James,
I haven't read it but it sounds fascinating. More evidence as to how much the set of beliefs (memes) that get thrown into us as we grow up can affect our lives until we get to Level 3.
Thanks.
Richard Brodie richard@brodietech.com
Author, "Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme"
Free newsletter! http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-virus@lucifer.com [mailto:owner-virus@lucifer.com]On Behalf
Of James Veverka
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 1999 7:51 AM
To: virus@lucifer.com
Subject: RE: virus: FAQ: question (c) - Believing
Richard,
I certainly have never converted anyone using anything. But..... I have
noticed that alot of kids on alt.atheist, when they delurk, say the
arguments they have witnessed have made the difference in their
"fence-sitting". All have come down on the side of agnostic deism or
outright atheism.
In this marketplace of ideas how do memes get replaced through reason? It is evident that conversions to atheism among the young are occurring.
In my way of looking at the human body there is a sensational component to memes, however slight, that is part and parcel to any meme. In order to change a world view memeplex, it would seem that we cant ignore the physical and emotional reinforcements (tie-rods) to the memeplex.
Another book that I thought was revolutionary for its time (late 70s) was GOING SANE, Hart & Corrier. ( trying to remember it right.....) A group of psychiatrists from all disciplines spent 2 years shrinking each other and trying to find a viable psychologic theory and treatment. What they came up with was The Disorder Theory. This theory explained how parents disorder children verbally through the implantation of inconsistent views and belief systems.
In their treatment program, they approached disorder by taking into account that for ideations (memeplexes?) there are affective and sensational components that have evolved along with the ideation. What do you think of these components within the memetics scheme?
If any of you have done any personal dream work I can tell you that after reading their booksand following some directions, I was able to have "clear light" dreams. I would know I was dreaming and then enter into a creative state, calling things into existence and then anihilating them with a thought. Doing magic. I remember one night I remembered the previous dreams within each dream. Then during the 4th dream I was at the top of a 40' ladder ( was painter for summer) a person below was theatening me. I was fearful until I remembered the previous dreams, THEN I snickered and flew away!!
Anyway, the disordering theory was new to me because I had read alot of Wilhelm Reich and Arthur Janov (Primal Theory) at that time and it cured me of Freud and his disciples. After all the new age consciousness stuff of the 60s I adventured into some of the Freudian offshoots. I can't help but see some close resemblances in the Disorder theory and the implantation of memes.
Anyone...please comment on this possible association. Especially if you have read Going Sane..........jim