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This is an absolutely amazing lecture given by a brilliant man. In our villification of all things religious, spiritual, mystical or "woo-ish", we often overlook the anthropological and cultural significance of belief.

A long watch, but well worth it. Skimming is instructive, too.

[longnow.org]

Metahuman 7 Sep 24
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8 comments

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2

In , my honest and somewhat well educated opinion, anything remotely resembling 'spiritual, religious mystical, etc, is little more than wishful thinking and unadulterated cat piddle at it's very best.
You hear, ever so tediously I might add, how he/she has "gotten into the 'spirit' of one thing or another, is a very spirited person, etc, etc."
Or even as far as "he/she/they have the spirit of God/Jesus, etc, in them," Absolute Crapola to the max, since absolutely NO-ONE has ever truly defined, proven and exhibited empirically what this woo-woo magical 'spirit' is.
The ONLY true and real, tangible SPIRITS are those contained in alcohol based chemical forms such as Methylated Spirits, Beer, Rum, Whiskey and the like.

4

Who cares if it once held cultural significance. So much toxic or ignorant or unfounded shit has held significance in the past. Shall we also honour child mutilation? Child marriage? Sacrificing virgins to appease God's? Usng exorcism against mentally ill people or people with epilepsy/seizures? Chaining up crazy people to walls in asylums?

We threw that woo pseudoscience crap in the trash where it belongs since we know better. This holding on to toxic ancient beliefs or practices is frustrating and it's like you have a spiritual b.s. agenda to peddle.

1

"Villification" of all things spiritual?!?
Speak for yourself.
As an agnostic, I retain an open mind.
You, as an 'atheist,' are free to think whatever you want. But don't include me or whomever you think "we" is.

2

"Our villification"....determining that others are delusional about some Sky King is not "villification" in & of itself! It can be damned humorous, or lead to eye-rolling, but hardly hatred. Except of course for predators like preachers & politicians trying to shove it down my throat.....they get reviled!

1

I've listened attentively to numerous long lectures from speakers like Hitchens, Aron Ra, and many others on a variety of topics other than religion but this guy is as dry as dust. He's got all the charisma of a tax audit.

He may have a message worth hearing but he'd do well to take a public speaking class and learn to present it with a more engaging delivery. It's almost impossible to remain focused on what he's saying for very long.

He's dull.

Yep. Yawn. I can't be bothered to know anything, it's so dull.

@Metahuman cough cough bite me cough

@Sgt_Spanky nanny, nanny, boo, boo...

the delivery is at least as important as the topic, duuuhhh, otherwise why are the most successful preachrr/predators so successful?

All of a sudden this lousy video encompasses "anything" . Goodness forbid you know lots of anythings outside of woo gymnastics trash content. Hehe

1

Beautiful! Thanks for posting.

skado Level 9 Sep 24, 2020
0

I tried, but this guy is BORING, and like most lecturers, he over explains EVERYTHING! I think he does love to hear himself speak. Of course I would not listen to a two hour lecture on anything. I did skim. In the end I really didn't learn anything new. I have never been alarmed at the dying of cultures. I don't see disappearing languages as a real problem that affects our day to day lives. Language, flags, skin color, and of course religion are all differences people will use to dislike and or persecute others. Basically, human beings suck and there is nothing in our history or in the present day that makes me optimistic this will change. I don't think we overlook the significance of religion at all. We watch it and live it everyday, especially in the last few months. In the first few months after joining this site (Feb 2018), we were discussing this stuff over, and over, and over until many of us grew weary of it. Personally I have no problem with peoples beliefs or faith as long as they keep it to themselves. I do have a very real problem with and a great disdain for religions. He said nothing knew about climate change. The very, very few always fuck things up for the many. They always have, and they most likely always will.

You should read Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, etc.

4

Not a chance I'm going to watch this.
The argument that somehow, as yet undetermined, ritualistically being lied to and having my political views distorted by a minister, clergy, or priest is somehow a good thing has failed every time.
To hear the same stupid argument again is a waste of my precious time.
Bring good evidence, or STFU, and stuff your videos and long boring pointless arguments in your ass.

Its not an argument. You're just assuming you even know what it is. You're arguing against your own imagination. This is about anthropology, not Truth.

Its certainly clear that youre a logical, rational person, though, not one to be guided by strong emotion...

@Metahuman I reject your premise out of hand.
"our villification of all things religious, spiritual, mystical or "woo-ish", we often overlook the anthropological and cultural significance of belief"
We don't.
We see it for it's roll already.
The generalization that "we" vilify is more than enough to ignore you right off.
You come in with an ax to grind and then claim it's not about the edge on the ax, it's about the anthropology of axes.
I have a minor in Anthropology, no good anthropology argument would start like this.

Wow, assumptions before rational analysis.

If you had watched the video and the gave a critical analysis then it would be easier to see your point.

Right now you sound like a Southern US Republican

@Jon_Frum Perhaps the proposal that we could find value in the video should have been made rather then a generalized insult.
The base assumption that we'll "vilify" out of hand is an attack.
Why on Earth would I honor such a position from the start?

@Willow_Wisp An attack? Against whom?

@Willow_Wisp an axe to grind? That sounds spinny. Can you make your point in a clearer way?

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