Tortured Belief

The mind boggles about the protocols..

The terrorism bit looks like an attempt to shake the research money tree, but the research itself looks interesting. I was brought up attending a Christian Science church (the aversion therapy worked; I am now an atheist), the particular oddity of which is a belief in the use of prayer instead of medical science. Each Wednesday there was a ‘testimony meeting’ at the church, in which people would tell their prayer success stories. Of course I do not now believe that God had anything to do with whatever relief from illness occurred, but I would be fascinated to know whether there is some physiological benefit in belief.

Boom boom. A real gut-shaker.

Nabby is right, that there is enough historical evidence around not to need a special experiment.

Maybe the problem is that most historians, with honorable exceptions like our own Currency Lad, are leftists. So they are likely to condemn the process, which might not please the moneybags at the Pentagon and the military-industrial complex.

Social research, without having to set up special torture chambers, would seem feasible. Interviews with Habib and many of the Gitmo victims would be interesting to say the least. If paid for at a reasonable commercial rate, they might provide some compensation, which neither the Howard nor the Bush Governments are likely to offer.

The best living example of survival is Nelson Mandela. I am not sure of his theological beliefs (some blogger might provide), but he had a huge commitment to humanity to help him survive.

“God forbid that we might actually commission some sociological, anthropological or political science research into the causes of terrorism and its link with religion.”

Paul – I thought the 9/11 bombers blew that theory apart (sorry about the pun). Educated, middle class families etc.

All – I should point out that our own Paul Davies (he of ‘The Mind of God’) shot to fame as a winner of the Templeton Prize while he was teaching at Adelaide Uni. I like Davies – able to write about complicated science in accessible ways. But I do wonder about him in recent years…like Templeton he has gone a bit kooky.

Not just about generations. I suspect the footsoldiers of many a guerilla movement sign on because they live in societies so static and oppressive they can never get ahead economically. Stuck in some garbage dump endlessly sorting rubbish, or sweating in the canefields with a machete. Once you are too poor to ever afford a family – particularly in societies where families are central – your life is worse than worthless.

Then you might as well take to the hills.

Thanks for the tip, saint, I’ll have a google.

Paul – apologies it seems it was me who didn’t understand your point.

Thanks for clarifying.

I recall a slightly related experiemnt that was conducted quite some time ago. It involved test subjects to stand in a room and pull a level which illiceted large amounts of electricty to a man in an adjacent room.
However, in actual fact the whole set up was a farce and everyone save the subject was in on the plan.
The premise of the experiment was to examine peoples obedience of authority figures. As the voltage increased the man in the adjacent room would cry out in pain (all be it pretencious) and the subject despite being witness to the pleas for mercy would obey said authority figure even to the point where they were aware the voltage would eventuate in death.

I say this because said experiment by law would not be condoned today as it breaches Psych. eithics. The phrase that comes to mind:
“Only in America”.
Lets hope it stays that way.