The credit crunch could be a boon for irrational belief
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126943.600-the-credit-crunch-could-be-a-boon-for-irrational-belief.html
04 February 2009

SCIENCE has allowed us to smooth over many of the natural ups and downs of human existence. We have predictable harvests, food on supermarket shelves, savings and pensions that will help us get through difficult times, and economies that provide most people with what they need to survive. Alongside these developments a rational, scientific world view has become the dominant mode of thought.

Take the comforts away, however, and the rationality often evaporates too. When human beings lose control over their lives, they become more prone to superstition, spiritual searchings and conspiracy theories.

Some of these losses of control are self-inflicted: studies show that people in risky professions - deep-sea fishermen and sky-divers, for example - perform a greater number of superstitious rituals than those with safe desk jobs. Others, though, are a response to circumstances. For example, people living in high-risk areas of the Middle East, such as Tel Aviv, are much more likely to carry a lucky charm or avoid walking under ladders. A 2007 study showed that the growth rate of evangelical churches in the US jumps 50 per cent with the downturn of each economic cycle. The global downturn is no different: church leaders (and psychics) are now reporting brisk business.

Uncertain times cause us to cast about more widely for explanations of our circumstances - and rational reasoning, alas, does not always come naturally when we are desperate for answers. It is ironic that science is revealing our modern, sophisticated, scientific world view to have a fragile hold on our minds (see "Natural born believers"). But there are also lessons to be learned. First, we ought to be more understanding of seemingly irrational world views. Many psychologists now see irrationality as the default state of the human mind. No wonder the idea that life arose spontaneously has such a hard time trumping creationism: overcoming that "natural" perspective takes a lot of cognitive effort. Research into irrationality may also provide insights to help guide the treatment of those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and related mental illnesses.

The other lesson is more direct: be careful. In a recession, or any other time of uncertainty, you are more likely to make bad decisions. By all means play the lottery if it provides a momentary diversion from the gloom. But keep your head. However seductive and comforting the idea of a win, and however tricky your circumstances, playing the lottery is not a rational path to riches. Even if God did tell you this week's numbers.

I love these little sociology factoids.

I tend to lend this sort of thought process to basic religion as well. People just aren't comfortable having unanswered questions in the way of their well ordered lives.

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1985 300D - 1984 Euro 280E AMG Clone (SOLD) - 1978 280CE (SOLD) - 1983 300D (SOLD) - 1981 300D (SOLD)

This guy built a whole philosophy of religion around this insight:

http://www.iliff.edu/research/archives/bernhardt/

It's been many years since I read his books but his argument was based around an empirical study of the religious rituals associated with the fishing practices of a group of people living on an island in the South Pacific. As the danger in fishing rose, the number of religious rituals associated with it rose. Bernhadrt argued that as science expanded humans would have less and less of a need for religion but it would never diminish to zero because people would never be able to abolish death.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

We create a reality centered on desires which may or may not be symbiotic with natural phenomena.

Nature, the ever-so-slightly more-powerful-beast, reclaims its possessions inevitably. We {our imagined structure of things} crumble within it and look to the stars as the 'primitive' ancestors had for eons before us - completing nature's curve.

why can't we just ditch the plastic and play naked in the street?

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Irrational exuberance,that's a nice,woody sort of phrase.

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True. There are a remarkable number of folks in my who have joined a fudamentalist sect recently. As well as others going on about the end of the Mayan calendar etc.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

are we gearing up for the Holy Wars? The main organizer of the holy camp in this documentary parallels her children to Islamic fundamentalists numerous times throughout the film. Creepy!

http://www.jesuscampthemovie.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LACyLTsH4ac&feature=related

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One could look upon these times as a golden opportunity. A shrewd operator with an interest in separating people and their $$ could set up a new religion in this emerging market offering gallons of hope to people in need. Using the internet, overhead costs would be very low compared to a traditional religion like Catholicism, and with the help of a few strategically placed television ads, investors could see a substantial return on their capital.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Whoa, I was just watching that Monty Python skit five minutes ago! O_O

I'm going to throw a pinch of salt over my right shoulder, and go join the nearest evangelical church. I can't bear the weight of reality anymore!!!!

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Watch out man. I've been called a religious bigot for pointing out that practices like these are common in the AoG and other Pentecostal denominations. That's a very accurate and well done documentary by the way.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

" Hello, my name is Barack. Have you considered purchasing some 'Hope' lately? Boy, do I have 'new deal' for you."



ps - thanks for the heads up... whats the AoG?

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Assemblies of God. Palin's denomination.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Palin was originally baptized as a Roman Catholic, but her parents switched to the Wasilla Assembly of God, a Pentecostal church, where she was rebaptized at age 12 or 13.[119][120] When she is in the capital, she attends Juneau Christian Center,[121] another Assemblies of God church. Her current home church in Wasilla is The Wasilla Bible Church,[122] an independent congregation.[123] Although initial reports described her as the first Pentecostal ever named to a major party’s presidential ticket, Palin describes herself as a non-denominational Christian.[124] The National Catholic Reporter described her as a “post-denominational” Christian.[125]

http://www.qaya.org/blog/?p=680

If my math is correct, the AoG was Palin's denomination for 36 yrs or so and still is when she's in Juneau. I don't know if Wasilla Bible Church holds Pentecostal or Charismatic views or not. It wouldn't be surprising if it does since these particular strands of Christianity, split and splinter quite often, beginning new churches quite frequently.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Well, I'm just saying for the sake of accuracy, what you posted originally isn't it.