Faith-based memes

From: Lawrence DeBivort (debivort@umd5.umd.edu)
Date: Wed 04 Dec 2002 - 22:50:42 GMT

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    Greetings, Grant,

    As always, another nice posting from you. I agree that one doesn't need religion to find faith-based beliefs, and wanted to focus on one element of your message:

    > In numerous posts many of us have pointed out the fact that you
    > can't argue
    > with memes of faith. People on both sides of the argument will refuse to
    > see what they don't want to see in opposing arguments. So to continue
    > arguing about it is a complete waste of time. It's not a matter
    > of who is
    > right and who is wrong. It's a matter of meme dominance and we
    > on this list
    > should know that better than anyone. When someone posts endless
    > arguments
    > in support of a faith-based concept, it is equivalent to spam.

    Can you say more about WHY faith memes are hard to argue? I am thinking that we call it faith _because_ it is hard to argue, and so am asking what you and others might suggest is the technical basis for the hardness.

    I will also say that I agree that it is hard, but would not agree that it is impossible. You may recall from posts of long ago, I have suggested that having a belief is akin to an action: we hold beliefs based upon the
    (subjective perceived) advantage they offer us in doing so.

    Hope this question makes sense! Cheers, Lawry

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