It's time once again for your long suffering author to debunk popular myths that float around the blogosphere every now and then.
One of the biggest myths is the reports of flying saucers, or UFO's flying around our skies!
This is in the same league as all the other conspiracies and myths......, 9/11, who killed Kennedy, E.S.P., who shot J.R., astrology, re-incarnation, who killed Jimmy Hoffa, end of the world predictions and gender or race superiority!
It's a bunch of hogwash!
Listen kids, the world is what it is!
Â
No gimmicks, no sleight of hand, no hidden agenda.
Oh, it's hard and cruel alright, but there is no sinister motive behind what happens to us.
It's like God said in that movie with John Denver.......... "Life is a crap shoot son and you take your chances like everyone else!"
Some are born to Royalty and others are born and die in a mud hovel, but there is no grand plan to it all.
No vast conspiracy or movement.
Just dumb luck!
Getting back to the story at hand, if you want to prove that UFO"S are a real then just show me a couple of photographs like this and I will believe it!
But not until then!
Allan W Janssen is the author of the book The Plain Truth About God (What the mainstream religions don't want you to know!) and is available as an E-Book H E R E! and H E R E! And as a paperback H E R E ! and H E R E !
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Comments: 62
Or you could take the Doug Adams approach, that it is really the mice and dolphins who are the intelligent species
I think dolphins are pretty smart
Actually, the study of chicken innards, knuckle bones and wrinkles in your hands is even older. And they're equally effective. Just sayin'.
Now you can run and tell that.
As far as Chuck’s response, he apparently is an expert on all things internal that becomes external. I sort of got that whole western civilization good everything else stupid and superstitious vibe from his reply. One of my huge problems with missionaries is that they go into areas and try to alter the spirituality of indigenous people as if they alone know the true meaning of the universe, often they cause more conflict and add to the world’s woes. Not that was what Chuck was advocating as much as he was indicating that anyone who does something such as examine the innards of slaughtered animals, as a few non mainstream faiths do, are just fooling themselves. Praise be the word of Chuck.
Of course I was dogging on religion because I don’t like organized religion…it doesn’t float my boat sort of speak. One could probably, and correctly, infer that I have had negative experiences with organized religions, particularly of the western based faiths. I think that many people adhere to their faiths for things beyond the spiritual, for instance friendship and community. My problem is that currently in the United States many of these faiths have taken on political roles, which opens them to taxation, but few politicians would broach that issue. In my humble opinion some people adhere to stringent religions not to fulfill their hearts and souls, but to not think and to conduct their lives according to how someone tells them to, even if it is to the detriment of the pursuit of happiness of other citizens.
Overall, my main issue with this article isn’t if flying saucers are real or not. If JFK was killed my one person whose bullet managed to do a few gymnastic tricks as in shoot the then governor of Texas first and then flipped around and got the president. If the government was in on 9/11 (frankly, I think the proof of that one is if they was a government tie in they wouldn’t have left Bush holding a book on goats). If E.S.P. or reincarnation exists despite my personal feelings them. It is the fact that Allan grouped these things together demonstrating that HE DOESN’T believe in them so if you believe in say E.S.P. you are just one big silly who doesn’t have a grasp on reality. He states in the beginning that he is long suffering and wants to debunk a number of conspiracies including who shot J.R. (it was Sue Ellen’s sister who was the real life daughter of Bing Crosby – duh) and Jimmy Hoffa (I thought everyone agreed that he is probably dead). I think when he presents an article that is, I’m assuming, supposed to be amusing fluff, that when he uses the words “conspiracies” and “myths” that the topics he uses to illustrate his points are actually conspiracies (the who shot J.R. isn’t a conspiracy nor a myth) are actually conspiracies and myths.
That’s all I wanted to say.
Oh, and that I think it is possible that extra terrestrial intelligence exists but I have never encountered an ET nor seen a UFO.
In summary, if you are find yourself the smartest person in the room, it’s time to find a new room.
Couple of points -
-"I think you are confusing spirituality with religion" NEVER, I wrote a whole book on how religion screwed up spirituality!
-For someone as smart, (although long winded) as you, I am dissapointed that you believe in pseudo sciences like astrology but at least it's not "Creationism"! (And by the way, JR and Hoffa were jokes!)
-I've been in a lot of very smart rooms and they are exactly the same, except the grammar is a little more eloquent and the ideas and beliefs a lot more intransigent!
