The subject of this article is especially important as it pertains to "conspiracy theories." My 9/11 red pill happened as a result of seeing credible, objective and legitimate *evidence* of controlled demolition due to A: temperatures 1k hotter than jet fuel, B. verifiable free fall of WTC7 and near free fall of WTC 1 and 2, and C: chain-of-custody nanothermite dust samples proven at major university labs around the world. And, of course, planned controlled demolition could not have been possible without the higher-ups knowing about it. This is all compared to the counter-truth narrative circa 2011. This counter narrative claimed that all of this "evidence" was carefully concocted by outrageous "conspiracy theorists" who were trying to make a buck. The problem is, these websites could only offer ad hominem attacks against the major players in the movement and read like high school newspaper op-eds. [A side note here: I get the same feeling about the climate debate....major MAGA luminaries, who I'd otherwise agree with, attack the entire field of anthropogenic climate change with ad hominems against the straw-girl Thunberg and don't seem to offer up any scientific counter arguments].
Also, it seems like the post-modernists Derrida, Foucault, etc., have been hijacked by power hungry globalists who would love nothing more than to destroy any sense of culture and terra firma. The "nothing-is-real-therefore-destroy-dead-white-men-hegemony" ideology has somehow left us with AOC in place of John Adams. I'd be happy with "in addition to" instead of "in place of."
BTW my wife is reading Stranger in a Strange Land and now thinks you're a Martian and a "water brother" because you used the word "grok" so freely and didn't put it in quotes :) These terms may not be used lightly, according to Mike Smith...
I just read my post again and thought, boy that's a lot of 9/11 proselytizing. Sorry about that, everyone! I actually intended to comment more about the nature of truth v illusion, and there are plenty of other real-world examples (namely covid) that could be used to demonstrate rampant illusion :)
The problem of "which source for news" is a difficult one, as it seems all news sources are biased to some degree. I agree substack is a wonderful way to get cleaner news, but anyone can create a substack (obviously) and lots of critical eye needs to be applied. I have been playing with Epoch Times as a reliable source and am not sure what I think as of yet. Anyone else have any opinions? Epoch Times good? Or some other "major" print source?
I of course love Druthers. If people are no familiar with them (Canadian, but all new news as well) check them out. You can subscribe to the print newspaper www.druthers.net.
Thanks again Todd, what story to believe?. It is when a single story is believed on a massive scale and the impact it can have on people's behaviour.
Over the pandemic I keep coming back to the scene from the movie Network. Where Television can be substituted with newspaper, internet, social media etc
Because the only truth you know is what you get over this tube. Right now, there is a whole, an entire generation that never knew anything that didn't come out of this tube.
Television is not the truth. Television's a god-damned amusement park. Television is a circus, a carnival, a traveling troupe of acrobats, storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, sideshow freaks, lion tamers, and football players. We're in the boredom-killing business. So if you want the Truth, Go to yourselves! Because that's the only place you're ever gonna find any real truth. But, man, you're never gonna get any truth from us. We'll tell you anything you wanna hear.
We deal in illusions, man. None of it is true! But you people sit there day after day, night after night, all ages, colors, creeds. We're all you know. You're beginning to believe the illusions we're spinning here. You're beginning to think that the tube is reality and that your own lives are unreal. You do whatever the tube tells you. You dress like the tube, you eat like the tube, you raise your children like the tube. You even think like the tube. This is mass madness. You maniacs. In God's name, you people are the real thing. We are the illusion. So turn off your television sets.
The last 2 paragraphs of this piece resonate most to me . At some point we decided ( the general population) to outsource our opinions / thoughts to others . Not sure why …….whether this might be laziness, lack of confidence or the fall of critical thinking skills . My daughters words when she was 6 or 7 still resonate with me . When I was telling her what to think she told me to stop it “ I am my own me I will decide ” wise words to remember.
I have made such a turnaround in thinking since the covid “pandemic” arrived. I honestly believed whatever the Washington Post said…I truly thought that the Post represented the Truth and would delve deeply into various happenings. I am now at a point that I do not believe initially anything the mainstream media states. Which I realize is a good thing…I question everything…trying not to be cynical at the same time. Strangely, many of my friends on the other side of the fence with the vaccine situation are saying the very same thing…they do not trust the news, politicians, etc….and yet do not question the safely of the vaccine. I find that astounding.
Thank you, most tiny shrew....it is strange indeed to develop an initial mistrust of everything...but that really does seem to be the healthiest way...although there is again the idea of faith...but there should never be "faith" in a graven image or man made idol (government, celebrities, news papers). Faith, unquestioned and fully trustworthy, should be reserved for oneself, or God, which are essentially the same thing if you see self as the WHOLE it was intended, by God, to be...
