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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
 Posted - 03/27/2006 : 02:56:55
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I heard Daniel Dennett speak on CSPAN today about his latest book, "Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon". I can't wait to read it.
Here's the most fascinating idea. If you recall a short while ago there was an article about a mind controlling parasite? An ant parasite was mentioned that causes the ant to climb on grass blades which then are eaten by cows which benefits the parasite. The same thing happens with toxoplasmosis in mice in that it causes them to lose their aversion to cat odors thus being more likely to be eaten by a cat which again benefits the parasite.
So in biology, here were two examples where the organisms did not act in their own best interest, but rather in the best interest of propagating the parasite. Suppose you look at an idea in the same way. It infects the person and causes them to act in the best interest of promoting the idea and not in the best interest of one's self. In fact, people even die for the idea, willingly. He thinks we really should look at why that happened in those cases.
Dennett claimed to offer no answers but urged scientists to study the phenomenon and not shy away from it. It affects everyone in a very big way. We should be studying the phenomenon of how religion propagates itself. Dennett suggested religions start by the hundreds every day. Most don't last or even reach a level of recognition. But the main religions on the planet arose in historical times. For whatever reason, several religions developed into worldwide entities.
When I read the book I'll bump the thread. It was a wonderful talk. If you happen to catch a rerun on CSPAN I highly recommend it.
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furshur
SFN Regular
USA
1536 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2006 : 14:32:24 [Permalink]
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Interesting...
Makes religion sound like a virus to me. |
If I knew then what I know now then I would know more now than I know. |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2006 : 16:13:52 [Permalink]
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It's only that viruses also infect people. The analogy stops there. Dennett made a point of only using the parasite examples for the idea and no more.
He gives an interesting history of modern religion. The major religions on the planet are only a few thousand years old. So what happens that makes a religion grow like they do? We've seen Mormonism and Scientology grow in recent history. We all know sort of how old the Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions are. Hinduism was the other big one. Dennett showed a satellite picture of the gathering of people to wash in the Ganges. There were so many people there you could see it from space. Granted we can see one person from space with current technology but the image was still impressive.
Watching those Muslim men chanting in the streets on TV day after day for various reasons makes you wonder what mind numbing brainwashing has to go on to create such mindless activities. |
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Paulos23
Skeptic Friend
USA
446 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2006 : 16:26:37 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by furshur
Interesting...
Makes religion sound like a virus to me.
And that makes it sound like a meme. Which to some extent it is. |
You can go wrong by being too skeptical as readily as by being too trusting. -- Robert A. Heinlein
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. -- Aldous Huxley |
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JohnOAS
SFN Regular
Australia
800 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2006 : 18:18:26 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Paulos23
quote:
Originally posted by furshur
Interesting...
Makes religion sound like a virus to me.
And that makes it sound like a meme. Which to some extent it is.
I posted this in the chat thread last week as I couldn't post the link in the chat client. (Problem now fixed with by updating my Java RE from 1.4x to 1.5x).
For those that haven't read it, you can read Richard Dawkins' "Viruses of the Mind" here. In it he develops the concept of the mind virus as applicable to the spread of religion. Note there's a quote from Daniel Dennett at the introduction.
I originally read it in the collection "The Devil's Chaplain", which I strongly recommend. |
John's just this guy, you know. |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2006 : 19:04:42 [Permalink]
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Dennet is indeed interesting. I recently saw him speak at TAM4,
and I am intrigued by the idea of studying religion as one would a natural phenomenon. Using the tools of science. We included his book in our suggested reading in the Skeptic Summary #79
a few weeks back. He was also featured on a Point of Inquiry pod cast
which I also recommended as an Evil Pick a couple of weeks ago. It is still available for download.
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Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2006 : 02:12:13 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Paulos23
quote:
Originally posted by furshur
Interesting...
Makes religion sound like a virus to me.
And that makes it sound like a meme. Which to some extent it is.
Memes are definitely part of the picture. The term is very appropriate in this case, and Dennett used the term in his description of his ideas.
I tried to search for other threads on this before posting but none came up. Thanks for the links. I will check them out. |
| Edited by - beskeptigal on 03/28/2006 02:14:08 |
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