Implausible Beliefs: In the Bible, Astrology, and UFOs

New
Paperback
2012
$59.03

Why do people accept ideas that are contradicted by science or logic? In Implausible Beliefs, Allan Mazur offers a comparative look at the nature of irrational belief systems, their social roots, and their cultural and political impact. He begins by providing standards for judging beliefs implausible and assessing the impact of such belief systems onpolitics and social policy in the US. Mazur describes and defends commonsense criteria for establishing that certain views should not be sustained in the face of present-day understanding. He presents a statistical portrait of implausible beliefs rampant in the US, and who tends to accept them.
Mazur applies criteria for implausibility to the Bible, astrology, and visitation to Earth of intelligent beings from other worlds. Pointing out that everyone knows the Bible but few actually read it, the author scrolls through the first five books of the text, noting points that undermine the scripture's natural history and moral guidance. Working on the assumption that implausible religious views are fundamentally no different from implausible secular views, he critiques secular beliefs in astrology and UFOs. Mazur concludes the volume with an attempt to explain why most people accept implausibility-some more than others-despite evidence and logic that refute them.
Looking to mainstream sociology and psychology, Mazur shows how children are socialized into such beliefs, and how adults are influenced by spouses and friends. Personality is also a factor, sometimes abetted by stressful or lonely life situations. Lucidly written, this is a provocative and informative contribution to social psychology, sociology, religion, political science, and American studies.

Synopsis

Why do people accept ideas that are contradicted by science or logic? In Implausible Beliefs, Allan Mazur offers a comparative look at the nature of irrational belief systems, their social roots, and their cultural and political impact. He begins by providing standards for judging beliefs implausible and assessing the impact of such belief systems onpolitics and social policy in the US. Mazur describes and defends commonsense criteria for establishing that certain views should not be sustained in the face of present-day understanding. He presents a statistical portrait of implausible beliefs rampant in the US, and who tends to accept them.

Mazur applies criteria for implausibility to the Bible, astrology, and visitation to Earth of intelligent beings from other worlds. Pointing out that everyone knows the Bible but few actually read it, the author scrolls through the first five books of the text, noting points that undermine the scripture's natural history and moral guidance. Working on the assumption that implausible religious views are fundamentally no different from implausible secular views, he critiques secular beliefs in astrology and UFOs. Mazur concludes the volume with an attempt to explain why most people accept implausibility-some more than others-despite evidence and logic that refute them.

Looking to mainstream sociology and psychology, Mazur shows how children are socialized into such beliefs, and how adults are influenced by spouses and friends. Personality is also a factor, sometimes abetted by stressful or lonely life situations. Lucidly written, this is a provocative and informative contribution to social psychology, sociology, religion, political science, and American studies.

$59.03

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 246
Publisher: Transaction Publishers
Published: 15 May 2012
ISBN 10: 1412847540
ISBN 13: 9781412847544

Media Reviews

Why do intelligent, educated people take the biblical story of creation literally, believe in UFOs, or slavishly follow the advice they find in their horoscopes? How can suicide bombers in the Middle East believe that by killing innocent people they will become martyrs and gain immediate entry to paradise? In Implausible Beliefs , sociologist Allan Mazur dissects these and other notions that run counter to both modern science and common sense and finds explanations for them in socialization, in group identities, and in social and historical contexts. Mazur is equally at ease describing Moses leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt (and citing the lack of corroborating historical evidence), relating the experiences of people who believe they have been abducted by aliens in flying saucers, and explaining the signs of the Zodiac. This is a fascinating and significant book that provides insights into some of contemporary society's most current and critical dilemmas.

--Albert H. Teich, American Association for the Advancement of Science

A provocative examination and response to the question: Why do so many Americans accept weird beliefs--from the Bible and astrology to UFOlogy?...an engaging inquiry.

