This is an irrational
position and a blind spot in the worldviews of many smart people.
Also see my essay at www.memecentral.com/l3faith.htm
Richard Brodie
www.memecentral.com
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