Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id HAA05838 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 22 Nov 2000 07:44:12 GMT Message-ID: <A4400389479FD3118C9400508B0FF230041102@DELTA.newhouse.akzonobel.nl> From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: religion/spirituality Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 08:39:13 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Derek:
In the standard memetical 'mind virus' view of religion, all religions
proselitize (or rather should because after all, they're supposed to be
viruses). If you are correct (you probably are on this one), then you
have identified a strong falsification of the 'mind virus' theory. How
can a virus (mind or otherwise) not attempt to spread itself? Does this
suggest that Judaism is not a mind virus, but Christianity is? I think
not, rather it suggests that the 'mind virus' view is fundamentally
mistaken.
Tim:
Be careful, Derek. Isn't this like arguing that, "shouldn't AIDS have
evolved to become airborne if it really was a true 'virus'?" Seems like
you're overlooking the "evolution" part of memetics.
Derek:
But is that really a fair analogy? Pathogens can suddenly become airborne,
the best example is the evolution of airborne pneumonic plague from the
non-airborne bubonic variety, and also syphilis changed from a surface
contact skin disease to the genito-urinary route. AIDS has only been in
humans for some few decades, so it's a very young virus. Judaism has been
around for several millenia (and 2.5 millenia in its modern form). Surely,
if the viral model really applies to religions, somewhere in that vast time
span the requisite change would have taken place?
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