[lbo-talk] Feminism and the False Memory Syndrome

[joanna]

These arguments make no sense since the greatest misery in both cases 
cited below spring from eager/simple-minded shrinks and organized 
religion. An individual's memory of rape may be a source of suffering 
and their  realization of "god's" presence may be a source of  joy, but 
in neither case is that individual experience responsible for the mass 
hysteria and suffering you guys are talking about.

And Yoshie, I find it both insulting and creepy that a socialist, 
feminist woman would be so pressed to talk about sexual abuse in 
families as an example of peasant delusion and paranoia.

j.

Miles Jackson wrote:


>
>
> On Sat, 21 Oct 2006, Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
>
>> Political repression goes out of control when people make a leap from
>> a fact -- e.g., dangers of covert action exist; crimes of terrorism
>> and rape, including of children, exist; and they can be difficult to
>> prosecute -- to total suspension of skepticism, a radical downgrading
>> of legal and scientific norms, and the conclusion that all accusations
>> of heinous crimes, however lacking in evidence, must be believed.
>
>
> This bring to mind the recent thread about belief in God.  The idea that
> we can "just know things" without evidence, logic, or systematic
> procedures seems to appeal to many people.  Let's face it: accepting 
> claims based on authority ("God said it, I believe it, that
> settles it") or common sense ("kids would never lie about abuse") is
> much easier than careful and rigorous assessment.
>
> --I'd go so far as to say that this tendency toward "easy" certainty
> is one of the main sources on misery in the world.  I think we'd all
> be a lot better off if everyone were less certain about their most
> deeply held beliefs.
>
> Miles
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