Why We Lie

[Anonymous]

For all you nerds out there, NPR (yes, I’m that old) has a program called the TED radio hour. In this hour long show, they review 4-5 TED talks that have a common theme, play parts of the TED talks, and then interview the TED speakers.

The latest one I listened to while I worked out during lunch was called Why we lie

There were many direct applications to religion and religious experiences. One of the sections was entitled “Why we believe in Unbelievable things”

The speaker talked about the ENRON scandal, and how the people running the company did not think they were doing anything wrong, even though from the outside it was criminal what they were doing. Or in the immortal words of George Costanzia, “It’s not a lie if you believe it”

Another talked about how stimulating the frontal cortex of the brain with electromagnetic waves can cause a person to have a “religious” experience, and cause then to see “otherworldly” personages. She talked about how sleep deprivation can cause this, and how Charles Lindbergh, during his 36 hr flight across the Atlantic saw and talked to angles in the cabin of his airplane. This reminded me of Maroni appearing to JS in the middle of the night.

If you are looking for a good podcast, and like nerdy stuff, this is a sure bet.

[Anonymous]

I am a huge NPR and TED nerd. Thanks for the links.

[Anonymous]

I too am a big podcast nerd and I agree the TED talks are great. I am such a podcast nerd the last time the family got together my kids had some bets on how many MINUTES it would be until dad says, “I was listening to a podcast …”. The first time I said that they all bust out laughing. If you want some shorter (10-15 mins) TED talks there are called “TEDtalks (audio)”. There are a TON of the TED talks that to me intersect with my faith journey. In fact it has spurred me to get several books on the mind and how it works. Really interesting stuff.

[Anonymous]

LookingHard wrote:

I too am a big podcast nerd and I agree the TED talks are great. I am such a podcast nerd the last time the family got together my kids had some bets on how many MINUTES it would be until dad says, “I was listening to a podcast …”. The first time I said that they all bust out laughing. If you want some shorter (10-15 mins) TED talks there are called “TEDtalks (audio)”. There are a TON of the TED talks that to me intersect with my faith journey. In fact it has spurred me to get several books on the mind and how it works. Really interesting stuff.

I too read Cognitive Phycology books for fun. My wife thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve learned from the books I’m not. Here are my favorites:

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain: David Eagelman

Thinking, Fast and Slow: Daniel Kahneman:

Anything by Daniel Ariel, but I especial liked “Predictably Irrational”

Gladwell’s book are fine, but a little too “pop Culture” for me.

[Anonymous]

Sheldon wrote:

I too read Cognitive Phycology books for fun. My wife thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve learned from the books I’m not.

So you like these books. Your wife thinks you are crazy to like these books. However, the books that you like (and that your wife thinks you are crazy for liking) tell you that you are not crazy – so it’s all good. :crazy:

[Anonymous]

Roy wrote:

Sheldon wrote:

I too read Cognitive Phycology books for fun. My wife thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve learned from the books I’m not.

So you like these books. Your wife thinks you are crazy to like these books. However, the books that you like (and that your wife thinks you are crazy for liking) tell you that you are not crazy – so it’s all good. :crazy:

And the Lord will not let the Prophet lead the church astray, said a prophet. I’m on pretty solid ground here……………………

[Anonymous]

Sheldon wrote:

Roy wrote:

Sheldon wrote:

I too read Cognitive Phycology books for fun. My wife thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve learned from the books I’m not.

So you like these books. Your wife thinks you are crazy to like these books. However, the books that you like (and that your wife thinks you are crazy for liking) tell you that you are not crazy – so it’s all good. :crazy:

And the Lord will not let the Prophet lead the church astray, said a prophet. I’m on pretty solid ground here……………………

Do ya think?

Reminds me of a good philosophers joke

Quote:

Descartes walks into a bar and orders a drink. When he finishes his drink, the bartender asks him if he would like another. Descartes replies, “No, I think not,” and disappears in a puff of logic.

And I hope I am not talking down to anybody and I assume most of you got the joke, but in case you didn’t – Descartes was the one that penned the line, “I think, therefore I am” – ergo if he “thinks NOT, then he is NOT”. I should take a clue if you have to explain a joke, you probably shouldn’t tell it as it won’t be funny (Sheldon of all people would know that ). I guess I should have asked myself, “Should I tell this joke?” and my answer to myself would have been, “I think not”

[Anonymous]

Love the Descartes joke! I found the title of this post intriguing, though it was more about TED Talks than I would have liked and less about the morality of lying. I have some kind of weird aversion to audible electronics media. Strange. But I do like to read and look at the pictures.

But what I was thinking about why we lie makes me want to comment. I have thought a lot about lies since I came to this blog, and have wrestled with some new perspectives. I always believed that my core position on lying was “Say the truth and let the chips fall where they may.” But I don’t really believe that totally anymore. Oops got to go!

[Anonymous]

Sheldon wrote:

Anything by Daniel Ariely, but I especial liked “Predictably Irrational”

Gladwell’s book are fine, but a little too “pop Culture” for me.

Ooooooh I loved ‘Predictably Irrational.’

I went on a bender of reading social-science books right before/during my faith transition. I never made the connection before – wonder if the two are related.

[Author]

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