From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Mon Sep 01 2003 - 22:48:44 MDT
On Monday 01 September 2003 21:06, Robert J. Bradbury wrote:
> Ok, so Damien makes some reasonable counterpoints to my arguments
> that other religious groups may be less violent than Islam.
> (So my comments on who might be the most violent religious groups
> may be open to significant debate.)
>
> But *what* then is driving these people to irrational behavior?
> Is it simply "salvation" in the afterlife, e.g. really gone wrong
> mental programming? Social pressure? Desire for power by the leaders?
> It simply does not seem rational.
Bingo. It isn't rational or at least it isn't based on the same suppositions
about what is real. If, as most religions teach, this world is basically
illusory, or a test, or prelude to your "real" eternal existence if you don't
screw it up, then the "rational" thing would be to do whatever it takes to
escape illusion or not screw up and get away from this vale of tears. So in
this notion of what is "real" actions will be considered rational that are
quite irrational under a different model of what is "real". The
"alternate reality" folks in the religion business have an advantage over us.
They get to tell their sheep that everything is really hunky-dory and we just
aren't evolved or spiritual or whatever enough to see it and experience it
yet. They get to tell their people that they need do almost nothing to
partake in the promise land but perhaps follow the dictates of some teaching
or leaders now. Since "here" is seen as unreal and ephemeral, why should
anyone refuse to sacrifice illusory happiness now for "real" happiness later?
And the game goes on.
>
> It is not a trivial question as many of these groups will be
> opposed to the entire extropian/transhumanistic agenda.
> We are just lucky that we tend to be off of their radar at this time.
>
Once the leaders of the more virulent groups grok that their flock may find
our this world transcension of human suffering more appealing than the sweet
by-and-bye, I suspect we will come in for a lot more unwelcome attention.
- samantha
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