Dogma

Thanks for the find, M. And it still is pretty amazing to see people go to such great lengths to ostensibly try to make themselves feel better. (i.e., lesson the cognitive dissonance)

I can’t comment on the Collins book, quite simply because I really don’t read for pleasure, but the reviews seem mixed. Almost like the film Contact. Some people seemed to really like it; I couldn't stop yawning and looking at my watch. In any event, if the Collins book ever comes out in a podcast in which I can use to go to sleep--then I'll give it my attention. 1776 was awesome.

But what I do find interesting is the extent in which people attempt to force (their) reality to be congruent with their dogma. This is notoriously pandemic in the area of stuttering research; so I feel like this (scenario) is one in which I have experience.

And even with my close and intimate familiarity with the phenomenon of those who idolize dogma (i.e., their own beliefs) over the data—I still don’t “get” it. How does this comfort people? Denial of the data, regardless of its validity or reliability, in lieu of one’s belief (regardless of the data). The end result is nothing more than a deductive house of cards around a single central premise that is usually exceedingly vulnerable. In a sense, it is a person attempting to replace God by usurping His omniscience. It is also a gross failure to recognize our own ignorance. It just baffles me to no end; so much so that I really don't bother engaging such people anymore. (As there would be no point.)