From: <MemeLab@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 10:23:25 EDT
Subject: Re: New meme-ber!
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
In a message dated 6/8/99 7:11:12 AM Central Daylight Time, 
bhowlett@metz.une.edu.au writes:
<< Rich & Linda,
 
 Your post would indicate that you "believe" in supernatural phenomena
 such as "spirit" and "being" as though they were a part of the "natural"
 world. >>
I really don't think this conclusion was compelling from that post, though I 
find it interesting that you found it to be so.
:::pasting their post for reference:::
Rich & Linda Speel wrote:
> 
> Hello from California,
> I joined this list recently by chance of searching for relatives on the
> web.  The thread of this list-'memes'-makes some sense to me, because
> people learn from their environment as well as their genetic disposition,
> which to me are not separate realities.  But, I think language has its
> limitations to express why people do what they do.  How do others on this
> list acknowledge 'spirit' as an influence on life?  I don't think
> consciousness is just a chemical occurence, but is connected through the
> nature of 'being'.
> 
> I look forward to seeing this conversation continue.
> 
> Peace,
> Rich
> 
> 
Though supernatural may or may not have been their intent, I can just as 
easily see a rejection of greedy reductionism and an embrace of emergent 
materialism.  Aside from whether they intended supernatural meanings, I think 
it is at least as interesting that supernatural meanings were read into that 
message where they weren't necessarily compelling.
-Jake
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