Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!mangoe From: mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: On the Power of Arcane Symbols Message-ID: <2038@umcp-cs.UUCP> Date: Thu, 31-Oct-85 18:00:27 EST Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.2038 Posted: Thu Oct 31 18:00:27 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 10:53:13 EST References: <2002@umcp-cs.UUCP> <17027@watmath.UUCP> Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD Lines: 29 In article <17027@watmath.UUCP> credmond@watmath.UUCP (Chris Redmond) writes: >>At one time, a number of researchers substituted randomly selected >>horoscopes for the normal ones in a newspaper for a period of some weeks. >>Not suprisingly, the change went unnoticed; what was suprising was the >>number of 'hits' the random texts produced. I myself believe that most >>oracles work in the same way. So I treat these things with great respect; >Sure they do. But they "work" not because they have any "power", but >because (1) horoscopes and oracles are written ambiguously, to maximize >the number of "hits" and gain a reputation for credibility; (2) people >are predisposed to believe in them, and so they interpret whatever >happens in a way that gives them validity; and (3) such people are >sometimes influenced by the prediction to behave in a way that makes >it come true -- e.g. if it is predicted that I will have an automobile >accident, and I believe the prediction, my driving will likely become >nervous and jerky, and you can guess what will happen. So does this not give them a certain power over those who believe in them? >One may argue that these are undesirable effects, but I do not think >a Christian can rationally believe that the fault lies in some >devil-driven oracle or spell. It lies in human stupidity, gullibility, >desperation or misplaced faith. Certainly. But therefore the power is still there; it is simply psychologically derived. Charley Wingate