Added: Dec 5, 2008
From: TEDtalksDirector
Duration: 15:2
http://www.ted.com Noah Feldman makes a searing case that both politics and religion -- whatever their differences -- are similar technologies, designed to efficiently connect and manage any group of people.
Channel: News
Tags: change culture feldman global issues noah politics religion social society talks ted tedtalks war
Rating: 3.38 (72 ratings) Views: 5287' favoriteCount='56 Comments: 25
Serge808 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - this guy is snob, snobby elitist aristocratic pig
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - Yes, they are. That's *why* I am an atheist.So, why so many variants? This does not suggest any coherent "original form". It's special pleading.The **logical** inability to disprove nonexistence does not necessarily imply existence. It is simply logically impossible to disprove nonexistence. To claim otherwise is to commit the Argumentum ad Ignorantium fallacy of logic. This is one of the favourite arguments of slightly more intellectual religionists.
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - I have already explained that your insisting that I have read the Qu'ran is utterly and completely irrelevant to this discussion. Reading detailed explanations of false concepts does not eliminate the falsehood.
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - I'm fully in agreement that human cognition?psychology is the problem. This is *why* all the numerous different religions have been invented.Religions work as means by which the power elites can herd people precisely because people cannot cope with their own ignorance, and, as you say, are happy to be herded.
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - And you want to cut him down to your size?
Serge808 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - oh stop with your big words and philosphical rhetoric.this guy is an elitist, in favor of making everyone the same.all he's doing is calling politics and religion technologies, no depth or truth in his words.religions are good in that they make us all different, having different beliefs is what makes us humans, it's not religions that cause wars it is the evil people on top of the pyramid who use propaganda to exploit people and their beliefs.
Tomar17 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - sigh... more assumptions...how do you conclude it is falsehood without actually reading it to find what it is?
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - Sigh.Read my earlier comments and figure it out for yourself.
Tomar17 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - Arch, it has been interesting and I have said what I have. But realize that every closed minded person who refuses to even consider or learn about the other view has rationalization that seems compelling to him, much like yours.I hope you actually learn about the other sid first hand some daypeace
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - Tomar, your approach to my comments has been quite typical of what I dislike about the ad nauseam, illogical repetitis of religionists.Calling me closed-minded is a fallacious ad hominem. You know nothing of the cognitive processes that brought me to my conclusions. You merely make assumptions based on the fact that I won't play *your* game.The Qu'ran was written by a man and was based on another fantasy book. Muslims and Christians consistenly cherry pick these fantasies.
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - 1. oh stop with your big words and philosphical rhetoricNow you want *me* down to your level.
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - 2. I would not call religion a technology, but it *is* a power system akin to politics. Thus, the two systems become either allies or competitors.Yes, the problem is people. Specifically: a) stupid, credulous, emotion-driven people who are incapable of critical thinking, and b) the greedy, power-mongering types who take advantage of that stupidity.
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - You have it back to front, Serge. Religion *divides* people. This discussion demonstrates that.
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - I do read *about* the Qu'ran: Quran tells Muslims to kill the disbelievers wherever they find them (Q; 2:191), murder them and treat them harshly (Q; 9:123), slay them (Q; 9:5), fight with them, (Q; 8:65 ). It tells its followers to humiliate the Christians and the Jews and impose on them a penalty tax (Q; 9:29). Apostasy in Islam is the biggest crime, punishable by death.Sounds a lot like the Old Testament? This is not a coincidence.
Serge808 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - thats funny because i'm not religious, I'm just not a snobby aristocrat who likes to hear himself talk and has no real truth to talk about
Serge808 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - why are you so concumed with these "levels" you keep talking of?it seems your whole inner universe is about levels, oh this person is not on my level, oh im scared im not on that persons level...we're alo on the same level.you needt o get rid of predisposed hatred for religious people, our world is free, free for people to be religious if they want and also not to push it on others
Tomar17 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - Reading about a book is the same as adopting someone else's opinion about it, along with their cherry picking and biases to support their views. No matter how many big words you use, doesn't change the fact that you haven't done your own unbiased research.I hope you do read it someday, first ridding yourself of any biases, and sincerely assessing if it is truth or falsehood. Only with sincere examination can we expect to find truth.peace
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - Tomar, what part of "NO" do you not understand? This is my last response because you exhibit no logic in your one track.Are you saying that the quotations are inaccurate?No, I thought not. You merely wish to discredit them with derision and yet another ad hominem.The Quran undoubtedly has "good" bits, just as the Bible has "good" bits. However, there are lots of bad bits that provide fodder for antipathies.If I'd quoted "good" bits you would have agreed. Hardly unbiased.
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - *You* were the one who drew attention to levels by using ad hominems in lieu of logical critique of his content. I'd agree with you on one thing -- you apparently "have no real truth to talk about".
Serge808 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - nope, sorry, you need to chill out and stop trying to talk down to people who are religious.that says nothing about their character unlike this snob who is quite obviously totally consumed by his ego
umzj Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - what is sad about this video is that there has only been 5000 views
Archaenum Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - *I* do not *need* to do any such thing. You merely wish that I would. I've watched Feldman's video twice. I detect none of the arrogance or snobbery that you project onto him. Projection illustrates much more about the person projecting -- you, Serge -- than it does about the attributes of the maligned messenger of unwelcome tidings.You have nothing substantive or logical to say because you are way out of your intellectual depth. Get used to it.
Serge808 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - ok...nice big words , enjoy your noah feldman.bye
Atropos911 Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - I think you're totally awesome.
mtheoryrules Says:
Dec 5, 2008 - In general people are more comfortable with a degree of certainty, religions tend to be very black and white by comparison to the body of contemplation found in philosophy, which tends to leave most with more questions than answers.If it was just ignorance than education would provide the remedy, yet religion still thrives. I would reason that religion is not a contrivance designed to herd people, but rather that people are inclined towards herd behavior and religions only reflect this.