Oct 26, 2022·edited Oct 26, 2022Liked by Todd Hayen, PhD, RP
"French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal, though raised in the heyday of Enlightenment thought, found reason inadequate: "Reason's last step is the recognition that there are an infinite number of things which are beyond it." He concluded, "The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know at all"—a statement that soon became the chief critique of rationalism and the starting point for a defense of the Christian faith that still influences people today. Pascal began work on what he hoped would be a comprehensive apology for the Christian faith. This work, published after his death, was called Pensees (“Thoughts” or “Reflections”). In this work Pascal did provide evidences for the Christian faith, but he rejected the idea that one could get to the truth by rational processes alone. After reviewing all the evidence, he said, we are still left with a measure of uncertainty. It is here that we must make a choice, and it is his argument at this point that has made Pascal’s most lasting impact on Christianity. Pascal’s Wager, as it is called, explains that it only makes sense to wager that God exists. If a person “bets” that God does not exist and is wrong, he loses everything. On the other hand, if a person “bets” that God does exist and is wrong, he really loses nothing. Pascal also points out that there is no middle ground; everyone must make a bet one way or the other. Pascal’s Wager encourages those who are struggling with the existence of God, the truth of Christianity, or the possibility of eternal life to consider all the evidence and then proceed on the basis of the only choice that makes sense."
"Reason's last step is the recognition that there are an infinite number of things which are beyond it."
Love this Nathan H, One thing I have noticed around this pandemic is the arrogance and hubris of decent people, even if they don't know much about a certain topic they are unwilling to even entertain there may be another perspective or interpretation. The, your view is wrong therefore you are a bad person and I don't need to listen to anything you say, mentality. Even if we have a valid "story" of why things are happening it still may not be "right" it may just appear that way, and there may be another "story" that also explains what is happening.
A few quotes also along the line that reason can only get you so far.
“The need for certainty is the greatest disease the mind faces.” ~Robert Greene
“Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.”
Most people will subconsciously put self-preservation over self-improvement or even self-empowerment. They will succumb to cognitive dissonance before they accept an uncomfortable truth.
The human mind is a delusion generator, not a window to truth. The best any human can do is to pick a delusion that helps him get through the day.
"Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
That was my response to Andrew N that the human mind is a delusion generator. Of course some souls exist in a delusional state from illness and many as a response to materialism, but there is another way. And that way is to find joy, peace, contentment in whatever our circumstances in our creator. The book of Romans tells us that we are God’s masterpiece, designed to have an everlasting relationship with him. He is the path by which we live in true peace in spite of pain, loss, and sorrow. All of the things we experience on this earth are transitory; but God and his love are eternal. We are created immortal beings in his image. And we shall rise up on wings as eagles.
I know most devotees to Christ and even to God see the scripture more literally than I do, but it all makes more sense to me if I see it more as metaphor, symbol and analogy...there IS a literal aspect to it (for me) but much of the wisdom of the bible and of doctrine, to me, is in its sweeping and broader meaning.
In this passage, what I take away, is that there is, as a true reality, the word of God...which is innately, and fully, understood by all of us...we are born with this knowledge and wisdom and connection, and God, and Jesus, represent it, and are always in front of us as a symbol of this "innate knowingness" of what is "right" and pure, and good...usually defined as "love" in our human existence. And although we "know" this, there is a lot that distracts us from it (Satan) and must time and time again we must be reminded of it through our relationship with Christ (in the Christian tradition) and/or God, or whatever you believe the "supreme being" to be.
In secular terms, this becomes "trust yourself", "know thyself", and many other bits of wisdom we hear all of the time. Humans can easily be coerced by the devil to try to control other men (humans) to do the devil's bidding (if the word "devil" offends, then substitute it with "ego" or "material selfishness" or whatever), so you can only really trust God, Christ, within yourself as long as you are aligned with truth (in this case, God and Christ).
Hope that isn't too weird to understand. And I am open to criticism!
I do not know Pascal's work (which is something I will now remedy) but have heard of the wager in many different forms. From a perspective of pure rationality, it makes more rational sense to "bet" that God does exist...for the reasons you cite here.
This reminds me of Jung's ideas about the archetype of a "supreme being" I have noted before, and will note again here:
"The idea of an all-powerful divine Being is present everywhere, unconsciously if not consciously, because it is an archetype. There is in the psyche some superior power, and if it is not consciously a god, it is the "belly" at least, in St. Paul's words. I therefore consider it wiser to acknowledge the idea of God consciously, for, if we do not, something else is made God, usually something quite inappropriate and stupid such as only an "enlightened" intellect could hatch forth."
In Romans 1:19 Paul makes clear that God has set in the soul of man an intrinsic knowledge of Himself: "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse…’. The complexity of nature, mankind, the heavens, the earth all reveal the creator’s hand.
