Quacks everywhere

Bruce Lipton

• “Bruce Lipton, quack” at Atheist in a (Metaphorical) Foxhole blog – http://inafoxhole.livejournal.com/83321.html

Dr. Joseph Mercola

• “FDA Orders Dr. Joseph Mercola to Stop Illegal Claims” by Stephen Barrett, M.D. (at QuackWatch; 2012.02.01) – http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/mercola.html
• “9 Reasons to Completely Ignore Joseph Mercola” by Joseph Albietz (Science-Based Medicine) – http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/9-reasons-to-completely-ignore-joseph-mercola-and-natural-news/
• Postings on Dr Mercola at Science Blogs
• “Dr. Oz defiantly embraces The Dark Side” – http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/01/dr_oz_finally_unequivocally_embraces_the.php
  As 2011 dawns, there is no doubt in my mind that Dr. Oz has now inevitably crossed the Woo-bicon, gone over to the Dark Side, betrayed the cause, gone woo, or whatever you want to call it. I say again: Stick a fork in him. He’s done, as far as science-based medicine goes. That’s because he featured one of the biggest promoters of quackery on the Internet on his show in one fawning segment after another. I’m referring, of course, to Dr. Joe Mercola, who was the main guest on The Dr. Oz Show yesterday in segments entitled The Alternative Health Controversy (part 1, part 2, part 3), coupled with another segment entitled The Surprising Supplement You Need. Let’s just say that Dr. Oz’s journey to the Dark Side is now complete. He has controlled his fear but released his woo, and it is strong woo indeed.
  
  To give you an idea of just how bad this is, take a look at the introduction to the show before the credits. Dr. Mercola is described as a “pioneer in alternative medicine” and “a man your doctor doesn’t want you to know.” I don’t know about you, but hearing that made me think instantly of Kevin Trudeau and his now-infamous book of quackery Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You To Know About.

Millennialism and other religious catastrophisms

General

• Millennialism (WikiPedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennialism
• Catastrophism (WikiPedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophism
• “Apocalypse Now? A Christian Understanding of the End Times” by Matthew L. Skinner (The Huffington Post; 2011.03.27) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-l-skinner/apocalypse-now-or-later-o_b_839878.html

2011.05.21 – Rapture that was not

• “Harold Camping Insists That Judgment Day Did Actually Happen on Saturday” (New Yorker Magazine; 2011.05.24) – http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/05/harold_camping_insists_that_ju.html
• “An Autumn Date for the Apocalypse” by Jesse McKinley (NY Times; 2011.05.23) – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/us/24rapture.html
• “Judgment Day Predictor Harold Camping Speaks Out” (Huffington Post)” – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/23/harold-camping-speaks_n_865867.html
• “Prophecy Fail – What happens to a doomsday cult when the world doesn’t end?” by Vaughan BellPosted (Slate; 2011.05.20) – http://www.slate.com/id/2295099/
  “If more people can be persuaded that the system of belief is correct, then clearly, it must, after all, be correct.”
• “The excuses discredited doomsday prophets make” by Jonathan Easley (Salon; 2011.05.22) – http://www.salon.com/news/religion/?story=/politics/war_room/2011/05/22/harold_camping_and_end_of_the_world_excuses
• “Apocalypse believers await end, skeptics carry on – May 21 comes and goes, with no End Times in sight” by Garance Burke (Salon; 2011.05.21) – http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2011/05/21/us_apocalypse_saturday/index.html
• “It’s Happening: Top 10 Rapture Bomb Pics” by Charlie White (Mashable; 2011.05.21) – http://mashable.com/2011/05/21/rapture-bomb-pics/
• “‘Rapture’: Believers perplexed after prediction fails” (BBC News; 2011.05.22) – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13489641 – Followers of an evangelical broadcaster who declared that Saturday would be Judgement Day are trying to make sense of the failed prediction.
• “No Dogs Go to Heaven – But they don’t go to hell, either.” by Julia Felsenthal (2011.05.20) – http://www.slate.com/id/2295093/
• “In the end, rapture believers weren’t going anywhere” – by Christopher Goffard (Los Angeles Times; 2011.02.22) – http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rapture-20110522,0,5118540.story – To many who put stock in Harold Camping’s prophecy about the end of the world, disillusionment was profound. It ended up being apocalypse … not.
• “As hours tick by, “Judgment Day” looks a dud” (Reuters) – http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/22/us-apocalypse-prediction-idUSTRE74I3KS20110522
• “It’s NOT the end of the world as we know it” (CNN; 0211.05.21) – http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/21/doomsday/?hpt=C2
• “Doomsday Believers Mull Unfulfilled Apocalypse” (NPR; 2011.05.22) – http://www.npr.org/2011/05/22/136549351/doomsday-believers-mull-unfulfilled-apocalypse

