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Anatomy of a Belief
    #956706 -

Was channel surfing late last night and saw an Informercial for Extenze, a herbal formula for extending the length of the male sex organ. I found it interesting as the ad followed "traditional" methods for creating a belief system.

1. Address a deep-seated fear and then offer a solution. (Fear of death is "solved" by promising eternal life in religious circles.) In this particular case, it was fear of sexual inadequacy.

2. Site a study without giving any credentials. "A recent study shows that 60% of women are unhappy with the size of their lover's penis." Of course, if this study is true, then it simply points out how the women in this study have been brain-washed and are in denial of current reality.

3. Make unwarranted safety claims. "It is a natural herbal product, therefore there are no side-affects." Yes, ALL natural products are inherently safe - NOT! (The old shrooms vs Acid debate...)

4. Make an outrageous claim with no back-up. "98% of our customers experience a size increase up to 25%".

5. Then quote the law of large numbers. "We are selling 10,000,000 capsules per month. If our product was not effective this would not be possible." These numbers ONLY speak to the efficacy of the marketing campaign and NOT the product.

6. Offer a Money-back guarantee. Here they count on one of four possibilities.

A. The customer will lose the receipt.
B. The customer will be too lazy to try to get his money back.
C. The customer may actually believe the hype.
D. The manufacturer can refuse to pay the money back or simply go "out of business."

Many of these tactics are the same used in many belief systems and while they may seem ludicrous here, somehow appear rational in a different context.


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The proof is in the pudding.

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: Swami]
    #956753 -

yeah, haha, is that the infomercial with ron jeremy?


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if you can't find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?

this is the purpose

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: CleverName]
    #956949 -

Yup. that is the one. I was actually trying to start a serious discussion, guess most think I am just joking. The parallels are similar to other belief systems:

1. Born with a flaw that needs correction. (original sin / small member)

2. A fantasy solution is presented.

3. Tons of anecdotal "evidence" that the method / ritual is efficacious.

4. Backed up by heresay. (scripture / polls)

5. No solid evidence or proof.





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The proof is in the pudding.

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: Swami]
    #957098 -

yes, but the placebo effects :wink: 


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if you can't find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?

this is the purpose

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: Swami]
    #957470 -

Fear of death is "solved" by promising eternal life in religious circles.

In my case, I do think life is eternal, as a whole. This may well be from a fear of death... but I do not harm anyone else with this belief, so why does it matter? If a harmless delusion allows me to live my life to the fullest extent without worrying and fearing about things I cannot change, such as death, then so be it.

Nice post, by the way... Made me think.  :smile: 


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:heartpump: { { { ṧ◎ηḯ¢ αʟ¢ℌ℮мƴ } } } :heartpump:

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: Swami]
    #957986 -

Do you see the same pattern in self-made spiritual individuals that are not part of a particular religious dogma? In other words, do you see the same mechanism in personal psychology as you do with group sociology? How would you explain the belief of someone that found their spirituality in their own heads and believed they are eternally connected to all parts of the universe? Aare they deluding themselves based on a natural fear of death and an escape from worldly concerns?

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: Metasyn]
    #958100 -

Do you see the same pattern in self-made spiritual individuals that are not part of a particular religious dogma?
Yes.
In other words, do you see the same mechanism in personal psychology as you do with group sociology?
Yes.
How would you explain the belief of someone that found their spirituality in their own heads and believed they are eternally connected to all parts of the universe?
It depends on the person.
Are they deluding themselves based on a natural fear of death and an escape from worldly concerns?
This is a distinct possibility.


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Note: In desperate need of a cure...

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: Sclorch]
    #958619 -

We really do see eye to eye on more than a few things.

I am pleasantly surprised. :smile:

Cheers,

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: Swami]
    #959388 -

Ok first of all Ron Jeremy is the shit.  :smile:
Second, I grok what you are saying.

1) Fear of Death:  Eternal life in heaven
2) (don't have one here but I'm sure they exist)
3)If you accept jesus, you will go to heaven and have everlasting life
4)Heaven is eternal love and bliss
5)jesus's resurrection and miracle performances prove he was the son of god
6)jesus will forgive all your sins so you can go to heaven

I'm sure any other religion or belief could fit in that framework also.  Maybe the ad exec's have studied religions to gain insight into mind controlling? 


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"You people voted for Hubert Humphrey, and you killed Jesus." F and L in L.V.

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: postalboy]
    #959447 -

Swami,
So you are saying that the belief of life after death is simply a fictitious pacifier to trick ourselves into thinking that we won't ever really die?


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You can not recieve with hands already full.

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Re: Anatomy of a Belief [Re: Leviathon]
    #959478 -

Yeah that pretty much sums it up.  Well, that and the whole "keep the sheep in line" thing.  If we are bad and disobey, we go to hell.  But if we are good lil sheep who eat our vegetables and vote for war and worship an imaginary white arab then we go to heaven.  See, this forum has now officially answered a question to help this man out.  Thats swell.  :smirk:


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"You people voted for Hubert Humphrey, and you killed Jesus." F and L in L.V.

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