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by gxon 2190 days ago
It's a fascinating idea that belief in an unseen god set up the Jewish people to be more capable of thinking in abstraction and this is part of the reason why Jews are so over-represented in contributions to science.

If that's actually true, I wonder if it still holds value today. Are secular education systems sufficient for producing the same or better mindset? Are their other myths we can teach children that don't have the same cruft and dead weight of traditional religion?
3 comments
cateye 2189 days ago
Jewish people to be more capable of thinking in abstraction

Do you have any proof for this? Is there a "world championship abstract thinking" tournament that we have never heard of?

Jews are so over-represented in contributions to science

This might be maybe a little bit better measurable. But the question would be: is that because they are Jew or are there other factors?

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gxon 2189 days ago
To the first point, I'm not making that argument. It's my interpretation of Freud's argument described in this article. Do you think I misinterpreted it?

To the second, I understand this to be fairly well established, at least in modern times. For example, Nobel laureates are massively over represented by people of Jewish descent [1]. Freud's argument here just seems to be yet another theory for why this might be.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_Nobel_laureates

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perfmode 2190 days ago
fascinating indeed.

also, God != religion

in fact, the question of God can be reduced to a simpler question of Faith.

is there more to existence than the egoic, discursive mind?

no myth necessary.

only a willingness to go beyond the mind.

psychedelics are tools for exploration which can catapult into states which offer a glimpse (REBUS)

but the same is possible through meditation. in fact, better. and when pursued in this natural way, there is no doubt that what is found is real.

this is the path of enlightenment.

a recognition of truth via direct experience.

Calm and Headspace won’t reveal it. requires dedicated practice, but less than 10,000 hours. retreats can accelerate. and there’s no getting around self-surrender.

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ironchest 2190 days ago
good questions. follow-up question could be: do we understand the motives of the age-old religions enough to be sure we're not just recreating them?
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