marjaerwin (
marjaerwin) wrote2021-11-21 03:21 pm
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Sorry, but Ancient Aliens Beliefs Still Wouldn't Justify a Cult of Tradition
Imagine, for a moment, that most miracles and religious experience come, not directly, but indirectly, through sometimes-misguided spirits. Some might come from older and hopefully wiser worlds. Some from our own world, like saints and boddhisatvas. Human population growth would gradually replace visions of inhuman spirits, like wheels of fire, with those of human ones.
Their psychologies might differ from ours. Some might find oaths and sacrifices help them stick to what is right, and never make them stick to what turns out to be wrong. Some might find power relationships harmless, and think a little kindness will make them work for us. Some might find crowding harmful, and think a good long time in the wilderness or on the top of a pillar will help everyone. Some could have very different ideas of gender and sexuality. Some might not recognize the risks of viviparity.
So they could have unsuitable teachings for some or all human beings, and humans who follow them too closely could carry on those teachings.
So as always, we have to think for ourselves.
Not rely on revelation or a cult of tradition.
P.S. I should add that we as human beings can have very different ideas of some of these, and can be naive about others, which can result in unsuitable teachings for other human beings without, you know, aliens.
Their psychologies might differ from ours. Some might find oaths and sacrifices help them stick to what is right, and never make them stick to what turns out to be wrong. Some might find power relationships harmless, and think a little kindness will make them work for us. Some might find crowding harmful, and think a good long time in the wilderness or on the top of a pillar will help everyone. Some could have very different ideas of gender and sexuality. Some might not recognize the risks of viviparity.
So they could have unsuitable teachings for some or all human beings, and humans who follow them too closely could carry on those teachings.
So as always, we have to think for ourselves.
Not rely on revelation or a cult of tradition.
P.S. I should add that we as human beings can have very different ideas of some of these, and can be naive about others, which can result in unsuitable teachings for other human beings without, you know, aliens.