Does Peer Pressure stifle the acceptance of the obvious?

I was musing about the notion that some people might be holding on to a set of inherited and quite thoroughly discredited ideas in their belief paradigm-- not because of any remaining real conviction in those ideas but because of a subconscious fear of the social ramifications of denouncing the ideas taught to them by their family, peers and social group. And, perhaps, also a fear of up-setting God.To me it seems, there is also a fear of admitting that the implications of science diminish our place in the universe--as if there was something to be ashamed of in admitting our place as wondrous example of the amazing diversity and scope of the marvel that is life!In science there no shame in getting something wrong. It can be initially embarrassing but acceptable so long as you don’t dig in and throw a tantrum when all your peers show you all the evidence that highlights why you are wrong.In regard to Religion on the other hand, I have read of many cases where people have left their church and they have become the social stigma of their community. In more extreme cases these people have been hounded, tormented, and even killed for even questioning the teachings and beliefs in light of new discoveries and facts.Peer pressure is a powerful thing. Peer punishment is truly something to be feared. In religion, especially, there is clearly a well of shame and embarrassment, and not least, fear for some to accept that the wonder that us humans are having been part of the process and not a special specific creation.This message has been edited by ohnhai, 02-11-2005 09:10 AM

It sounds like you are saying that there is more peer pressure in a religious group than in other groups.Suppose you were a member of an atheistic group and one night you had what seemed to you a religious experience. What there not be equal peer pressure in such a situation?

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Suppose you were a member of an atheistic group and one night you had what seemed to you a religious experience. What there not be equal peer pressure in such a situation?

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Doubtful.Since most athiests were once believers, I think they would generally be rather sympathetic.They certainly wouldn't kill someone for becoming a believer.

Asch

Not at all. I was simply talking about the assumed (on my part) anxiety of religious people when faced with a personal revelation that their doctrine is not as robust as they once believed.You would find that half of Manchester (if not the world) suddenly thought you scum if you changed your red jersey for a blue one. I don’t deny that. Peer pressure is a universal thing when interests or beliefs cause a clumping of opinion. I didn’t actually suggest it was unique to persons of religion.I was simply suggesting that the history of reprisals that the churches have dished out physically, verbally, and mentally might be, at a subconscious level, causing those who have become doubters to falter in taking the final step, and renouncing their belief in certain doctrinal ideologies. (not necessarily all doctrinal ideologies, you understand.)

MikeWhat is the point of that link?I chose line 1 and clicked the button. It said "please try again. Most students choose number 3"
Why would they do that since line one is clearly correct. I even measured the thing with a ruler. If that study is supposed to make me follow the crowd then either..1. it is a stupid study.
2. I tend to always do exactly what i believe is right and to hell with the crowd.I actually suspect that both options are correct.

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Suppose you were a member of an atheistic group and one night you had what seemed to you a religious experience. What there not be equal peer pressure in such a situation?

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In my experience, it's less about peer pressure and more just open hostility.While we're only talking about a few rotten apples, anybody that thinks atheists are categorically immune to the failings of other faith groups is naive.This message has been edited by gene90, 11-02-2005 10:41 AM

Are there actually Atheist groups?Can't say I have ever heard of one. Atheists in my experience don't tend to need the support of any kind of group.Then again I haven't really gone looking for other like minded individuals. Mainly because I have no interest in such a group and would certainly reject it if I did find one.
Membership of a group like this would actually go directly against what my personal utter lack of faith is based on.

There is some interesting information there PY.You should have clicked your choice again. There is a bunch of other stuff too.It is directly relevent to this thread.

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Are there actually Atheist groups?

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If you prefer, use the word "demographic" instead of "group".

We are speaking of history? Because the Catholic Church engaged in the Inquisition, then modern Catholics feel (unconsciously) intimidated by peer pressure?

I clicked it half a dozen times.
Admittedly i used the forward and back buttons between clicks so that could have messed up any feedback.I'm afraid i have no patience with the kind of stuff that tries to pidgeon hole me or baffle me with psycho-babble.I just catagorize it as pointless drivel and move on.Perhaps i will go back and play a bit more now that I know there is more to see.

But how do you get peer pressure from demographics?

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But how do you get peer pressure from demographics?

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I'm sorry to be short with you Youko but I don't have time to explain this any further this morning, there's somewhere I need to be in a little while. The point I want to make is that you can be shunned by your atheist associates when you convert. They aren't an organization or demographic though.The second part of my post is in reference to the atheist demographic vs. the Christian demographic, the Buddhist demographic, and what have you. There are bad apples in all of them. Being an atheist does not mean you are necessarily of higher character than a Christian or what have you. There are good apples and bad in every batch.As long as you stay as individuals you pose a much less threat than say that Catholic church at the Inquisition. But this is not necessarily because of superior character but because of less opportunity for oppression. People are people.This message has been edited by gene90, 11-02-2005 11:05 AM

I'll give a brief explanation to give you a better understanding;It works better when you're actually physically, in a group. To save being the odd one out, you would start to agree with the others, if most of them kept stating the incorrect answer. I've seen it happen. A bunch of actors get the wrong answer and the genuine guy conforms in the end. No one wants to be the odd one out. In the end, they will simply conform in order to go with the flow, and be accepted by the others.Even if the suggestion is immoral, you could eventually conform, despite being a decent chap. Frightening but true. Maybe we should analyze our own actions more, in order to stop them.You must have sensed this at one time. When you walk away from a group and wonder, "why did I act like that?".Same with a young person in say, a religious institution or whatever. I'm sure he'd rather go to burger king, but if chopping up raw cow for sacrificial religious reasons, is the norm, then it's time he got his knife out. With enough pressure, he's sure to crack, and kill the cow. Same in an army. If you woke up all of a sudden, with general-fu*ktard standing above you at 6am in the morning, shouting at the top of his voice, you'd probably comply, as everyone else would be. After a while, You might even feel nervous if you didn't conform. I guess you'd better get up, if you woke up in that situation.I remember I was with a group of ex-prisoners who seemed to enjoy talking about violence. My resolve was good, and I didn't join their social-group, but I got nervous, and felt threatened. They could tell I wasn't one of them. This might have made me laugh at their jokes a bit more when I didn't want to. Who knows, if I'm pushed enough, I might even pick up a gun and become a disposable hero.In short, I guess we act like this for self-preservation, so I think it's understandable as to why we act like this. Do we really blame every German family that agreed with Hitler at the time? Did they really agree?This message has been edited by mike the wiz, 11-02-2005 11:06 AM