--Paul Kurtz, Professor Emeritus, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Chairman, Center for Inquiry

Implausible Beliefs offers an in-depth examination of the focus and meaning of religious views in modern society, and deserves a place on the shelf of any college-level social issues collection and the study list of non-specialist general readers with an interest in how belief systems are created evolve, and endure.

--The Midwest Book Review

Why do intelligent, educated people take the biblical story of creation literally, believe in UFOs, or slavishly follow the advice they find in their horoscopes? How can suicide bombers in the Middle East believe that by killing innocent people they will become martyrs and gain immediate entry to paradise? In Implausible Beliefs, sociologist Allan Mazur dissects these and other notions that run counter to both modern science and common sense and finds explanations for them in socialization, in group identities, and in social and historical contexts. Mazur is equally at ease describing Moses leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt (and citing the lack of corroborating historical evidence), relating the experiences of people who believe they have been abducted by aliens in flying saucers, and explaining the signs of the Zodiac. This is a fascinating and significant book that provides insights into some of contemporary society's most current and critical dilemmas.

--Albert H. Teich, American Association for the Advancement of Science

A provocative examination and response to the question: Why do so many Americans accept weird beliefs--from the Bible and astrology to UFOlogy?...an engaging inquiry.

--Paul Kurtz, Professor Emeritus, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Chairman, Center for Inquiry

--The Midwest Book Review

Why do intelligent, educated people take the biblical story of creation literally, believe in UFOs, or slavishly follow the advice they find in their horoscopes? How can suicide bombers in the Middle East believe that by killing innocent people they will become martyrs and gain immediate entry to paradise? In Implausible Beliefs, sociologist Allan Mazur dissects these and other notions that run counter to both modern science and common sense and finds explanations for them in socialization, in group identities, and in social and historical contexts. Mazur is equally at ease describing Moses leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt (and citing the lack of corroborating historical evidence), relating the experiences of people who believe they have been abducted by aliens in flying saucers, and explaining the signs of the Zodiac. This is a fascinating and significant book that provides insights into some of contemporary society's most current and critical dilemmas.

--Albert H. Teich, American Association for the Advancement of Science

A provocative examination and response to the question: Why do so many Americans accept weird beliefs--from the Bible and astrology to UFOlogy?...an engaging inquiry.

--Paul Kurtz, Professor Emeritus, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Chairman, Center for Inquiry

Implausible Beliefs offers an in-depth examination of the focus and meaning of religious views in modern society, and deserves a place on the shelf of any college-level social issues collection and the study list of non-specialist general readers with an interest in how belief systems are created evolve, and endure.

--The Midwest Book Review

-Why do intelligent, educated people take the biblical story of creation literally, believe in UFOs, or slavishly follow the advice they find in their horoscopes? How can suicide bombers in the Middle East believe that by killing innocent people they will become martyrs and gain immediate entry to paradise? In Implausible Beliefs, sociologist Allan Mazur dissects these and other notions that run counter to both modern science and common sense and finds explanations for them in socialization, in group identities, and in social and historical contexts. Mazur is equally at ease describing Moses leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt (and citing the lack of corroborating historical evidence), relating the experiences of people who believe they have been abducted by aliens in flying saucers, and explaining the signs of the Zodiac. This is a fascinating and significant book that provides insights into some of contemporary society's most current and critical dilemmas.-

--Albert H. Teich, American Association for the Advancement of Science

-A provocative examination and response to the question: Why do so many Americans accept weird beliefs--from the Bible and astrology to UFOlogy?...an engaging inquiry.-

--Paul Kurtz, Professor Emeritus, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Chairman, Center for Inquiry

-Implausible Beliefs offers an in-depth examination of the focus and meaning of religious views in modern society, and deserves a place on the shelf of any college-level social issues collection and the study list of non-specialist general readers with an interest in how belief systems are created evolve, and endure.-

--The Midwest Book Review

Author Bio

Allan Mazur is professor of public affairs at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. He has taught at MIT and Stanford University and earlier worked in the aerospace industry. Elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is interested in biosociology, research methods, and in social conflicts over science, technology, and the environment.