Re: Science and Unemployment...

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Matthew Scott (scott@informatik.hu-berlin.de) wrote:

: lucey@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_GATEWAY_FILE (peter lucey) writes:
: >And it just so happens there is a convenient solution for all these
: >worries. Switch off the rational thought and follow the messiah.

: it is not possible to switch rational thought off and follow the
: messiah at the same time. It might be possible to switch of rationalizing
: and follow the messiah at the same time. Are you sure you know what it
: means to follow the messiah? I'll attempt to fill you in on a little.

My examples were of "religious" (well, crazy-religious) figures who needed
to scare their flock. Once the fear-factor is established, the messiah
(a messiah, no capital "M" -:)) then becomes the one to deliver his
followers from that fear. I was thinking of Shiva Naipaul's masterly
"Black and White", tracing the career of JIm Jones.

Most totalitarian states also require such a fear-factor; a shadowy enemy
from which the leader is the saviour.

Stand back and examine the fear with a clear head; then look at the
solution the messiah provides.

--


Peter Lucey                          Opinions are personal and do not

lucey@uksr.hp.com                    reflect or affect Hewlett-Packard.

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