The Professor of Polarization: Peterson's Role in Anti-Mormonism

[Rivendale]

Isn't that simply coercion? I mean you can't know he is truth and ultimate reality. You may believe it is but you have that uncertainty but succumb to pressure from fear.

Rivendale,
Getting hungry is a coercion, so is the threat of cold and rain if you do not have shelter. We respond to the coercive demands of reality all the time.

Of course we do because we are a part of a physical reality where we navigate our lives. Naturalistic influences on living organisms is part of our evolutionary development. The difference? Behaviors that are predicated on an unseen unfalsifiable entity is hardwired into us from the days of deciding if the moving trees was a lion or a tree. In modern times religion hijacked that and used that as a cudgel to punish disobedient adherents. If behaviors rely on eternal punishment for disobeying is that ethical?

[huckelberry]

Rivendale,
Getting hungry is a coercion, so is the threat of cold and rain if you do not have shelter. We respond to the coercive demands of reality all the time.

Of course we do because we are a part of a physical reality where we navigate our lives. Naturalistic influences on living organisms is part of our evolutionary development. The difference? Behaviors that are predicated on an unseen unfalsifiable entity is hardwired into us from the days of deciding if the moving trees was a lion or a tree. In modern times religion hijacked that and used that as a cudgel to punish disobedient adherents. If behaviors rely on eternal punishment for disobeying is that ethical?

I think it is wise to be skeptical of demands by religious leaders. If I could encourage people it would be to try and judge actions and decisions by whether they help or hinder the well being of people, oneself and others.

[huckelberry]

Rivendale,
Getting hungry is a coercion, so is the threat of cold and rain if you do not have shelter. We respond to the coercive demands of reality all the time.

Of course we do because we are a part of a physical reality where we navigate our lives. Naturalistic influences on living organisms is part of our evolutionary development. The difference? Behaviors that are predicated on an unseen unfalsifiable entity is hardwired into us from the days of deciding if the moving trees was a lion or a tree. In modern times religion hijacked that and used that as a cudgel to punish disobedient adherents. If behaviors rely on eternal punishment for disobeying is that ethical?

Hi Rivendale, perhaps just because subjects are a bit slow now I find myself reflecting on the rustling trees you make reference to. I am sure I have heard the idea that there is a connection between human need to recognize life in rustling trees and human propensity to visions and spiritual ideas a number of times. I find myself Inclined to think there is at best only limited connection.

Certainly recognizing life behind rustling trees is important and something evolutionaryly established for mammals millions of years ago. We animals do not want to get eaten. I have been watching a program called following big cats in Africa 24 hrs day. It is easy to feel sympathetic for mother lion with her cute cubs. Life can be a struggle for them, food is not easy and violent threats abound. Now people are observing the lions from the safety of steel motorized protection. I found myself wondering what it would be like to deal with lions thousands of years ago on foot armed with sticks and stones. I believe similarly to other primates a good lookout could make alarm so defensive gathering could make enough of a stand to convince lion to leave. Courage and excellent cooperation would be the key to avoid being lions diner. Those things would need a good lookout who knows when a rustling tree is a lion and not a breeze or lost gazelle.

Your human tribe would not want someone to be on lookout who keeps sounding the alarm when there is no lion. I imagine a clear pressure, both from social pressure and evolution towards basic scientific impericism to discover lions not spiritual visions here. Imagination is not the best way to detect real lions.