To further explain the concept of religion = control as I relate to it, control isn’t necessarily a bad thing in the sense that if people who would otherwise murder and pillage say the citizenry of Cincinnati are persuaded not to do so because Jesus wouldn’t recommend it, then religion is a good thing. I don’t know what you wrote about the topic, hopefully you and I agree with the idea that most religions are established institutions and one of the goals of institutions is to preserve institutions. For any business, charity, or social group (be it large or small) if it is too function beyond the lifespan Fred the Philosophical Grocer then there must be some organization for fulfilling the edicts of Fred: meeting places to discuss and debate what Fred meant, pot luck dinners to celebrate everything Fred, later choirs accompanied by organ music to spread the word of Fred through song. Even though Fred preached charity that doesn’t mean that people in the inner sanctum of Fredsville are going to work for free because they have families to feed and 401ks to invest in. For them to keep Fred alive in the hearts of others they become invested in making sure that those who claim themselves Freddyittes devote themselves into giving money to keep what has grown into the institution of Fred. If Ginger, Fred’s niece, starts trouble by saying that Fred was a big old hypocrite than either her words change the institution or more likely the institution discredits her, not necessarily because of debate over the hypocrisy of Fred as much now the institution has grown beyond the simple philosophies of Fred to be an entity in and of itself.
Another example would be British Petroleum that kicked its CEO to the curb after his comments to the media post oil spill. Was he voicing the company stance? Did the company’s stance cause it a PR nightmare? One minor sacrifice for the nightmare was giving the boot to the CEO in order for BP to slightly redeem itself in the public relations arena. Individuals have morality, the main goal of an institution is to continue. Therefore adherents to religion screw up their own spirituality not the other way around.
I suppose I am long winded, albeit my intelligent rambling, but it has been diverting to debate something I imagine you wrote in haste because…you were tired of UFO week on the History Channel? I’m sorry my open mindedness and defense of “pseudo sciences†bothers you. (BTW, I don’t think astrology could be classified a science pseudo or otherwise, because like much faith related beliefs it can’t be proved or disproved by the scientific method.) Thank God I don’t believe in creationism because judging by your distaste of it I would deserve to be stoned on the town square! Allow me to point out that I do have issues with those that believe in creationism for reasons that have more to do with them trying to influence public policy over their beliefs. I don’t want creationism to be taught in public school science classes because, as noted above, it doesn’t follow the scientific method. I would feel the same about the same if someone had an agenda for astrology being taught.
Yes, I got that the J.R. and Hoffa references were supposed to be humorous, but I stand by my initial observation that neither of these are really myths nor even conspiracies. I believe that ‘The Good Book of All Things Funny Volume IX’ states on page 468, paragraph two, “When you make a grouping of references to prove the ridiculousness of something either they should match as in myths – Zeus, Atlantis, UFOs or conspiracies - JFK, 9/11, Area 51. Don’t throw in a red herring like ‘Who Shot J.R.’ because readers of comedic comments may take you to task and quote from ‘The Good Book of All Things Funny Volumes I – XIII’ available here, here, and here!â€
When I wrote about smart rooms, it was an analogy meaning that if you find yourself in company where you cannot learn anything new, then find more challenging company because, in my opinion (and actually spiritual beliefs if you must know) is that we are here on Earth to learn and hopefully everyone we encounter can teach us something new and amazing – with the exception of Creationists and Fred the Philosophical Grocer. I just wanted to clarify that I didn’t mean an actual room as in a chat room where all the grammar is elegant and all commentators fancy themselves intransigent.
Jerry, thanks.
P.S. Check out the last two ‘here’ links in this comment, I think they are especially entertaining.
What I don't get is the part that a snooty attitude to astrology (which, in the interest of full disclosure, I pretty much share) is wrong, while disdain for "organized religion" is perfectly justified. I don't know if it's left, right, or in between when it comes to these critiques of others' beliefs--I just know that it should be a single standard. The defense you delivered for astrology (in your comment to Chuck) could be, mutatis mutandis, delivered by a "religionist", and to my mind would the same value. We're all made from the same stuff, not different kinds. Similarly, it's not that "we" need our beliefs for comfort and to help up make decisions and give us meaning, while "they" need theirs so that their otherwise murderous and pillaging natures are controlled. Are we talking about the same species of animal here? :)
At no part have I indicated, and I believe I probably speak for the majority of those who have some interest, great or small, in astrology when I propose that the belief or the interest in astrology is not organized in a way that would denote it as some sort of religion. To be honest I was more put out about his comment about reincarnation than astrology. A very conservative estimate is that a billion people on this planet believe in reincarnation. My first feeling upon reading his article was ‘What the f*uck does Allan know?’ Now that I have read a few of his articles along with this thread I believe I have an answer. (You may even say it is stronger than any credence I may have ever placed in astrology).
