Michael Shermer: Why people believe strange things

http://www.ted.com Why do people see the Virgin Mary on cheese sandwiches or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven"? Using video, images and music, professional skeptic Michael Shermer explores these and other phenomena, including UFOs and alien sightings. He offers cognitive context: In the absence of sound science, incomplete information can combine with the power of suggestion (helping us hear those Satanic lyrics in Led Zeppelin). In fact, he says, humans tend to convince ourselves to believe: We overvalue the "hits" that support our beliefs, and discount the more numerous "misses."

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• Shermer
• ted
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• entertainment
• faith
• illusion
• religion
• science

[tammyterry]

When I make spaghetti sauce, I see an image of God swirling around in the sauce. If I add parmesan cheese, it looks like God is in heaven (sort of...).

[GluttonForSex]

@lurmot Not even close. A skeptic doubts his/her own assumptions (exactly because they already understand they don't know, see and understand everything) and as such they are willing & able to adjust them. Secondly, the assumptions a skeptic makes are based on solid evidence that can be reproduced.

By contrast, the religious do not base their convictions on any reproducable evidence nor are they willing to adjust them when they contradict facts. The two mentalities are nothing alike.

[gwup]

Great skeptical stuff.

[igorkrupitsky]

The distance to the edge of the observable universe is about 46.6 billion light years. Not 13.7 billion light years. The space in the universe expands.

[Exmech2]

@photopicker Look, I have stuff to do tonight, little aspie. But if you message me on Sunday, I'll be happy to make you an evenings' entertainment. See ya then!

lrn2astronaut

[photopicker]

@Exmech2 You can't begin to imagine the kind of information I am sitting on. Few can comprehend the possibilities let alone relate to the experiences. By the way the proper word is fucking not fecking. It's not honey do you feel like fecking tonight. Glad we got that squared away. :)

[Exmech2]

@photopicker I predicted you were going to say something really fecking stupid! Glad to see you don't disappoint.

[Exmech2]

@photopicker LoL! Whatever!

[photopicker]

@Exmech2 You can't assault truth with ignorance. It's been done. I mean you can but what a waste of time and from those who claim to be insightful, wise, and all knowing ... snicker ...

[photopicker]

@Exmech2 I am to assume that all four roles ... since they came from your consciousness are in fact elements and records of exactly where you are ... the dumber than bricks bit seems to fit best however.