Comments on A believer in Putin's propaganda reminds me of religious dogmatismTypePad2022-05-15T04:18:03ZBrian Hineshttps://hinessight.blogs.com/church_of_the_churchless/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://hinessight.blogs.com/church_of_the_churchless/2022/05/a-believer-in-putins-propaganda-reminds-me-of-religious-dogmatism/comments/atom.xml/Appreciative Reader commented on 'A believer in Putin's propaganda reminds me of religious dogmatism'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451c0aa69e20282e155c200200b2022-05-16T13:47:12Z2022-05-16T17:32:26ZAppreciative ReaderWhat the eff. I was seriously wondering if I'm seeing things. Heh, easy resolution to my seeing-double problem. You've posted...<p>What the eff. I was seriously wondering if I'm seeing things.</p>
<p>Heh, easy resolution to my seeing-double problem. You've posted double, once in this thread by mistake, and then again, correctly, in the Open Thread. So I reply there, then open this one, believing ....anyway, not important --- and in any case, probably obvious.</p>Appreciative Reader commented on 'A believer in Putin's propaganda reminds me of religious dogmatism'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451c0aa69e20278807d3dea200d2022-05-16T13:44:15Z2022-05-16T17:32:26ZAppreciative ReaderOh, this is the Putin thread. My bad. You seem to have posted in the wrong thread, Spence. (Although there's...<p>Oh, this is the Putin thread. My bad.</p>
<p>You seem to have posted in the wrong thread, Spence. (Although there's a mention of Putin, but this about the ongoing discussion in the Open Thread.) And I simply went ahead and responded right away, without checking the thread.</p>
<p>Perhaps we could take any further discussion on this back there, to the Open Thread?</p>Spence Tepper commented on 'A believer in Putin's propaganda reminds me of religious dogmatism'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451c0aa69e20278807d3c95200d2022-05-16T13:11:57Z2022-05-16T17:32:26ZSpence TepperHi AR: You asked if I might have responded tot he wrong post. Yes, possibly, of course. Mistakes are a...<p>Hi AR:<br />
You asked if I might have responded tot he wrong post. Yes, possibly, of course. Mistakes are a daily event for me.</p>
<p>What I was trying to get out was your comment about Um and my perspectives and views. They aren't actually in conflict and so there won't be a "meeting in the middle"...They are a display of two ways of describing similar things, from two different sets of conditioning.</p>
<p>I can't speak for Um, but I think he does a good job expressing his views and sentiments. They are going to appeal to some. </p>
<p>No one likes to be called a 'liar' in public especially when it isn't true. But people do react to things and that's OK. The world is full of re-action, and we are about trying to get ahead of that to "action"..pro-active living, to the extent we can, and that's the avenue we promote.</p>
<p>That's internal work.</p>
<p>And the building of internal wealth. My Master said several times that our meditation is our responsibility to burn our own karma, to eliminate our own reactivity and impressions from the past. In this way we lighten our burden and see things more clearly, objectively.</p>
<p>So, from a psychological perspective this is very healthy. We are letting our thoughts proceed and fade away as we simply witness them from a perspective of peace, which devotion gives us.</p>
<p>So we become more aware of what is in us, that we didn't know, that was subconscious, and at the same time, by accepting it calmly, it fades away. Something more is unlocked. Layers begin to fade away. How? Simply looking at them with dispassion. That is what you might call an inner miracle, and of course, since those things don't have the same power, they have been exposed to the conscious mind, they have less and less power to influence us without our permission.</p>
<p>If you think Putin is a tyrant (no argument there) there is another tyrant operating in secret in each one's subconscious. Let's expose him! But the cost is to accept him for what he is, knowing that mere exposure works the rest in his gradual erasure.</p>
<p>This simple meditation practice, of which there are many versions across many different beliefs, can lead to so much more. </p>
<p>It's not simply that we have these hidden subconscious impressions to burn away. But that under them are real treasures...the inner experiences, and that direct connection to reality. Witnessing, it's like taking an outdoor shower naked on a warm summer day in a warm rain surrounded by beauty.</p>Appreciative Reader commented on 'A believer in Putin's propaganda reminds me of religious dogmatism'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451c0aa69e202942faacf60200c2022-05-15T19:38:26Z2022-05-16T03:40:29ZAppreciative Reader"...both sides needing to give something..." What utter rubbish. When a hoodlum with a gun robs you, you don't talk...<p>"...both sides needing to give something..."</p>
