One of my personal bits of irritation is when people try to pass off their crazy theories using science that they don't understand. Keep in mind, it's not the crazy theories themselves; everyone should and does have them, regarding all sorts of stuff. The theories aren't a big deal.
Growing up, my mom always tried to "prove" reincarnation to me by saying "it's well known that energy never gets destroyed, it only changes forms". Well, yeah, true, but the chemical energy of your body's molecules breaking down and feeding bacteria is energy too, and I'd even venture to guess that that energy roughly equals much of the energy released during metabolic processes. That's not to say that there's no such thing as reincarnation; just that that would not be a good reason why it exists. It's a fallacy.
Why am I ranting about this? MSNBC is one of the worst offenders for stuff like this, always going on about the significance of your astrological sign; or throwing in some piece of obviously-BS pop psychology. Today carried an article about "birth order and your love life". Apparently, us first-borns are "natural leaders and planners". HA. I'm one of the least-planning or decisive people I know. In fact, my younger brother is much better at that stuff than me.
Growing up, my mom always tried to "prove" reincarnation to me by saying "it's well known that energy never gets destroyed, it only changes forms". Well, yeah, true, but the chemical energy of your body's molecules breaking down and feeding bacteria is energy too, and I'd even venture to guess that that energy roughly equals much of the energy released during metabolic processes. That's not to say that there's no such thing as reincarnation; just that that would not be a good reason why it exists. It's a fallacy.
Why am I ranting about this? MSNBC is one of the worst offenders for stuff like this, always going on about the significance of your astrological sign; or throwing in some piece of obviously-BS pop psychology. Today carried an article about "birth order and your love life". Apparently, us first-borns are "natural leaders and planners". HA. I'm one of the least-planning or decisive people I know. In fact, my younger brother is much better at that stuff than me.
We have a show on one of the AM stations called the Jesus Christ show. I kid you not, people call in to talk to him as if he really is. The guy is pretty good (I guess), except for so many of his explanations are SO fallacious, it makes me so angry to listen to him. I'd almost rather hear the guy say "because I said so," when people ask him one of those hard questions (like if you're such a loving god, why do bad things happen, why should I believe in you. . . etc.) as opposed to the explanations he gives.