tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post7834736622661779543..comments2023-10-20T08:32:14.040-04:00Comments on Heaving Dead Cats: Justifying Our False BeliefsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653141544095753595noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-38576409520883462012009-09-02T00:13:42.000-04:002009-09-02T00:13:42.000-04:00I think you need to be really careful when assigni...I think you need to be really careful when assigning these traits to everyone you disagree with. It's highly likely that you, and the rest of us skeptics/atheists, are guilty of the same flaws in our thinking. Your entire argument could just as easily have been put forth by a believer with skeptics and atheists as the subject.<br><br>The difference between them and us, is that we change our minds regularly, or should if we're being honest with our selves. I have news for you. To be an atheist does not automatically qualify one as a critical thinker. I know atheists who are 'truthers' and 'birthers', and skeptics who think everything a leading skeptic says is true because they said it.<br><br>It's not that 'nonbelievers' are immune to errors in inductive reasoning that sets them apart, it's that they continue to ask questions and ALWAYS require good evidence for any belief.Notatheisthttp://erikthebassist@gmail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-1533190541363815162009-09-02T01:40:38.000-04:002009-09-02T01:40:38.000-04:00You're right! I think I'll edit the articl...You're right! I think I'll edit the article. I went over it about 5 times thinking I was missing something. I think you hit what I missed on the head. We're all quite capable of being guilty of justifying our beliefs. Not just True Believers.Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-47476499042364293392009-09-02T21:57:16.000-04:002009-09-02T21:57:16.000-04:00Excellent, love good info on the brain. I like Not...Excellent, love good info on the brain. I like Notatheist's caveat that we should not simply subscribe these types of cognitive errors simply to people we disagree with, as we posses brains which can be just as guilty of these errors as well. But as you mention, a willingness to question our beliefs and seek out valid information that tells us otherwise is the first step. Admitting that you were wrong and changing your mind based upon new information is ok : )Blak Thundarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-7958047463873018732009-09-03T04:21:16.000-04:002009-09-03T04:21:16.000-04:00I've been thinking about the bicarmal brain, a...I've been thinking about the bicarmal brain, and how one lobe talking to another can be perceived as hearing the voice of God. When I was a believing kid with undiagnosed OCD, I thought I heard from God all the time. (Thought I was a prophet.) That description of cognitive dissonance is great; I swear I can practically feel the synapses firing up thinking about that one.<br><br>I think "motivated reasoning" is a very appealing possible explanation. It certainly rings true to how to my grandmother supported her nutso belief set.Angie Jacksonhttp://angietheantitheist.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-74773316193259120062009-09-04T03:26:43.000-04:002009-09-04T03:26:43.000-04:00[...] Dead Cats takes a study about confirmation b...[...] Dead Cats takes a study about confirmation bias and applies it to religious asshattery, as though nobody’s ever thought to do that before. Great read, [...]Lousy Canuck » RCimT: Friday catch-up dayhttp://www.lousycanuck.ca/?p=1934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-39314281749072926292009-09-04T11:02:10.000-04:002009-09-04T11:02:10.000-04:00Are you... not a theist... or not atheist?Are you... not a theist... or not atheist?GMNightmarenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-80894484115381779952009-09-04T13:48:31.000-04:002009-09-04T13:48:31.000-04:00Well done Neece! I especially like this:"The ...Well done Neece! I especially like this:<br><br>"The more I practice re-analyzing old beliefs and getting rid of ones that have no basis in reality, or ones that don’t fit my ethics and understanding of the universe, the easier it gets. I think that’s what makes some people skeptics and atheists. It can be quite challenging."<br><br>So skepticism is a skill to be practiced and developed. I think I like that.Tomato Addicthttp://dreadtomatoaddiction.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-16943712808166082972009-09-07T11:55:18.000-04:002009-09-07T11:55:18.000-04:00here's why: Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)...here's why: Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by authors Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson. <br><br>check it out at your local library!Groovecatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-69846742954598901172009-09-09T21:35:15.000-04:002009-09-09T21:35:15.000-04:00I wondered that myself, GMN....I wondered that myself, GMN....Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-53026346439532762852009-09-09T21:37:41.000-04:002009-09-09T21:37:41.000-04:00The brain is awesome, isn't it?And yes, I thin...The brain is awesome, isn't it?