Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id SAA22816 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 23 Mar 2001 18:07:00 GMT X-Originating-IP: [209.240.220.191] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: The Demise of a Meme Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 13:03:24 -0500 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F32ZtrKXhnUSY9C7PMj0000e5f6@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Mar 2001 18:03:25.0184 (UTC) FILETIME=[8E2F6800:01C0B3C3] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: Robin Faichney <robin@reborntechnology.co.uk>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>Subject: Re: The Demise of a Meme
>Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 10:52:40 +0000
>
>On Thu, Mar 22, 2001 at 12:33:11PM -0600, joedees@bellsouth.net wrote:
> > >
> > And, of course, there are the differing practices. Dervishes whirl,
> > shiites flagellate, a whole lotta people pray and another whole
> > bunch chant (some of each with burning incense and ringing bells),
> > quite a few sit and meditate (one-pointed concentration,
> > transcendental meditation, zazen), Holy Rollers speak in tongues,
> > and some kentuckians drink strichnine and shake snakes. But
> > everbody does something to hook in.
>
>So what do you think they're hooking in to, Joe?
>
>(I'm tempted to think there's a possibility of an intelligent discussion
>of religion here, but I'm trying to resist, having had such hopes dashed
>so often before.)
>
>
For some reason I'm having a hard time equating objectivity with the
tendency to attack religion for attack's sake. I'm willing to grant tht
there are some plusses to be found (along with the negatives) in religion
and that religious belief and tradition has a function in society or for
practicing individuals. Militant atheists OTOH seem to get their jollies
from bashing religion and looking down upon the adherents as intellectual
gutter trash. I'm caught somewhere in the middle as I can see that crticisms
are warranted, but to go to extremes either way distorts the picture. I
guess that's what differentiates an agnostic from a militant atheist. I
don't really think that theists OR atheists have much of a leg to stand on
for their metaphysical assertions.
I'm not holier than thou. When it comes to a creationist trying to pass
their beliefs off as tenable, I get a little perturbed, but OTOH there
should be a limit as to how hard those who champion science or rationality
come down on those who cherish their beliefs.
But, nobody likes a moderate :-)
I'd assume that someone who wanted to grasp what makes a follower of a
certain belief system tick went in with an a priori bias against that belief
they might have a limited understanding. One needs to play the "as if" game
sometimes, which isn't the same as saying that the belief system is actually
grounded in reality.
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