Frank Furedi's excellent article on contemporary heresy, and the importance of being free to deny, or contest mainstream wisdom. He raises a very interesting point--whereas "denial" was once associated with critical thought, it is now associated with "refusal to acknowledge the truth"-- which is a very important distinction. Galileo denied that the Earth was the center of the universe and look what happened... If there is anything science has proven, it is that we never know as much as we think we do-- mainstream wisdom is a useful guide, but there will always be those visionaries who are able to see further, and deeper into certain issues than anybody else. These will invariably be those who think outside the box. Sure, sometimes denial is the result of quackery, but its important we keep our minds open and really listen for insights that go beyond mainstream, "common knowledge".
To read Furedi's article, click here.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
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8 comments:
A very interesting article Jenn. I certainly think that there are certain views that are considered unacceptable in the modern Western world. For example most educated and intelligent people seem to look down on those people who say there may be afterlife or a God, seeing them as naive and gullible. And as for practising Christians...:(
But there are other issues, for example it's unacceptable to criticise abortion, or to say that you want to be a housewife. It's as if once a society buys into a belief they cannot accept anyone questioning it. Those who do question have to be branded in one way or another.
absolutely, Elizabeth-- I think this is why so many people feel they are living two lives-- the public vs. the private. . .
This tendency is particularly bad in corporate settings, where individuality is quahshed, and anything that threatens the status quo, or questions prevailing authority is suspect.
Many of my viewpoints are counter to what is socially acceptable--for instance, the doctrine of many diseases infuriates me, as do many other difficult to question aspects of our culture. . .
It can be frustrating, but then, with Pluto Rising, I have often been one to hold unpopular views....
It would be interesting to make up a list of what constitutes modern hersey.....actually, that could almost be a full book--
Hope your week is off to a good start....
Jenn
PS, Elizabeth--
Thank you so much for always checking out the blog and commenting....xoxoxox
~~J
You're welcome:)
I don't think our society is any less rigid about what you're supposed to believe and how you are supposed to behave than it ever has been. The only difference (and it is a big one) is you don't get persecuted (well not officially anyway) for holding an opposing view. Still I suppose it is a step in the right direction!
Yes, it is definitely a step in the right direction-- no more being burned at the stake. But don't we still get persecuted? What if I went into work tomorrow and said "I think monkeys are actually alien spies."
Or even worse: I believe women should wear low-cut blouses and short skirts, and get down on their knees in order to get ahead--it's the only way."
Lucky for me, I don't believe either statement!!! But what if I did, to the depths of my soul believe that women's power lies in femininity and sexuality and that they should be not only exercising it, but being rewarded professionally for it (I know many are, but what if I argued that this was right?)
I think I would be persecuted-- I think I would be cast into a different circle of society-- I would probably end up in an unskilled job with no savings, little health care and no retirement. . .
So isn't a subtle, and perhaps even more insidious form of persecution?
The AIDS dissenters for example--they raise valid scientific points-- and yet they have been largely forced out of work because they do not believe the mainstream answers are correct, or at least not the whole story.
String theory dissenters have been forced out of physics departments!
Poets who write informal confessional poetry are mocked and left to publish on websites and in chat rooms. . .
Does the institution miss out on vibrant debate and discussion and idea exchange as a result, or does the strength it gains by discouraging dissent pay off, somehow, in the long march of progress?
This is where PR can be a powerful tool...helping dissent crack into the mainstream. . . but the occasions when it works are even rarer than the cases where the minority can afford PR people!!
So, no, we are not flayed or burned anymore, but we can be professionally stunted for certain beliefs, can't we?
But what is the alternative: what if we allowed, let's say, those who speak to alien monkeys at night to do our taxes???
Aaaah, the big questions. . . ;)
Hi Jenn. I wondered if you had ever visited this lady's website: http://thewalledgarden.blogspot.com/
She has very strong opinions many of which go against the mainstream. I don't agree with everything she says by any means, but I find her site v interesting. She is a RC living on Orkney Island. The response to her postings have been so abusive she has had to turn her comments off. Another form of persecution??
Hi Elizbeth,
Wow--what a site that is. I can understand how her positions would incite explosive responses-- I guess that's the danger of putting your beliefs out there. . . and the interesting thing is that she is being bombarded by negative response, so has to turn off comments--which is like censoring the response she has illicited. . . its a tangled web for certain.
This, again, seems to be a matter of religious belief. . .the way a certain set of beliefs can infiltrate our lives for good or ill. . .and woe betide if we feel differently.
Things always seem to get violent in these cases, be it physically, or only intellectually and emotionally (only, ha!!!).
I tend to have a strong visceral response to this type of belief system, i.e., I am diametrically opposed to most of what she says, both in spirit and in principle.
I can almost understand where she's coming from--it's where she's going that I can't/won't go.
But that is neither here nor there.
There's an interesting book out now by a Canadian author, Barbara Gowdy, that takes a very unusual look at child sexual abuse. . .well, child lust . . .she does not once use the word "pedophile" in her novel. . .and people are definitely up in arms and talking.
The name of the novel is "Hepless"-- I should link to it, or post about it soon, if I manage to read it---again, very uncomfortable territory.
These types of issues is when the ability to practice tolerance is needed. . . where's the discussion on that these days?
Thank you for sharing this very timely example.
xxooxo
Jennifer
I am glad you enjoyed the site! I admire the girl for standing by her 'heretical' opinions and also for forcing people to rethink. The problem with the comments was that people were getting very personal: 'you're a sad person', 'you're life is a joke' that sort of thing. If some of the respondees had been a bit more restrained she probably would have left comments on. It's annoying when people descend to this level because no one is going to listen when they are attacked on such a personal level. I think a bit of healthy debate is a good thing, and she raises some important issues.
However, although I think we all have the right to live the way we want without being judged and despised by others do we have the right to inforce it on other people? People who are very against abortion, for example, want to make it illegal which means no one can have an abortion. Although I understand the 'pro-life' arguments I do not feel it is my place to stop all women having access to a safe abortion.
That book sounds interesting. Paedophilia is the last taboo! Please post more about it if you get a chance.
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