> I think the more
> intriguing notions are what press some people to *want* to believe
and
> why the myths, both historical and modern, dance so elusively through
> our culture, even causing the types of upsets that they do in this
> board. Next to the "Goo" thread which wins hands down, this one is
> pretty popular right now, with most of the responses coming forward
to
> debunk with fervor rather than explore the sociological and
> psychological impact.
It is indeed an interesting subject and one that raises many
hackles, understandably, due to the history of irrational "causes" so-called
Myths of Creation have caused.The main problem is people believe what they
WANT to believe, what *works* for them, not what makes sense- and will
continue to do so, until someone convinces them they will benefit by
stopping. Without understanding why they do it, we can't really offer that.
With most of the pseudo-science or so called spiritual myths, one can assume
(no matter how many people say they believe it) that they represent not fact,
but fiction; IMO debunking fiction is a waste of time. Understanding is
never a waste.
>But that's not really what this discussion
> digest is about so I guess I shouldn't press it.
No, as I said it can raise hackles. I am an atheist. I consider all this
fiction, and some of it pretty *good* fiction, but lots of people take it
seriously! And that is destructive at best. Many are quite angry about the
whole affair.
However, the pattern I see is a strong correlation between creativity and
myth, between imagination and belief, a credulity and gullibility that
leaves people more open to folly, but aIn a message dated 97-09-08 15:01:00
EDT, you write:
> humiliate someone into shutting up. I think the more
> intriguing notions are what press some people to *want* to believe
and
> why the myths, both historical and modern, dance so elusively through
> our culture, even causing the types of upsets that they do in this
> board. Next to the "Goo" thread which wins hands down, this one is
> pretty popular right now, with most of the responses coming forward
to
> debunk with fervor rather than explore the sociological and
> psychological impact.
It is indeed an interesting subject and one that raises many
hackles, understandably, due to the history of irrational "causes" - that the
so called Myths of Creation have caused. The main problem is people believe
what they WANT to believe, not what makes sense- and will continue to do so,
until something convinces them of the benefit of stopping it. Without
understanding why they do it, we can't really offer that. With most of the
pseudo-science or so called spiritual myths, one can assume (no matter how
many people say they believe it) that they represent not fact, but fiction;
IMO debunking fiction is a waste of time. Understanding is never a waste.
>But that's not really what this discussion
> digest is about so I guess I shouldn't press it.
No, as I said it can raise hackles. I am an atheist. I consider all this
fiction, and some of it pretty *good* fiction, but lots of people take it
seriously! And that is destructive at best. Many are quite angry about the
whole affair.
However, the pattern I see is a strong correlation between creativity and
myth, between imagination and belief, a credulity and gullibility that
leaves people more open to folly, but also to bizarre ideas... so sometimes I
do not (most here may disagree with me) wish to devalue "spirituality's"
function in cultures, but rather seek to find out about it, explore it, to
find it's function and how we can find a rational alternative - a creative
reformation.
This way of viewing things is useful to me own imaginative/creative process.
Nadi
PS
Humiliating people, so far, is not. If it becomes so, i will let you know ;
)