The subject of this article is especially important as it pertains to "conspiracy theories." My 9/11 red pill happened as a result of seeing credible, objective and legitimate *evidence* of controlled demolition due to A: temperatures 1k hotter than jet fuel, B. verifiable free fall of WTC7 and near free fall of WTC 1 and 2, and C: chain-of-custody nanothermite dust samples proven at major university labs around the world. And, of course, planned controlled demolition could not have been possible without the higher-ups knowing about it. This is all compared to the counter-truth narrative circa 2011. This counter narrative claimed that all of this "evidence" was carefully concocted by outrageous "conspiracy theorists" who were trying to make a buck. The problem is, these websites could only offer ad hominem attacks against the major players in the movement and read like high school newspaper op-eds. [A side note here: I get the same feeling about the climate debate....major MAGA luminaries, who I'd otherwise agree with, attack the entire field of anthropogenic climate change with ad hominems against the straw-girl Thunberg and don't seem to offer up any scientific counter arguments].
Also, it seems like the post-modernists Derrida, Foucault, etc., have been hijacked by power hungry globalists who would love nothing more than to destroy any sense of culture and terra firma. The "nothing-is-real-therefore-destroy-dead-white-men-hegemony" ideology has somehow left us with AOC in place of John Adams. I'd be happy with "in addition to" instead of "in place of."
BTW my wife is reading Stranger in a Strange Land and now thinks you're a Martian and a "water brother" because you used the word "grok" so freely and didn't put it in quotes :) These terms may not be used lightly, according to Mike Smith...
I just read my post again and thought, boy that's a lot of 9/11 proselytizing. Sorry about that, everyone! I actually intended to comment more about the nature of truth v illusion, and there are plenty of other real-world examples (namely covid) that could be used to demonstrate rampant illusion :)
So true..I get get most of my news from Substack- I trust what I read here far more than what is reported on CBC!
The problem of "which source for news" is a difficult one, as it seems all news sources are biased to some degree. I agree substack is a wonderful way to get cleaner news, but anyone can create a substack (obviously) and lots of critical eye needs to be applied. I have been playing with Epoch Times as a reliable source and am not sure what I think as of yet. Anyone else have any opinions? Epoch Times good? Or some other "major" print source?
I of course love Druthers. If people are no familiar with them (Canadian, but all new news as well) check them out. You can subscribe to the print newspaper www.druthers.net.
Thanks again Todd, what story to believe?. It is when a single story is believed on a massive scale and the impact it can have on people's behaviour.
Over the pandemic I keep coming back to the scene from the movie Network. Where Television can be substituted with newspaper, internet, social media etc
Because the only truth you know is what you get over this tube. Right now, there is a whole, an entire generation that never knew anything that didn't come out of this tube.
Television is not the truth. Television's a god-damned amusement park. Television is a circus, a carnival, a traveling troupe of acrobats, storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, sideshow freaks, lion tamers, and football players. We're in the boredom-killing business. So if you want the Truth, Go to yourselves! Because that's the only place you're ever gonna find any real truth. But, man, you're never gonna get any truth from us. We'll tell you anything you wanna hear.
We deal in illusions, man. None of it is true! But you people sit there day after day, night after night, all ages, colors, creeds. We're all you know. You're beginning to believe the illusions we're spinning here. You're beginning to think that the tube is reality and that your own lives are unreal. You do whatever the tube tells you. You dress like the tube, you eat like the tube, you raise your children like the tube. You even think like the tube. This is mass madness. You maniacs. In God's name, you people are the real thing. We are the illusion. So turn off your television sets.
This is also interesting
https://dancingparadox.substack.com/p/a-minds-entrapment
The last 2 paragraphs of this piece resonate most to me . At some point we decided ( the general population) to outsource our opinions / thoughts to others . Not sure why …….whether this might be laziness, lack of confidence or the fall of critical thinking skills . My daughters words when she was 6 or 7 still resonate with me . When I was telling her what to think she told me to stop it “ I am my own me I will decide ” wise words to remember.
I have made such a turnaround in thinking since the covid “pandemic” arrived. I honestly believed whatever the Washington Post said…I truly thought that the Post represented the Truth and would delve deeply into various happenings. I am now at a point that I do not believe initially anything the mainstream media states. Which I realize is a good thing…I question everything…trying not to be cynical at the same time. Strangely, many of my friends on the other side of the fence with the vaccine situation are saying the very same thing…they do not trust the news, politicians, etc….and yet do not question the safely of the vaccine. I find that astounding.
Thank you, most tiny shrew....it is strange indeed to develop an initial mistrust of everything...but that really does seem to be the healthiest way...although there is again the idea of faith...but there should never be "faith" in a graven image or man made idol (government, celebrities, news papers). Faith, unquestioned and fully trustworthy, should be reserved for oneself, or God, which are essentially the same thing if you see self as the WHOLE it was intended, by God, to be...
