Lies

Myths and Urban Legends

Where do you find the truth? What is truth? Of equal importance, what are the lies that we all accept as true (or in most cases, don't even think about questioning)? I may suffer from cynicism, but not skepticism. Let me first get stuck into skeptics. There is nothing wrong with open-minded enquiry. Mankind has not yet discovered all the secrets of the universe, and each of us can continue learning new things for the duration of our lives. Claims circulate the internet about some supernatural event or miracle cure - and they get slated by the skeptics. "It's all rubbish", door closed. Of course, not all skeptics are like that and there is some good scientific investigation going on. But I've had too many discussions with people who have mind that are closed to any explanation other than the most mundane and mainstream (check out arguments from ignorance). There are many unexplained phenomena begging for discovery. I love Mythbusters because they go about testing hypothesis in a practical way.

Urban legend # 1 - we only use 10% of our brains

One common "lie" is that we only use 10% of our brains. Everyone has probably heard this at some time or other, but it is untrue. At any given time only about 10% of the neurons in the brain are able to fire (if more neurons turn on there is a high likelihood of experiencing an epileptic fit). But most parts of the brain are utilised by normal, healthy people.

Urband legend #2 - Jesus was born in a stable

Another common view is that Jesus was born in a stable (the Queen of England stated this in her Christmas message, 25 December 2007) - this isn't true, it doesn't say that in the bible, there were no "stables" or "inns" in those days - check out Laurence Gardner books for more information. Jesus was born in a single room house which was common in those times (and still is common in villages in the Middle East and North Africa). Such single room dwellings were often shared with animals, and it was also common to use animal feeding troughs suitably lined with something soft, as sleeping quarters for young children.

Urban legend #3 - the truth is out there

As frequently stated in the X-files. I love that TV series, but the statement is a big lie - the truth is within. You won't find it anywhere else.

Urband legend #4 - we live in a democratic society and have freedom of speech

There is much talk of the benefits of a democratic society, but do "we" (I mean the "western world") really live in one. There are, in fact, many forms of democracy. Islamic democracy is very different from the democracy of Switzerland. There is the presence in our current western society of aristocracy, oligarchy, and totalinarianism (dictatorships) in addition to democracy. The British empire still has a monarch. Large companies tend to form large conglomerates which weild considerable political power, typical of the oligarchical style of government (especially prominent in Japan). Mini tyrants spring up in many places - clubs, school boards, companies. What control do you have over your bank, telecom company, supermarket, power utility? Review the rules they impose and you and compare that with the ideals of a democratic society. There is a lot going on which is certainly not democratic.

Is the democratic style of government the best? Plato, whose ideas had considerable influence on the development of western societies, considered rule by the aristocracy the best form of government - a benign dictator. There is little difference between a dictator and a monarch - the difference is simply ones viewpoint on the policies and style of rule.

Freedom of speech is supposed to be one of the traits of a democratic society together with freedom of religious and political beliefs and freedom of sexual expression. You can say whatever you like providing nobody else hears you. If someone is listening, you can say whatever you like provided they agree with you. If they don't agree you had better shut up or you can be jailed or exiled. Our so-called freedom of speech has narrow boundaries. It is better than it used to be in the middle ages when you would be burned at the stake, but you will still suffer if you speak out against the common view. It is illegal in some countries to promote Nazism or deny the holocaust. I am not in any way saying that it is a bad thing to restrict the widespread promulgation of these ideas - and the holocaust certainly happenned. However, we should not pretend that we have freedom of speech, because we don't. Society does not want people to say certain things and promote certain ideals. That is fine. Just be honest. The right to speak openly is freer than it was 500 years ago, but we currently do not have and the majority of society do not want complete freedom of speech.

Urband legend #5 - there is no such thing as impossible; no such thing as can't

This type of talk is typically used by leaders to motivate and encourage staff to overcome mental obstacles. Sometimes it may be useful. It is also a tactic used to bully people. There are plenty of things that are impossible; there are plenty of things you can't do. I can't fly to the sun and back in 4 minutes - even if I find a way to avoid getting burnt, I would need to exceed the speed of light and thus rewrite our current understanding of physics. Many people are fettered by mental obstacles which can be overcome with effort, but beware of undertaking ventures which defy tests of reasonability and common sense, or are indeed impossible.

Urban legen #6 - we all want to be loved

As in the the Lenny Kravitz song (Believe lyrics). Not true. This was brought home to me when reading the biography of Lester Levenson (the full biography is not on that link, you will need to buy and read the book!). "Everybody needs somebody to love" (Rolling Stones lyrics). Dan Winter showed how the feeling of love affects the vibration of the heart, and the general health and well being of the whole body (the Meru foundation is now sueing him for sharing what he discovered about love(!) but you may still be able to find his videos on the web). Modern medical research confirms this. You need to feel love for someone or something in order to have a proper hormonal balance within your own physical body. It doesn't matter if someone love you or not - what is important is for you to feel love for someone or something.

Urband legend # 7 - the sun is a cold dark body

This statement came from Viktor Schauberger (see Living Energies by Callum Coats, summarising the work of this genius - Gateway Books, 1996). Viktor Schauberger was a genius. Why, when a genius states something that the average person does not understand, do we assume that the guy is off his rocker? Perhaps we have misunderstood what he is saying. One needs to understand the difference between the sun, and the rays of the sun which is the heating effect of kinetic energy we feel as physical matter interacts with the suns rays. This interaction results in the heat we feel, which is why we think the sun is hot. It is the suns rays that are hot. For an esoteric understanding of the sun and the suns rays read the works of Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov. Modern physics is approaching this with growing understanding of dark energy and dark matter - check out recent physical models of the Universe which can be understood without a PhD in mathematics! The energy of the sun and stars comes from these poorly understood sources which are not really part of what we term our physical universe. The sun is a portal radiating energy from the other side, and black holes return the energy/matter to the other side. This is fact, but not widely understood.

Urband legen #8 - we act rationally

Whilst human beings are capable of thinking and acting rationally, most of us do not. It is well known that we all have a predisposition to certain cognitive biases which affect everything we say and do. The biggest decisions in our lives are usually made irrationally - where we live, who we marry, the type of car we drive, how many children to have, etc. We are all capable of acting rationally to various degrees, and we do practice this from time to time. Overall, we are governed by emotions and hormones and these predominate in our daily actions, and these are not the product of rational thought.

Urband legend # 9 - Amen means "so be it"

Christian prayers are commonly ended with the word "amen", which I was always told means "so be it" or "let it be". An affirmation or agreement. However, it appears that this meaning was added later and the root of Amen goes back to ancient Egyptian, acknowledging the great Sun god Amun (also spelt Amon, Amen or Amen-Ra in English). Christianity is based on Hebrew practices, which was strongly influenced by the Egyptians. It is fun to research back the root meanings of words, or etymology. When Christians say Amen at the end of the Lords prayer they are actually acknowledging the Sun God, which is a good way of representing God the Father in the Holy Trinity.

Urban legend # 10 - speed kills

Speeding on the road does not kill. Lack of attention and mistakes result in accidents. Of course, speeding significantly reduces reaction time to correct driving mistakes, get out of the way of others, or wake up from dozing at the wheel. Drugs and alcohol also reduce the ability to respond appropriately. It is this lack of attention and alertness that results in serious accidents and death, and alcohol reduces awareness and attention.