Why do people accept ideas that are contradicted by science or
logic? In Implausible Beliefs, Allan Mazur offers a comparative
look at the nature of irrational belief systems, their social
roots, and their cultural and political impact. He begins by
providing standards for judging beliefs implausible and assessing
the impact of such belief systems onpolitics and social policy in
the US. Mazur describes and defends commonsense criteria for
establishing that certain views should not be sustained in the face
of present-day understanding. He presents a statistical portrait of
implausible beliefs rampant in the US, and who tends to accept
them.
Mazur applies criteria for implausibility to the Bible,
astrology, and visitation to Earth of intelligent beings from other
worlds. Pointing out that everyone "knows" the Bible but few
actually read it, the author scrolls through the first five books
of the text, noting points that undermine the scripture's natural
history and moral guidance. Working on the assumption that
implausible religious views are fundamentally no different from
implausible secular views, he critiques secular beliefs in
astrology and UFOs. Mazur concludes the volume with an attempt to
explain why most people accept implausibility--some more than
others--despite evidence and logic that refute them.
Looking to mainstream sociology and psychology, Mazur shows how
children are socialized into such beliefs, and how adults are
influenced by spouses and friends. Personality is also a factor,
sometimes abetted by stressful or lonely life situations. Lucidly
written, this is a provocative and informative contribution to
social psychology, sociology, religion, political science, and
American studies.
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