Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA08179 (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 23:48:07 GMT From: "Lawrence DeBivort" <debivort@umd5.umd.edu> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Words and memes: criteria for acceptance of new belief or meme Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 18:20:33 -0500 Message-ID: <NEBBKOADILIOKGDJLPMAEEGBCLAA.debivort@umd5.umd.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) Importance: Normal In-Reply-To: <JJEIIFOCALCJKOFDFAHBKECMEGAA.richard@brodietech.com> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2919.6600 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Good lucid discussion, Richard. Many thanks. Religion and these narratives
(I can think of many non-religious narratives that do this, such a
mountaineering, sports competitions, awards, etc.) would thus seem to be
things that we create to give meaning to life, to explore our values and our
dilemmas -- i.e. areas of experience in which the 'proffs' of science don't
help much...
Lawrence
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk [mailto:fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk]On Behalf
> Of Richard Brodie
> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 6:13 PM
> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Cc: Level-3
> Subject: RE: Words and memes: criteria for acceptance of new belief or
> meme
>
>
> [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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This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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