4 ms·

You’re right. People searching for meaning in life and selling positive messages is so condescending, annoying, and useless. Scientific findings could never ser

You’re right. People searching for meaning in life and selling positive messages is so condescending, annoying, and useless. Scientific findings could never serve as useful metaphors for the human condition. I almost took scientific advice from a spiritual blogger once - that was a close one!

3np 5y ago
The issue is when these metaphors aren’t presented or interpreted as such but as literally physical reality. It’s the difference between seeing the Bible as inspirational and believing that the earth is literally 6000 old and Christ Is Coming Back Soon; take this course to prepare to Meet Him. If you compromise on truth in order to further your goals, you’re just priming people to be susceptible to conspiracy theories and other actually harmful untruthful ideas like that Bill Gates literally is putting nanochips inside vaccines. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that most of my hippie friends seem to have turned antivaxx on unscientific grounds lately.
nomel 5y ago
It’s not necessarily meaningless, but that doesn’t mean it’s not absolute rubbish, in reality. People can find meaningful, useful, comfort in anything. I’ve seen people who put clovers in their wallets, rocks/crystals in their pockets/necklaces, perfumes/oils, wear special clothes/socks, etc. It doesn’t mean those items are anything but those items. The thoughts of those items is what’s magical, not the items themselves. In fact, physical existence isn’t even required!
- sedivy94 5y ago
  Yes, exactly.
tomrod 5y ago
>> People searching for meaning in life and selling positive messages is so condescending, annoying, and useless In some cases,absolutely! If the results of such bending of meaning weren't actively harmful (eg Vaccine denialism) perhaps it could be ignored.

4 ms·

You’re right. People searching for meaning in life and selling positive messages is so condescending, annoying, and useless. Scientific findings could never ser

by sedivy94 5y ago

3np 5y ago
The issue is when these metaphors aren’t presented or interpreted as such but as literally physical reality. It’s the difference between seeing the Bible as inspirational and believing that the earth is literally 6000 old and Christ Is Coming Back Soon; take this course to prepare to Meet Him. If you compromise on truth in order to further your goals, you’re just priming people to be susceptible to conspiracy theories and other actually harmful untruthful ideas like that Bill Gates literally is putting nanochips inside vaccines. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that most of my hippie friends seem to have turned antivaxx on unscientific grounds lately.
nomel 5y ago
It’s not necessarily meaningless, but that doesn’t mean it’s not absolute rubbish, in reality. People can find meaningful, useful, comfort in anything. I’ve seen people who put clovers in their wallets, rocks/crystals in their pockets/necklaces, perfumes/oils, wear special clothes/socks, etc. It doesn’t mean those items are anything but those items. The thoughts of those items is what’s magical, not the items themselves. In fact, physical existence isn’t even required!
- sedivy94 5y ago
  Yes, exactly.
tomrod 5y ago
>> People searching for meaning in life and selling positive messages is so condescending, annoying, and useless In some cases,absolutely! If the results of such bending of meaning weren't actively harmful (eg Vaccine denialism) perhaps it could be ignored.