h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I would like to help write an entry on 'why we have beliefs'. I think this is important because it's all very well talking about the power of beliefs and the difference between them but it is also important to think about why we have them in the first place.

Wotchit

That would be great. I have been trying to write one about that, and ended up writing about evolution instead. Yours would be a good counter-balance to that, I think, and lets me off the hook!

And if you are a Community Artist, would we get some pictures for our project too?

I will sign you up for an entry on why do we have beliefs. (I am getting ludicrously excited about this!)

All the best

Ben

I think I may be able to help you here. I know a man whose parents are Muslims and he is a muslim too. I know a lot more people whose parents are christians - lo and behold, they are christians too!
So from this info we can draw the inevitable conclusion that `our` beliefs are not really ours at all- but our parents, a bit like our
genes. Now before AGC Ben starts in with `my beliefs are my own` and not my parents, there are always exceptions.
I have also met people who changed their religion, but, it was because they met and fell in love with someone of another religion and to marry them they had to change. I think thats called expediancy.

That would be great bornonthe20th.

Shall I sign you up for an entry on 'family, culture and belief'?

(And hey - I don't always fight you, only when I disagree with you! )

Seriously - you have a really good topic there, and one which would contribute to the Project and help round it out and move it on from the philosophical/psychological slant it is taking at the moment.

B

In the Wiccan community I see a lot of people who were raised as Christians but converted to Paganism... it seems quite a lot of Pagans used to be Christians actually. Of course, there's movement the other way as well.

Why this happens is one of the things I'll be exploring in my Entry, but I just thought I should point out that just because people are raised by a religious family, they're not necessarily going to follow the religion. Modern teenagers are, after all, a highly contrary bunch.

The whole issue of conversion is a really interesting one.

I think I'll ask for an entry on that to compliment your more specific one MaW.

B

When I said 'Why' I didn't mean because of our parents but why anyone thought them up at all. Though I suppose the parents bit could be included.

P.S. I'm afraid you won't get a picture just because I'm a Community Arist. I'm not clear about the rules but being a University researched project it might get a picture anyway. Probably from the BBC artists.

P.P.S. When I've written my first idea for the article should I post it here, create my own guide entry of it with you as editor or what?

Include whatever you want to include in the entry, Wotchit, it is *your* entry.

If bornonthe20th wants to write one of his own, that would be great, and if he has suggestions or comments to add to yours, then we/you can handle them the same way as you would handle comments in Peer Review. (ie inlcude them or ignore them as you see fit).

Since it is useful to have comments on entries before they are Edited, and since we can't put these entries into PR, I am putting mine into the Writing Workshop. Whether or not you do that is up to you.

Create a page and write the entry in the normal way, say that it is part of the project and put a link to the Project Page in it. The sub will add links to the other entries in the project when they sub the page. The only Uni project I was involved with was the Creationism one, and this is the entry I wrote. It is only interesting because it shows how the fact that it is part of a project is handled: A732368.

Let me know what Anumber of the page is, and I will put a link to it in the Project page. Et voila - it is part of the project.

Project entries are unusual, in that the sub does not create a separate entry leaving the original alone. They actually 'take over' the original page. But this is ok. I am asking GTB to sub for us, and he is one of the nicest guys I know.

Hope this helps.

B

Thanks B.

*Gets straight off to work*

Hi Wotchit.
I've just posted a suggestion about the scope of your contribution on the main project thread. Dunno if it will run with you, or if you had a different approach in mind, but have a dekko and yay or nay it as you feel.

Noggin

Hi Wotchit

At the moment I am taking the view the more the merrier, as outlined here: F42014?thread=217809&skip=0&show=20#p2508514

B

My two penny-worth:

When humans knew much less about the workings of the universe than we (think we ) do today, they were frustrated with the way the world treated them, and their lack of understanding of how and why this happened.

As our understanding gradually increased, we built our knowledge around supernatural beings who directed and controlled natural processes. Whether or not such beings exist is immaterial; in this context, they form only a framework on which to hang and integrate what knowledge we have.

It is worth differentiating between understanding natural processes to the point where we can predict their future courses, and exerting actual control over these processes. The former is quite possible and practical; the latter is more problematic....

In short, then, *one* reason we believe in supernatural entities is that they help us to understand the world around us. There are other reasons, and other debates, concerning God(s), but they don't belong here, IMO.

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

That was one of the thories I am putting forward in my article. I wrote some of it last night might finish Wednesday, post it Thursday.
I've got a good link to te text to a speech DNA made about how beliefs developed.
Thanks Pattern-chaser,
Wotchit

With absolutely no offence intended , can I point out (if it isn't already obvious! ) that my wording does not tread on the toes of theists or atheists. It's compatible with the wider beliefs of both parties.

FX: gets down off soap-box.

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

That is great! The project is intended to avoid all toes!

B

I've written the article. Some of it may be more suitable to another entry to the project. You can find it at A865488.

Hope you like it,

Wotchit

* looks very apologetic for not producing anything yet *

I've got some material, I just need to find the time to start writing.

I must admit I enjoyed reading this, Wotchit. It fits nicely between "The Biological Basis of Belief" and "Religion, Philosophy and Science", and IMO the contrast in styles gives the project a nice rhythm, too, though it's for Ben to decide how the bits go together.

Are you going to submit it to the writing workshop for general comment?


Noggin

Isn't it great? One of the things that I am finding exciting about this project is that we *will* have a variety of viewpoints and styles. I would like to have more from 'believers', too.

I have put Wotchit's entry 'Why do we believe' into WW, and the thread is here: F57153?thread=220984&latest=1

Noggin, I like yours too. And as you say the styles form a good contrast. The thread for Noggin's entry in WW is here: F57153?thread=220923&latest=1

I am off to update the page now.

MaW - there is as much hurry or as little hurry as you feel like, I think. I am around these next 10 days or so, but after that I will be online fairly sporadically. I will take a raincheck around the 10th or so, and then I guess we hit into the distractions of soltice/yule/hannukhah/christmas/diwali/saturnalia/thanksgiving/santa lucia/winter holiday of choice.

All the best

B