<p><br />
What utter rubbish. When a hoodlum with a gun robs you, you don't talk of give and take. You may well "give", if you value your life; or you may end up "giving', in spite of yourself, if either clobbered into insensibility or actually shot dead; and in either case the hoodlum will "take" from you. And that's the only kind of "give and take" that applies, any more, when talking of this monstrous business over at Ukraine.</p>
<p>Came across this welcome news item --- that I'm not linking to, there's heaps of reports floating around online --- that Putin apparently has blood cancer, probably terminal. That might explain his insane move in Ukraine ---- that, even from a strictly Russo-centric POV, is turning out to be an utter disaster, in terms of the economy of that wretched country, and militarily, as well as strategically, in terms of its long-term security (with Finland and Sweden finally doing what they'd probably not have considered doing otherwise): a megalomaniac that knows he hasn't got long staking all on a desperate roll of the dice. And that suggests how this thing might end after all, and soon now hopefully: with the lunatic either dropping down dead on his own, or else someone over there does him in. Good riddance, either way.</p>Ron E. commented on 'A believer in Putin's propaganda reminds me of religious dogmatism'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451c0aa69e202942faac348200c2022-05-15T13:57:47Z2022-05-15T17:35:09ZRon E.Sad to say Brian, but according to studies of conspiracy theories (or rather, conspiracy hypothesis), it is very difficult to...<p>Sad to say Brian, but according to studies of conspiracy theories (or rather, conspiracy hypothesis), it is very difficult to change peoples' minds on this. According to the Addiction Centre (in America?), believing conspiracy theories can even develop into an addiction. Part of the problem stems from very human fears and emotions such as the desire for understanding and certainty and the desire for control and security. </p>
<p>Mostly, living in an uncertain world the need for certainty and security is firstly biological:- i.e. food shelter and clothing. But of course, with our ability toward abstract thinking it is natural that such thinking can develop into a 'mental virus' as you termed it.</p>
<p>Conspiracy theories often take flight during unsettling times. For example, in a pandemic, during a close election in a politically divided country, or after a terrorist attack – it all sounds too familiar!</p>
<p>Then of course there is the mass of information (and disinformation) on social media where such mental viruses can run riot. Through fear and insecurity it is easy to 'latch on' to a conspiracy theory for a self bolstering aid in and uncertain world. There is a need for help and education, but how do you educate people who have very personal investments that their beliefs are probably just that – beliefs. </p>Spence Tepper commented on 'A believer in Putin's propaganda reminds me of religious dogmatism'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451c0aa69e20278807d07f6200d2022-05-15T09:43:26Z2022-05-15T17:35:09ZSpence TepperAll that matters is what will end the war sooner than later, with both nations' autonomy in tact, but both...<p>All that matters is what will end the war sooner than later, with both nations' autonomy in tact, but both sides needing to give something, like any negotiation. Is that a premise Jack is willing to agree upon? </p>
<p>What is that solution?</p>
<p>When dealing with a nuclear power, the solution cannot be escalation.</p>
<p>The solution is diplomacy. Whatever makes diplomacy possible is going to be the fastest path. And hopefully we will all figure that out before nuclear bonds drop and not after. </p>
<p>So, as to Jack, if you both cannot agree to something so fundamental, the rest is the dialogue is a waste of time.</p>
<p>Everyone, even in the scientific community, chooses what information to accept as factual and which information to doubt as unconfirmed.</p>
<p>Scientists do have a larger pool of accepted fact, just like those within a single religion.</p>
<p>But even there, it is difficult to have 100% agreement on all information. Our different conditioning assures that.</p>
<p>What are the points of mutual agreement? That may be the only basis of actual dialogue with Jack. And the best place to start again.<br />
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