Demonizing

[pjthompson]

Random quote of the day:


"Only the rational ego promotes its own single, literalistic perspective as the only perspective, while simultaneously denying—demonizing—all others.

—Patrick Harpur, Daimonic Reality

Comments

[eclectic-writer.livejournal.com]

Sad, but oh so true isn't it?

(btw, great pic)

[handworn.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with Harpur if only the uber-religious could be characterized as rational egos, because that's what they do. Truth be told, it seems to me like the extremists on both left and right do this.

[sboydtaylor.livejournal.com]

Agreed. When you believe something (anything) totally -- whether because of blind faith or because you have reasoned and experimented to prove it to yourself -- then everyone else must be wrong.

The gray areas are so much more interesting.

[pjthompson]

Indeed! And Brom (the artist) is quite amazing.

[pjthompson]

Yes, extreme beliefs--including those who are hyper-ratioanl, always feel they have to lessen those who disagree with them. For instance, I must be irrational if I think there are more things in heaven and earth than you can see, touch, smell, taste, feel, and hear with the normal range of senses. Or ungodly if I choose not to believe in the pater familias.

[pjthompson]

The gray areas are so much more interesting.

Not to mention quantum physics which just about blows everything out of the (cosmicc) water. :-)

[sboydtaylor.livejournal.com]

I know some general ideas behind QM (which are probably all wrong), but I am very poorly educated about it in all other ways. It does sound fascinating, though.

[pjthompson]

Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe is a very readable book on the subject.