Freethought & Rationalism Archive

WinAce · 04-25-2003, 11:03 AM

I've been reading up on lots of prophets lately, from Nostradamus to St. Malachy. Generally, they use a few tricks to appear to possess magic powers, such as writing vague tracts or after the fact.

My question is, do most of these people know they're exploiting the gullible and do it anyway, or are many genuinely convinced you can predict the future?

Wyz_sub10 · 04-25-2003, 11:18 AM

I'm not sure this is really an S&S topic.

I think it's probably better suited to MD.

Sakpo · 04-25-2003, 02:26 PM

Maybe GRD? If they don't think it suits them, maybe Science and Skepticism?

(It's a good topic though)

Sakpo · 04-25-2003, 02:30 PM

I don't know much about the subject some of them have to be outright frauds, others probably were quite sincere (any maybe not bozos, but had what would now be classified as diseases of the mind or perhaps unknowingly took hallucinogens or something). The Prophet Mohammed (or if he was genuinely illiterate, whoever he was the front for) strikes me as potentially being a well intentioned fraud who was trying to give people a good legal system and something to unite them.

Jamie_L · 04-28-2003, 06:19 AM

Yes.

That is, some "Prophets" are frauds. Some genuinely believe their "Prophet" status (placing them somewhere on the bozo spectrum), and some may be well-intentioned non-bozos who don't claim to be prophets, but are built into prophets by others.

But mostly, I think it's frauds and bozos.

Jamie

04-25-2003, 11:03 AM	#1
WinAce Beloved Deceased Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Carrboro, NC Posts: 1,539	Prophets: Frauds, Genuinely Convinced Bozos or... I've been reading up on lots of prophets lately, from Nostradamus to St. Malachy. Generally, they use a few tricks to appear to possess magic powers, such as writing vague tracts or after the fact. My question is, do most of these people know they're exploiting the gullible and do it anyway, or are many genuinely convinced you can predict the future?

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04-25-2003, 11:18 AM	#2
Wyz_sub10 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the land of two boys and no sleep. Posts: 9,890	I'm not sure this is really an S&S topic. I think it's probably better suited to MD.

04-25-2003, 02:26 PM	#3
Sakpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Pacific Northwest (illegally occupied indigenous l Posts: 7,716	Maybe GRD? If they don't think it suits them, maybe Science and Skepticism? (It's a good topic though)

04-25-2003, 02:30 PM	#4
Sakpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Pacific Northwest (illegally occupied indigenous l Posts: 7,716	I don't know much about the subject some of them have to be outright frauds, others probably were quite sincere (any maybe not bozos, but had what would now be classified as diseases of the mind or perhaps unknowingly took hallucinogens or something). The Prophet Mohammed (or if he was genuinely illiterate, whoever he was the front for) strikes me as potentially being a well intentioned fraud who was trying to give people a good legal system and something to unite them.

04-28-2003, 06:19 AM	#5
Jamie_L Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,565	Yes. That is, some "Prophets" are frauds. Some genuinely believe their "Prophet" status (placing them somewhere on the bozo spectrum), and some may be well-intentioned non-bozos who don't claim to be prophets, but are built into prophets by others. But mostly, I think it's frauds and bozos. Jamie

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