|
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 07/14/2009 : 11:17:42
|
I came very close to putting this in Humor because it is sort of funny, but changed my mind. There is a dark thread running through it that is difficult to simply pass off as more woo, even though that's precisely what it is.
However, believers in these various shades of nonsense are not evil people, nor are they necessarily stupid. They are our neighbors and, for the most part, are perfectly reasonable in their dealings with everyone. The same holds for the deeply religious, albeit with too many notable exceptions -- you know who I'm talking about. And like those deeply religious, they are victimized daily by hucksters peddling appealing crap such as physic and astrological readings (same thing) and pretty doo-dads like crystals & stuff. The article also mentions organic farmers, who have had it right all along, and chiropractors, who haven't. New Age comes in many forms
By Bob Shaw
bshaw@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 07/13/2009 10:06:41 AM CDT
And he found himself smack in the middle of the shifting, fractured New Age world — where beliefs change faster than you can flip a tarot card.
"We are about what it means to be human, in the metaphysical, holistic and spiritual realms," said Miejan, of Woodbury, who bought The Edge magazine with a partner in February.
As the editor, Miejan has become a New Age gatekeeper, deciding which legitimate beliefs get into the magazine and which are too far out to be included.
It's not an easy job.
Chiropractors want out of the New Age movement. Channelers wonder if they belong at all, and pagans feel jilted. Organic farmers don't want to be near pet psychics. And no one knows what to do with the witches.
For a movement based on peace, love and understanding, New Age looks like a battleground.
"I have customers who completely believe in fairies and will laugh at you if you believe in Bigfoot," sighed Teisha Magee, owner of the Sacred Paths Center, which describes itself as an "organization celebrating earth-centered spirituality," in St. Paul.
Lest anyone laugh at their beliefs, New Agers point to the tenants of mainstream religions that seem bizarre to nonbelievers — such as virgin birth, turning water into wine and rising from the dead.
|
Indeed, and a comparison to religious myth makes it acceptable, exactly how?
"They are more to be pitied than scolded," as ultimately they are the victims of those beliefs, as have been the religious over the thousands of years. And neither has ever, nor will ever, realize it.
Found the link at PZ's.
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
|
|
|
Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2009 : 17:14:04 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by filthy
I came very close to putting this in Humor because it is sort of funny, but changed my mind. There is a dark thread running through it that is difficult to simply pass off as more woo, even though that's precisely what it is.
However, believers in these various shades of nonsense are not evil people, nor are they necessarily stupid. They are our neighbors and, for the most part, are perfectly reasonable in their dealings with everyone. The same holds for the deeply religious, albeit with too many notable exceptions -- you know who I'm talking about. And like those deeply religious, they are victimized daily by hucksters peddling appealing crap such as physic and astrological readings (same thing) and pretty doo-dads like crystals & stuff. The article also mentions organic farmers, who have had it right all along, and chiropractors, who haven't. New Age comes in many forms
By Bob Shaw
bshaw@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 07/13/2009 10:06:41 AM CDT
And he found himself smack in the middle of the shifting, fractured New Age world — where beliefs change faster than you can flip a tarot card.
"We are about what it means to be human, in the metaphysical, holistic and spiritual realms," said Miejan, of Woodbury, who bought The Edge magazine with a partner in February.
As the editor, Miejan has become a New Age gatekeeper, deciding which legitimate beliefs get into the magazine and which are too far out to be included.
It's not an easy job.
Chiropractors want out of the New Age movement. Channelers wonder if they belong at all, and pagans feel jilted. Organic farmers don't want to be near pet psychics. And no one knows what to do with the witches.
For a movement based on peace, love and understanding, New Age looks like a battleground.
"I have customers who completely believe in fairies and will laugh at you if you believe in Bigfoot," sighed Teisha Magee, owner of the Sacred Paths Center, which describes itself as an "organization celebrating earth-centered spirituality," in St. Paul.
Lest anyone laugh at their beliefs, New Agers point to the tenants of mainstream religions that seem bizarre to nonbelievers — such as virgin birth, turning water into wine and rising from the dead.
|
Indeed, and a comparison to religious myth makes it acceptable, exactly how?
"They are more to be pitied than scolded," as ultimately they are the victims of those beliefs, as have been the religious over the thousands of years. And neither has ever, nor will ever, realize it.
Found the link at PZ's.
|
Edge is considered a fringe magazine peddling to the tinkly-crystal-pagan-crap wanna-bes.
The Monthly Aspectarian and Witch magazine have a lot better editing and no cryptozoological crap.
The "we're no wierder than you are" defense is valid against other theists who present themselves as the holders of Truth(tm). |
Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils
Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion |
 |
|
|
Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2009 : 19:24:18 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by Valiant Dancer
The "we're no wierder than you are" defense is valid against other theists who present themselves as the holders of Truth(tm). |
Actually, it's a tu quoque fail in the form, "you can do it, so we can, too," where "it" is some form of irrationality. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
|
|
|
Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2009 : 17:06:12 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by Dave W.
Originally posted by Valiant Dancer
The "we're no wierder than you are" defense is valid against other theists who present themselves as the holders of Truth(tm). |
Actually, it's a tu quoque fail in the form, "you can do it, so we can, too," where "it" is some form of irrationality.
|
I see your point.
But we are talking about theistic debate which is based in part on a beginning irrational basis. e.g. the existance of a diety.
When dealing with the purveyors of Truth(tm) where the point posited is basically
"My odd rituals and beliefs are due to mystical knowledge. Yours are an abomination before my God and are just wierd/hedonistic."
You probably would not be amazed at how often I have heard this form of argument posited about my own small bit of irrationality.
|
Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils
Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion |
|
|
|
Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2009 : 22:40:35 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by Valiant Dancer
I see your point. |
And I see yours, too.| You probably would not be amazed at how often I have heard this form of argument posited about my own small bit of irrationality. |
No, I wouldn't be surprised at all, becase I'm fairly certain that this old joke (or a close approximation) has happened in real life, somewhere, sometime. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
New Age foibles & follies