"French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal, though raised in the heyday of Enlightenment thought, found reason inadequate: "Reason's last step is the recognition that there are an infinite number of things which are beyond it." He concluded, "The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know at all"—a statement that soon became the chief critique of rationalism and the starting point for a defense of the Christian faith that still influences people today. Pascal began work on what he hoped would be a comprehensive apology for the Christian faith. This work, published after his death, was called Pensees (“Thoughts” or “Reflections”). In this work Pascal did provide evidences for the Christian faith, but he rejected the idea that one could get to the truth by rational processes alone. After reviewing all the evidence, he said, we are still left with a measure of uncertainty. It is here that we must make a choice, and it is his argument at this point that has made Pascal’s most lasting impact on Christianity. Pascal’s Wager, as it is called, explains that it only makes sense to wager that God exists. If a person “bets” that God does not exist and is wrong, he loses everything. On the other hand, if a person “bets” that God does exist and is wrong, he really loses nothing. Pascal also points out that there is no middle ground; everyone must make a bet one way or the other. Pascal’s Wager encourages those who are struggling with the existence of God, the truth of Christianity, or the possibility of eternal life to consider all the evidence and then proceed on the basis of the only choice that makes sense."
"Reason's last step is the recognition that there are an infinite number of things which are beyond it."
Love this Nathan H, One thing I have noticed around this pandemic is the arrogance and hubris of decent people, even if they don't know much about a certain topic they are unwilling to even entertain there may be another perspective or interpretation. The, your view is wrong therefore you are a bad person and I don't need to listen to anything you say, mentality. Even if we have a valid "story" of why things are happening it still may not be "right" it may just appear that way, and there may be another "story" that also explains what is happening.
A few quotes also along the line that reason can only get you so far.
“The need for certainty is the greatest disease the mind faces.” ~Robert Greene
“Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.”
Most people will subconsciously put self-preservation over self-improvement or even self-empowerment. They will succumb to cognitive dissonance before they accept an uncomfortable truth.
The human mind is a delusion generator, not a window to truth. The best any human can do is to pick a delusion that helps him get through the day.
"Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Not 100% sure what this is saying?
That was my response to Andrew N that the human mind is a delusion generator. Of course some souls exist in a delusional state from illness and many as a response to materialism, but there is another way. And that way is to find joy, peace, contentment in whatever our circumstances in our creator. The book of Romans tells us that we are God’s masterpiece, designed to have an everlasting relationship with him. He is the path by which we live in true peace in spite of pain, loss, and sorrow. All of the things we experience on this earth are transitory; but God and his love are eternal. We are created immortal beings in his image. And we shall rise up on wings as eagles.
I know most devotees to Christ and even to God see the scripture more literally than I do, but it all makes more sense to me if I see it more as metaphor, symbol and analogy...there IS a literal aspect to it (for me) but much of the wisdom of the bible and of doctrine, to me, is in its sweeping and broader meaning.
In this passage, what I take away, is that there is, as a true reality, the word of God...which is innately, and fully, understood by all of us...we are born with this knowledge and wisdom and connection, and God, and Jesus, represent it, and are always in front of us as a symbol of this "innate knowingness" of what is "right" and pure, and good...usually defined as "love" in our human existence. And although we "know" this, there is a lot that distracts us from it (Satan) and must time and time again we must be reminded of it through our relationship with Christ (in the Christian tradition) and/or God, or whatever you believe the "supreme being" to be.
In secular terms, this becomes "trust yourself", "know thyself", and many other bits of wisdom we hear all of the time. Humans can easily be coerced by the devil to try to control other men (humans) to do the devil's bidding (if the word "devil" offends, then substitute it with "ego" or "material selfishness" or whatever), so you can only really trust God, Christ, within yourself as long as you are aligned with truth (in this case, God and Christ).
Hope that isn't too weird to understand. And I am open to criticism!
I do not know Pascal's work (which is something I will now remedy) but have heard of the wager in many different forms. From a perspective of pure rationality, it makes more rational sense to "bet" that God does exist...for the reasons you cite here.
This reminds me of Jung's ideas about the archetype of a "supreme being" I have noted before, and will note again here:
"The idea of an all-powerful divine Being is present everywhere, unconsciously if not consciously, because it is an archetype. There is in the psyche some superior power, and if it is not consciously a god, it is the "belly" at least, in St. Paul's words. I therefore consider it wiser to acknowledge the idea of God consciously, for, if we do not, something else is made God, usually something quite inappropriate and stupid such as only an "enlightened" intellect could hatch forth."
In Romans 1:19 Paul makes clear that God has set in the soul of man an intrinsic knowledge of Himself: "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse…’. The complexity of nature, mankind, the heavens, the earth all reveal the creator’s hand.