<br>And yes, I think as long as we are constantly thinking critically, constantly questioning and using our baloney detection kit, we'll come out on top. :)Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-27359585924164696162009-09-09T21:40:29.000-04:002009-09-09T21:40:29.000-04:00I think motivated reasoning is pretty fascinating ...I think motivated reasoning is pretty fascinating and makes sense, at this point, for how people justify what they need to believe, even if it has no basis in reality.Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-28097820511368471952009-09-09T21:43:32.001-04:002009-09-09T21:43:32.001-04:00Hi TA,thanks! :DYes, I think skepticism is a skill...Hi TA,thanks! :D<br>Yes, I think skepticism is a skill to be honed and practiced.Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-56840549810857051942009-09-09T21:43:32.000-04:002009-09-09T21:43:32.000-04:00Thanks, Groovecat. I'll have to check that out...Thanks, Groovecat. I'll have to check that out. :)Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-59434088621729794912009-10-09T02:04:40.000-04:002009-10-09T02:04:40.000-04:00Thanks Neece for an excellent read. It's nice ...Thanks Neece for an excellent read. It's nice to see scientific research explain what we already knew, or at least felt, in a logical way. It certainly reinforces my thought that it should be illegal to teach religion to minors.<br>The brain is an amazing thing is it not?EvilGodhttp://www.unindoctrinated.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-68861200845785569742009-10-09T06:28:30.000-04:002009-10-09T06:28:30.000-04:00EvilGod wrote> It certainly reinforces my thoug...EvilGod wrote> It certainly reinforces my thought that it should be illegal to teach religion to minors.<br><br>We do need to teach children <i>something</i>. Children don't yet have the intellectual capacity to understand many adult concepts, and need to learn a simple set of rules for behavior. For better or worse, religion does this quite well, and is time tested. -- Please understand I am not "selling", and I certainly do not advocate cults. -- <br><br>For me the real problem is that some people never move beyond this simplistic set of rules, and continue to follow them blindly all their lives.Tomato Addicthttp://dreadtomatoaddiction.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-53595817879182932882009-10-10T02:45:39.000-04:002009-10-10T02:45:39.000-04:00You're welcome, Evilgod. Yes, the brain is inc...You're welcome, Evilgod. Yes, the brain is incredibly amazing. I do feel that it is ok to teach religion to minors like I was taught Greek mythology when I was young. Sure, people believed it ages ago, but it wasn't true. Same for christianity, et al. <br><br>I think that's healthier than trying to force a child to be an atheist. Teaching critical thinking is much more important than forcing our views on a child.Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-31456428673250923002009-10-10T02:50:36.000-04:002009-10-10T02:50:36.000-04:00I completely disagree that religion teaches morals...I completely disagree that religion teaches morals. Philosophy would do it better without the blatant contradictions and hypocrisy. Or simply teach morals in a common sense way! Why do you need religion? To teach that slavery is ok? Or giving your daughter to an angry pack of rapists to protect to angel/strangers that are your guests? How about that you're noble if you wait to have sex with your wife until she's 9 as opposed to 6, so now all men are allowed to have sex with their wives when the girls are aged 9. Barbaric!<br><br>Religion does not have any noble hold on morals or rules for behavior. Simple ethics would be quite sufficient.Neecehttp://www.heavingdeadcats.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-43691148169429939312009-10-11T11:23:08.000-04:002009-10-11T11:23:08.000-04:00hello all--here is a link i thought may shed some ...hello all--here is a link i thought may shed some light on this subject.<br>http://www.salon.com/env/mind_reader/2008/09/22/voter_choice/index.html<br><br>regards, <br>groovecatGroovecatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352648376305239677.post-83944498288754690372010-04-01T12:10:29.000-04:002010-04-01T12:10:29.000-04:00Yes, I agree with you. I also have been wonderin ...Yes, I agree with you. I also have been wonderin about this phenomenon. How can one look at a blue sky and say, "my my, what a beautiful red sky!" How can one look at an event, or a peice of evidence, and just ignore the plain truth? I have suspected the cognitive dissonance fator for some time, so it was nice to read your take on this topic and kind of verify my thoughts on this topic as well. Now, granted, we all start our perspectives based on presumptions. But what I just don't get is people who are so sure of their own selves, that they refuse to listen to anyone else. I just don't get it! This topic has become my pet research topic at this time, and thanks for your input.Marknoreply@blogger.com