St. Patrick's Eve

[H2O Man]

I want to talk with you about Family Radio and the big beat. It comes out of the primordial swamps .... okay, that Doors' song just ended, but I really do want to start with Family Radio and one of the predictions made by its leader, Harold Egbery Camping. He made more than one, of course, but let's think back the last time he was in the national news.

Harold and his followers' case is, hopefully, one that can help us to understand cult members' thinking and behavior. They were not a violent group, and posed no threat to the public beyond being somewhat annoying. They viewed most Christian churches as apostates, so one might hold that they weren't entirely wrong. But Harold was preoccupied with figuring out "the end of times," and he reckoned it would be on May 21, 2011.

Harold and his true believing followers believed it was their duty to warn everyone. So they did. As the "end of times" came nearer, they invested their energies into trying to warn and save people. They weren't asking for donations, as they believed money would be of no value in the very near future. They were sincere, so much so that things like jobs or school could be overlooked. Makes sense, if one believes as they believed.

The idea of "the end of times" has a long history apocalyptic cult ideology and activity in the United States. It always involves the concept of the group as God's favorite people, given the advantage of special insight. But unlike, say, the Branch Davidians in 1993, the Family Radio cult wasn't collecting weapons to survive the storm. Nor were they like Jim Jones' Peoples Temple, killing themselves to get to heaven.

No, these were decent people. They were like family, friends, and/or co-workers you knew before Trump ran for president. The sad thing was that they believed domething you did not, and in time you'd almost wish they were trying to get you to be an Amway cog. At least you could have known where to get toilet paper as covid approached. But they were far, far less offensive than the Trump cult.

Like myself, you might have questioned what was happening in their brains? What organic malfunction explains the belief that the world was ending on May 21, 2011? Was there an overlap, say, with those who insist that Trump beat Biden in the 2020 election? And there is. It is found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC).

The PFC is associated with many of the things that make modern humans "human." Thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are headquarted there, and connected with the other, older sections of the brain. When a person is exposed to something they believe -- regardless of if it is true -- specific parts of the PFC are stimulated. Likewise, when exposed to something that they do not believe, other parts of the PFC are stimulated. Thus, when exposed to "Trump won in 2020" and "Biden won in 2020," our brains respond in the exact opposite way that a Trump cultist's does.

Now, so long as we can agree that "the end of times" did not happen on May 21, 2011 -- with the possible exception of for relatively few, and definitely not on a global scale -- we can examine what went on in the brains of the true believers. The answer, in short, was cognitive dissonance. This concept has been discussed so frequently on this forum, that I need not provide a definition.

What is important here, as we approach the likely criminal indictment of an ex-president, is how those who still believe Trump won in 2020 will react. A heck of a lot depends upon the actions of those who know the truth, but opt to exploit the cult. Like with the Family Radio, some have already recognize that they were lied to. But the PFCs of many are still stimulated by the lies. And predicting their reactions requires an updated understanding of "social disorganization theory." Since this essay is long enough already -- if not too long, or even far too long -- I will get to that in the near future.

Be awake. Be aware.
H2O Man

[Walleye]

1. Yeah don't forget humans are the same creatures that lie to themselves

With the most obvious of lies like, “I will quit drinking Monday” or, “one more big bet and I can get even and quit then”. It’s human nature to lie and to believe the lies.

[H2O Man]

2. Right.

Yet that is distinct from actually believing something. It registers in a distinct manner in the PFC.

[Walleye]

4. Absolutely, you cannot petition the lord with prayer

[H2O Man]

5. Exactly!

True believers (in whatever) are generally willing to pay a price for what they believe in. Those who lie to themselves are in denial about the price they will pay. And outright liars, such as Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, and Tucker Carlson, are eager to sacrifice others for their lies.

[Walleye]

6. I wonder how people get by while actually denying the true nature of things like that

[H2O Man]

12. That's a fascinating topic.

I've been thinking about it, since I first read your post. I could probably write a long response (!), but I'll attempt to keep it relatively brief and boring. (grin)

There is plenty of evidence that, as the brain was growing, our early ancestors attempted to identify the meaning of life. Because of the influence of the brain stem, we are prone to ritual, which generally goes hand in hand with superstition. Modern humans are by definition a superstitious group, often in ways that we are not fully aware of.

Next, in terms of religious, spiritual, and esoteric concepts, human beings too often apply what I'll refer to as "higher learning" to lower levels of understanding. We see this in cults -- members believe that they have special insight, when in fact they are confused. Thus, in the gospels, Jesus tells Peter that he is confusing the levels when Peter says that Jesus will not be killed. People who are thus confused tend to either experience a compulsive need to "tell others," or else mistakenly believe that they are "the choosen people" ..... always a recipe for suffering.

[Walleye]

13. That exploded during the pandemic. I guess because people couldn't make sense of it

So they relied on magical thinking

[H2O Man]

15. Exactly right.

During times of social transition -- and covid was huge -- people become invested in superstition. It was a common factor in the south leading up to the Civil War, for example. In more recent times, we've witnessed more cults that are not grounded in reality, or anything close to it. These are factors in social disorganization theory, of course.

[malaise]

3. I am not worried about them

Right now I'm picking my best songs related to Georgia (if you know what I mean)

[Walleye]

7. I'll never go back to Georgia

https://m.

[malaise]

9. Let's all get on that Midnight Train to

Georgia

[Walleye]

10. A super star, but he didn't get far

[malaise]

11. Great line

He really believes he's a super star

[H2O Man]

8. Yes!

Georgia is on my mind. (grin)

At this point, I think Trump's lawyer -- the one we discussed -- will attempt every delay tactic know in the legal system. He is a very capable attorney, actually as good if not better than anyone Trump has ever had. He comes across better in a court room than he recently has on television interviews. Yet I remind myself that in this instance, there is very little legit grounds for a defense.

[Hekate]

14. ☘️. I look forward to your next installment, H2O Man ☘️

[H2O Man]

16. I'll try to get

to it soon. I have a couple public speaking engagements coming up ...... my first since the brain injury a few years back. I wish I had not agreed to them, but they both provide good opportunities to speak on social issues.

[Saoirse9]

17. Best explanation I have seen for the trump lover brain

It makes good sense if we compare it to other instances of severe cognitive dissonance.

Like the Moonies. Or Jones kool-aid suicides.

Next now that we understand the physical mechanism I hope you can tell us how to help loved ones who are still in thrall to mango Mussolini.

My first reply that was lost was way more eloquent and profound, even.

Dammit!

Happy Saint Patrick’s day H! ☘️

[H2O Man]

18. I will never forget

your first reply. It is no coincidence that today is St. Patrick's Day. My life is better for it.

[spanone]

19. ...K&R...

Troubled times.

[H2O Man]

20. Indeed.