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Related: Religious opression – https://eikonal.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/religious-opression/

Philosophy

Various

• Philosphical Misadventures – The Thin Ice Of Reason – http://www.philosophicalmisadventures.com/

Hegel

Imanuel Kant

Karl Marx

• Marx/Engels library – http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/
  • PDF Archive of Marx and Engels – http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf.htm

Bertrand Russell

At this blog: https://eikonal.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/bertrand-russell/

Arthur Schopenhauer

• “Die Kunst, Recht zu behalten” = “The Art Of Controversy”:
  • http://coolhaus.de/art-of-controversy/
  • http://gutenberg.spiegel.de/schopenh/eristik/eristik.htm
  • http://www.roesch-pr.de/Arthur%20Schopenhauer.pdf [PDF]
  • http://manybooks.net/titles/schopenhauera10731073110731-8.html

Scientology

• “List of Scientology Security Checks” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scientology_Security_Checks
  A security check resembles the confessional in traditional religions. However, it also differs from them in that it is not voluntary and that it explicitly gives power to the auditor to scrutinise and control individual Scientologists. Hubbard told security checkers that “you are not merely an observer, or an auditor, you are a detective.”
  Susan Raine of the University of Alberta observes that the questions asked in security checks show that L. Ron Hubbard was intensely preoccupied with scrutiny, surveillance and betrayal. She notes that this intense form of surveillance makes sense from a bureaucratic perspective as a way of making sure all individuals follow (and internalize) the organisational goals. Bent Corydon, an ex-Scientologist, compares security checking to the use of thought police in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. He writes that Scientologists are punished for having negative thoughts about Hubbard or Scientology and so learn to think only positively. David Mayo, another former member, reported that sec checks included the question, “Have you ever had any unkind thoughts about LRH?” and that such “discreditable thoughts” could land a follower in trouble.
• FACTnet (F.A.C.T.net Inc. = Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network Since 1993) – http://www.factnet.org/ – Since 1993, Discussion, Resources and Support for Recovery from the Abusive Practices of Religions and Cults
• Scientology Critical Information Directory – http://www.xenu-directory.net/
  • Security Check (Sec Check) – http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/seccheck1.html
• Ask the Scientologist – http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/
• Infinite Complacency / Violence and Abuse in Scientology (Jonny Jacobsen) – http://infinitecomplacency.blogspot.com/
• Leaving Scientology (Jeff Hawkins) – http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/
• Scientology v. Armstrong (Gerry Armstrong) – http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/
• The Wog Blog (Mark Bunker) – http://www.xenutv.com/blog/
• Xenu Directory’s Weblog (xenu-directory.net) – http://xenudirectory.wordpress.com/
• “The Apostate – Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology” by Lawrence Wright (The New Yorker; 2011.02.14) – http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright?currentPage=all
• “Tom Cruise and Church of Scientology investigated by FBI” by Lucius Wilson (Examiner.com; 2011.02.08) – http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-icons-in-national/tom-cruise-and-church-of-scientology-investigated-by-fbi
• “Scientology & Tom Cruise Give Us More Reasons to Be Afraid” by Kim Conte (The Stir; 2011.02.08) – http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/116017/scientology_tom_cruise_give_us
• “What You Need to Know About The New Yorker’s Paul Haggis–Scientology Article” (Vulture magazine; 2011.02.07) – http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/02/paul_haggis_scientology.html
• “Paul Haggis and the New Yorker Scientology piece: What will be the fallout?” (LA Times; 2011.02.08) – http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/02/paul-haggis-scientology-hubbard-new-yorker-wright-miscavige.html
• “True Grit star Josh Brolin calls Scientology F**king bizarre!” by Lucius Wilson (Examiner.com; 2011.02.07) – http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-icons-in-national/true-grit-star-josh-brolin-calls-scientology-f-king-bizarre
• “Paul Haggis now says he isn’t cooperating on Scientology book” (LA Times; 2011.01.13) – http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/01/paul-haggis-not-involved-scientology-book.html
• “How much will a Paul Haggis book hurt Scientology’s image?” [Updated] (LA Times; 2011.01.06) – http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/01/paul-haggis-scinetology-book-tom-cruise-will-smith-church.html

