Superstition

I was communicating (emailing) back and forth with someone who I suspect is a fundamentalist Christian.

So I thought to use the Reciprocal Test, as previously explained in "The power of the Reciprocal Test", which basically turns belief-systems upside down to show their 'naughty bits' -- the bits that have hairs on them, and/or have holes in them :)

By doing so, the Reciprocal Test (aka The Paradox Rule) shows just how much we, as a childish culture, are subservient to, and frightened of perceived "higher authorities", which as explained in "Consider some stuff", are only there by dint of our cooperation and blessing.

Recently enjoyed a few email exchanges with a well-meaning, good-natured friend.

The communications included ideas concerning "God".

Now, as I have found in many such "arguments" there are entrenched views that aren't often swayed by counter-arguments -- here's one example where simple straight-forward reasoning didn't change this person's belief one bit, it seems.

Be that as it may, there is a very helpful technique that enables one to see the bias in beliefs.

There is an astonishingly deep and dangerous disconnect between our mainstream world view, and reality. So deep and dangerous is that disconnect I believe it imperils the survival of the human race.

That disconnect is demonstrated by modern science's approach: that for every physical effect, there is (in theory) a physical cause. If someone is sick, a physical cause is sought. A bacteria perhaps? Hence the widespread use of antibiotics.

It is a simple matter to show that these mechanical-world views are wrong. Dangerously wrong.

Recently while at the wonderful Gulgong Folk Festival, I started chatting to a guy who believes in the "100th Monkey Principle" -- for those unfamiliar with the idea, here's an excerpt from Wikipedia

I was reading an article about the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th of November, and how it "has great meaning for astrologists, numerologists and psychics."

It struck me how childish we remain -- both scientific and new-age adherents are deeply given to superstitious beliefs that are exceedingly detrimental to the well-being of individuals and our communities.