Comments for Martin S Pribble

Comment on No Magic Required by Sabio

Sabio — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:11:46 +0000

Boy, it took a lot of identification work to make a comment here.

Comment on No Magic Required by Sabio

Sabio — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:11:26 +0000

By the way, I liked your Hypatia quote on your blog’s opening page so I tried to verify it. Sounds like it might be fabricated by Elbert Hubbard in 1908. Check it out:
http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2009/11/encyclopaedia-britannica-hits-rock.html

Comment on Agenticity, Patternicity, Belief by No Magic Required | Martin S Pribble

No Magic Required | Martin S Pribble — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:11:37 +0000

[...] I have said in the past, the notion of god is simply a way to fill the gaps in our knowledge in a way that satisfies our [...]

Comment on How Fear Manipulates You by Tinsky

Tinsky — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:49:28 +0000

Having worked with and in sales from time to time, I can atest to the fear factor being used, especially in the fitness industry, it is one of the biggest sales tactics that are taught to get people to sign up for a gym membership. I too have occasionally pushed my own boundaries, like sky diving (tandem) and while everyone on the plane thought I was going to baulk at the last minute due to the pale face I had while I maneuvered myself to the edge of the plane (still not strapped to the professional skydiver) I’ve never regretted the experience. Well except for the part where we were free falling and I opened my mouth to breathe and found a whole lot of air rushing into my lungs and unable to breathe out. It was an awe inspiring experience. I was at the time, beginning to unravel my religious binds.

Comment on How Fear Manipulates You by cemerson20

cemerson20 — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:12:55 +0000

Excellent, thoughtful post. Will take time to absorb it all. Cheers.

Comment on How Fear Manipulates You by Troythulhu

Troythulhu — Wed, 08 May 2013 03:07:04 +0000

I remember another passage by Frank Herbert, I think also in the first Dune book, I’ll paraphrase as, “Faith is among the greatest of motivators.” Well, I suspect that given your post, fear is a close companion to faith, and all too often used to justify faith, as with the assumptions going into Pascal’s wager and as you note, the more visceral threats of damnation by fundamentalists. As a former Adventist, fear and I were old companions, fear of even the slightest shortcoming. I must be careful not to merely replace old fears long given up with new. Thank you, Martin.

Comment on How Fear Manipulates You by Hausdorff

Hausdorff — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:32:56 +0000

Great post. Like many others before me, I stayed in religion way longer than I reasonably should have if not for the fear of hell. They drilled it into me so deeply that I was scared of hell well past when I even believed in hell. I was terrified of something I didn’t even think exists. I agree with Dawkins, it’s child abuse.

Comment on How Fear Manipulates You by Secular1

Secular1 — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:46:04 +0000

Good article, except for the section on America’s second amendment. That amendment was to provide an army for the defense of “”a free state” on the cheap! No standing army to pay or outfit! Our founding fathers also mistrusted a standing army because a future president might decide to use it for other purposes (and they have! Spanish/American war, VietNam, Granada, Iraq to name some). It was not to “defend” against home grown despotism, our Constitution had a built-in process for that; it is called the VOTE!

Comment on How Fear Manipulates You by lorimakesquilts

lorimakesquilts — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:42:31 +0000

Excellent post. I hadn’t seen the similarity between the “fear culture” that exists here in the U.S. and generalized anxiety disorder until now. You gave me a clearer picture of how to address fear-based stances that so many of my conservative friends have bought into and a deeper well of empathy for them, too. Having suffered from generalized anxiety nearly my whole life I’ve got a large toolbox to draw from, so thanks.

Comment on How Fear Manipulates You by 2h_2n

2h_2n — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:04:30 +0000

Great post. Good perspective on the insidious nature of the use if fear. Fear is rooted in anger and animality. That is why those that are convinced of a threat to their lives / lifestyles / livelihoods can quite happily sanction the use of barbaric acts of violence ( torture / war ) to “stop” the threat. Such resolutions would not be agreed to by people who feel secure and assured of their safety.