Quack theories

• Russell Turpin’s “Characterization of Quack Theories” (1993.01.07) – http://bayesrules.net/BillInfo/Quack.html

Mandorla

Mandorla is a medieval Italian term denoting the heart-like symbol consisting of two overlapping ovals/circles, where the almond-shaped area in the center gives name to the whole symbol (Mandorla stands for the Almond in Italian). It represents the overlapping (i.e. unity) of two otherwise separate domains, for example, of the left and right, of the dark and light, of the consciousness and the unconsciousness, human and god, The central area is the unity of heteregeneous natures, symbolising the transcedence of both.

• book “Owning your Own Shadow” by R. Johnson – http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/robjoh/part4.htm
• a good introductory article: Mandorla – Ancient Symbol of Wholeness by Brian Jensen (1987) – http://www.sandplayusa.org/mandorla.html
• another introductory article: The Mandorla – symbol of the liminal space in which we are called to “remain” by Rob Moore (1992) – http://www.kyrie.com/symbols/mandorla.htm
• an art web site: The Mandorla Art Award – http://www.vianet.net.au/%7Emandorla/
• Mandorla Resources International – http://www.mandorla.com/
• Mandorla.ca – http://www.mandorla.ca/
• Google image search for the term Mandorla – http://images.google.com/images?q=mandorla
• several mandorla drawings – http://www.the-intuitive-self.com/scripts/frameit/methods.cgi?/website/methods/drawing/gallery/mandorlas/

Miracula Aeternitatis

Cirque Du Soleil : Miracula Aeternitatis

• Composer: Violaine Corradi
• Album: Dralion
• Vocals: Erik Karol
• Keyboards: Sylvain Grand
• Cello solo: James Darling
• Guitars: Lionel Hamel
• Text inspired by the first verse of the “Tabula Smaragdina” (Emerald Tabled)
• at Youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DGkTRCdRRVs

Quod fuit est quod erit
Et quod erit est sicut quod fuit
Quod fuit ad perpetranda
Miracula aeternitatis

    Quod superius est sicut quod inferius
    Ad perpetranda miracula

Quod fuit est quod erit
Et quod erit est sicut quod fuit
Quod fuit ad perpetranda
Miracula aeternitatis

