Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 09:32:16 +0200
From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl>
Subject: RE: HEA report on religion and mental health
To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Derek:
The HEA aren't in the business of advertising faith.
John:
Quite right, but I'm proposing the possibility that this government body was
used by
people with agendas that value promoting occult faith as having tangible
benefit for
that purpose.
Derek:
Whay are you proposing this possibility? Why do you think the HEA was
"used"? These are generally top-notch scientists we are talking about.
They're not easily used by anyone.
John:
While perhaps true, this does not make them proof from misuse by individuals
seeking
propaganda to support their organized con-game.
Derek:
"Organized con-game"? Isn't this just a touch rhetorical? I think perhaps
you've already made your mind up about this before seeing the evidence..????
John:
The HEA study looked for a link, and
by apparently sloppy science funded through a partnership with Christian and
Jewish
groups, they found the benefits that support Jewish and Christian
recruitment efforts
that the sponsors sought.
Derek:
"Apparently sloppy science"? On what grounds?? There is quite a body of
research that shows that religion is psychologically beneficial. Does your
comment apply to _all_ of that work? Are you just dismissing the HEA
report, or the entire field?
(from previous post)
What they're [ie. the HEA] saying is that the 'invisible
hobgoblins' are probably, all things considered, good for you, and that the
cumulative weight of evidence points in that direction, despite the
undoubtedly true cases of some people for whom religion has been a 'bad
trip'.
John:
This is exactly what they have always claimed, especially before a barbeque,
Derek:
Again, don't you think that we should leave words like "barbecue" out of
it?? It's not possible to make a rational jusgement on the available
evidence when one has those kind of prejudices.
John:
and I've
no doubt that most of the leaders, followers and their victims both
certainly believe
this to be true. The suppression of necessary rational justification for
this
certainty, (among other things) forces my condemnation of the practice.
Derek:
"Suppression"? Again, I'm not sure on what grounds you think that any
"suppression" is going on.
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