First, kudos for using mutatis mutandis in a sentence (I had to look it up). Second, my responses to both Chuck and Allan were different because their comments to me were different. I don’t know how you got the whole “religionist†perspective from what I replied to Chuck. I simply pointed out to Chuck that he knows that the study of innards and the study of lines on hands (I replied “bones†when I should have written “handsâ€) is invalid how and why. I further indicated that I believed that there is much more out there (define there as the big THERE) than perhaps Chuck, Allan, you and I could possibly dream. From my perspective, the responses that Allan, and to a lesser extend Chuck and you, have given are much more of a religionist bent than mine – maybe not so religionist but dismissive towards beliefs that are not yours. I simply explained why I didn’t like organized faiths; I didn’t debate if their beliefs are silly or invalid. What I have gathered from Allan, Chuck, and you is that you find astrology silly…and that is fine, my position throughout isn’t that you should find an interest in it but that you should just give it enough acceptance that others who are on equal intellectual footing as yourselves might not trivialize it so AND that it is an ancient belief system which Chuck, Allan and you and definitely me might not know everything about.
My pillaging of Cincinnati paradigm was to demonstrate the positive control aspects an organized religion can provide. In no way was I suggesting that every person in an organized faith needs to be controlled in such a manner, but in my lifetime I have met folks with poor moral compasses and lousier self control. If a religion provides them with the tools such as rules (an example is a commandment about not murdering) and a structure in which to exercise their impulses than I see that as a good thing. Further, much of the control a religion exhorts might also be tied to keeping a community intact – such as dietary rules and restrictions. Such control can be seen as good if you benefit from said community or be seen as bad if you do not.
I’m sorry if you thought that I was implying that people who might be part of an organized faith aren’t comforted by their chosen faith for that was not in my intention. I just didn’t want to write, although it is turning out to be, a book about the matter at hand. Allan already has accused me of being “long winded†but apparently if I don’t spell everything out I’m painted as an astrology worshiping religionist.
Sheesh. I thought everybody knew this stuff. Dont you guys pay attention to the internet?
COVERT OPERATIONS
Oh, and btw, I read the New Yorker article, (I have a subscription) and I dont see the relevance. David Koch is not alone. There are a number of very wealthy right wing fomenters of stupidity. And I would imagine a number of very wealthy other people (like Arab princes) who fund other sorts of craziness.
So?
I know you probably don't understand quaint idioms like "letting the cat out of the bag" or "pulling wool over your eyes," and that's how we communicate when you're around--in our special code. (Hey, Krushevan Serge Blavatsky, Jer' -- wink wink!)
agent
Ψ
report
to
mothership
immediately
for
investigation
of
unauthorized
statements
to
and
careless
fraternizing
with
terrestrials
Please have mercy, Aniko. I promise to put the cat back in the bag, and to push the wool under their noses, or whatever. Please dont send me back to Alpha. I kinda like it here. (except for the humidity).
Yup, thats the word I was looking for,
Jerry
Ridicule sometimes fits. Im afraid your Sumerian theory is one of those. Sorry.
No gimmicks, no sleight of hand, no hidden agenda."
Of course not, the very last power mad megalomaniacs where killed in Iraq, during the invasion when Saddam's boys were nailed, and then he himself was hanged. The children of the hyper-wealthy families that have been hyper-wealthy for decades if not centuries or millenniums, all turn out to be caring compassionate souls, whose only interest is to see that each and every one us have the very same level of power, and say in what occurs on a global scale, as they do. Cause they trust the wisdom of the common man, the regular Joes, the masses.
Everybody knows that the Genghis Cons, and Caesars, and Stalins, and Hitlers and Maos, are all dead and gone, and no one is wanting to rule the world themselves. . . that's just silly talk, by silly people that haven't learned the obvious lessons of history; Things and people are different now. Human nature has evolved, and it's a complete waste of time and energy to even wonder about such things . . . Right?
Are ya some sort of masochist?
I actually prefer longer, thought out answers!
"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn"
And THAT would be scary!!!
Seriously, I don't think we should go looking for it for that reason alone...