Negative Thinking is NOT Critical Thinking

Negative thinking often displays itself in ad hominem attacks. Often a forum has one or more individuals who have grown to think of themselves as the local ‘shaman’; these individuals try all kinds of ways to reject others who they fear will take away some of their ‘power’, so they use all forms of negative attacks to reject that new person.

I have seen instances of individuals who are very anti-intellectual devise means for rejecting any form of ideas that appear to be intellectual.

Ideologues are always fighting against other ideologues and they use every means to reject non-conforming ideas. I see that especially in anti-theism ideologues. I had one instance of an individual rejecting the works of Becker because Becker uses the word "faith", such a word was like the appearance of a snake under the bed.

We are indoctrinated in our ideologies and we are constantly fighting either for ours or against another, this leads to various techniques to throw off any invading new ideas. Also I am convinced that our schools and colleges have made people unconsciously fearful of any serious concepts that have not been introduced to them by a teacher. Self-learning is unconsciously an alien concept.

This forum would be better if the real topics weren't drowned out by all this religion. It just doesn't belong here in the first place.

why, because you would rather just be with people that think exactly like you do, and then can all pat eath other on the backs without anyone pointing out your faults?

No. To the contrary, in science, math, philosophy there is a huge diversity of interesting topics to talk about. As soon as religion gets involved the discussion degenerates into pointless rubbish.

Just people that THINK is enough.

This forum was created to discuss religion.

Rubbish!

*shrug*
Whatever - it's a question of fact, exclamation marks dont enter into it.

It was pretty much set up to discuss stuff about religon.

I'm curious why you used the word "shaman" to describe the people you're talking about.

Perhaps a 'religion' sub-forum could be introduced?

I forget where I first read the use of this word to describe an individual who had acquired the ability to lead a group because s/he had qualities that acted somewhat hypnotically because people are often looking for someone to lead them so they do not have to think, they only have to follow.

I think that would be pretty sweet. Religion is a big interest of mine and I think people have a lot of questions about different religions that don't get answered in high school or everyday life.

Although, discussing the validity of one religion over another, or over none, is better suited to this forum.

I think that's just a charismatic leader. A shaman is someone who gets in touch with the spirit world by using his body as a conduit for spirits to enter and manifest themselves.