I do not find it surprising that religion and belief in the paranormal are negatively associated. This negative association is due to the fact that religion already has explained so much of what we cannot answer through the belief in one God or for some religions multiple. The bottom line is that humans do not want to be in the dark, we want to know why things are the way they are and form a cause and effect relationship. Our bizarre stories are these answers and regardless of their sanity I will forever believe in the monsters underneath the bed. For me more because it offers so many memories from my childhood. That might hold another reason humans hold onto monsters, unicorns, ghosts, etc. We like the memories and fantasies that can come with them.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Bigfoot
For the matter of the shooting, three men were taken into custody and one to the hospital. It seems as this shooting was an accident and that their dishonesty to the police caused their arrests. An interesting aspect that this shooting brought up was bigfoot and our belief in the supernatural. Time and time again in history we have explained what we do not know through what is later regarded as crazy stories. Humans have this want to always establish a cause and effect relationship even when we do not have the appropriate means to do so.This has resulted in stories such as Apollo's chariot making the sun rise, etc. It seems if we are in a way upset when scientific data refutes our bizarre explanations. Humans also want to believe in something greater than themselves that can explain the things we do not know. It offers as a money source for those who keep the myth going, and a "fun" story to go along with.
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First off I like how you put in the idea of nostalgia as a means of explanation for your continued belief of monsters, fairies, etc. It does seem as though often times the only reason why these stories are kept alive is because we simply don't want them to die. In a way many people appreciate the unknown and like the mentality of "ignorance is bliss" when it comes to these things. It seems as though people believe in these thing just because it's fun. Almost in the same way that some people go to scary movies, because some just find them fun to watch and get a thrill from them.
ReplyDeleteI think the point about nostalgia is indeed a great one as Jose points out. Perhaps nostalgia is what happens to a superstition when it matures. Other posters have brought up things like the Jack Links commercials, and I can't help but think of other popular culture depictions of bigfoot like Harry and the Hendersons. Perhaps we hold onto the emotional comfort that these beliefs provide even as we discard the actual sense that they are true through the process of nostalgia. And perhaps, as you suggest, religion is another example of this evolution. Beliefs that we judge to be silly and childish become nostalgic, while those that we judge to be profound become religion. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI considered the memory angle. It never occurred to me the reason people might believe in these mystical phenomenons such as Bigfoot, unicorns, or in your case, monsters under the bed is because it brings us back to a much simpler time in our lives when we didn't have to worry about all the practical things that adults worry about. Good thought and observation..
ReplyDeleteYou're a exactly right in that through out history of mankind stories similar have been around. Humans enjoy hearing and telling stories like these. It allows the mind to wander from what we consider normal. Our imagination allows for us to relate and even allows some, like the individuals in this case, to make a reality to them.
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