“If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time.”
Bertrand Russell, Philosopher 1872-1970
Passive acceptance is really disastrous to many unsuspecting followers. Often times fraud is accepted by followers of a particular respected leader of one's own group (church, ethnic groups etc.) Bernie Madoff found a gullible audience among his Jewish family and close friends. nearly every church I can think of has fallen prey to one of its church leaders. The religion, no matter how conservative, is not immune. In fact, the most devout are the most gullible. If a leader can convince you to believe a naked women being talked into eating fruit from a tree by a snake caused painful child birth for women and sin for all humanity, you can convince them to buy anything. This happens to Catholics, Baptists,Church of Christ, Methodist, Church of God, Lutheran, and all the rest. I can name some specific examples from about ever church. Charlie, if you could just accept Jesus as your personal savior, as a former non-believer, the fields would ripe for the harvest. Preachers would pay you a high premium for testifying as to your conversion. Religious papers would boast the power of Jesus. You could forget about our crooked stock marked and start finding investors for about any cause. After all, Jesus now has snatched you from the grip of Satan. You might even need a partner.
ReplyDeleteJim
You might be on to something here Jim. We could partner up and make a fortune.
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