    Quod inferius est sicut quod superius
    Ad perpetranda miracula

Quod fuit ad perpetranda
Miracula aeternitatis

    Quod superius est sicut quod inferius
    Ad perpetranda miracula

Tabula Smaragdina

Tabula Smaragdina
Verum, sine mendacio, certum et verissimum:	True, without error, certain and most true:
1. Quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius, et quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius, ad perpetranda miracula rei unius	1. That which is above is as that which is below, and that which is below is as that which is above, to perform the miracles of the one thing.
2. Et sicut res omnes fuerunt ab uno, meditatione unius, sic omnes res natae ab hac una re, adaptatione.	2. And as all things were from [the] one, by [means of] the meditation of [the] one, thus all things of the daughter from [the] one, by [means of] adaptation.
3. Pater eius est Sol. Mater eius est Luna. Portavit illud Ventus in ventre suo. Nutrix eius terra est.	3. Its father is the sun, its mother[,] the moon, the wind carried it in its belly, its nurse is the earth.
4. Pater omnis telesmi totius mundi est hic.	4. The father of all the looms of the whole world is here.
5. Virtus eius integra est si versa fuerit in terram.	5. Its power is integrating if it be turned into earth.
6. Separabis terram ab igne, subtile ab spisso, suaviter, magno cum ingenio.	6. Separate the earth from the fire, the fine from the dense, delicately, by [means of/to] the great [together] with capacity.
7. Ascendit a terra in coelum, iterumque descendit in terram, et recipit vim superiorum et inferiorum.	7. It ascends by [means of] earth into heaven and again it descends into the earth, and retakes the power of the superior[s] and of the inferior[s].
8. Sic habebis Gloriam totius mundi.	8. Thus[,] you have the glory of the whole world.
9. Ideo fugiet a te omnis obscuritas.	9. Therefore[,] may it drive-out by [means of] you of all the obscurity.
10. Haec est totius fortitudinis fortitudo fortis, quia vincet omnem rem subtilem, omnemque solidam penetrabit.	10. This is the whole of the strength of the strong force, because it overcomes all fine things, and penetrats all the complete.
11. Sic mundus creatus est.	11. Thus the world has been created.
12. Hinc erunt adaptationes mirabiles, quarum modus est hic.	12. Hence they were wonderful adaptations, of which this is the manner.
Itaque vocatus sum Hermes Trismegistus, habens tres partes philosophiae totius mundi. Completum est quod dixi de operatione Solis.	Therefore I am Hermes the Thrice Great, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world. What I have said concerning the operation of the Sun has been completed.

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• Rendering by: Chrysogonus Polydorus, Nuremberg 1541
• Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet

Superstitions

Terence McKenna

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_McKenna
• http://terencemckenna2012.blogspot.com/

Shamanism

• WordPress.com blogs about Shamanism: http://en.wordpress.com/tag/shamanism/ | http://en.wordpress.com/tag/shaman/
• “Shaman’s Drum” magazine – http://shamansdrum.org/
  • Shaman’s Drum Foundation – http://www.shamansdrumfoundation.org/

Paleo-Paganism

Neo-Paganism

• WordPress.com blogs about Neopaganism: http://en.wordpress.com/tag/neopaganism/ | http://en.wordpress.com/tag/neo-paganism/
• Zeus Devotional Anthology Available (Songs From The Wood blog; 2010.12.01)- http://byzantium.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/zeus-devotional-anthology-available/

Magick

• WordPress.com blogs about Magic(k): http://en.wordpress.com/tag/magick/ | http://en.wordpress.com/tag/magic/
• Blavatsky Net – Theosophy – http://www.blavatsky.net/

Pop-Mythology

• [ open myth source ] – http://openmythsource.com/ | on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/-open-myth-source-/133115596745255
  • articles related to mythology – http://openmythsource.com/tag/mythology/
  • articles related to Joseph Campbell – http://openmythsource.com/tag/joseph-campbell/
  • articles related to shamanism – http://openmythsource.com/tag/shamanism/
  • articles related to sound-alchemy – http://openmythsource.com/tag/sound-alchemy/
  • articles related to alchemy – http://openmythsource.com/tag/alchemy/
  • articles related to witchcraft – http://openmythsource.com/tag/witchcraft/
• Planet-Shifter magazine – http://www.planetshifter.com/

Mandalas and other symbolism

• The Mandala Pattern – http://themandalapattern.com/

Alchemy

“Law of Attraction”/”Secret”

One more over-hyped superstition/quackery. It probably brought financial health to the originator of idea, but otherwise …

• “Secret” (Afif’s blog; 2010.12.12) – http://atabsh.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/the-secret/
  But after actually reading the book it definitely seems a bit over rated…the law simply tells you that if you really focus hard on thinking and feeling about what you dream in life…you’ll get it. Yes yes you read right…so if you focus…think and feel…very hard on becoming a multi-billionaire…guess what..you will become one! … if you really focus on being happy and living safely you simply will …don’t bother if an earthquake, a tsunami, a car crash, a war breaks …you’ll just live only if you focus on it.
  
  It got me wondering about all the people in Africa who die out of hunger, illness, fights… were they really not focusing on being happy? Living with money? Being safe? …are only the US and Europeans the ones who have had that “Secret” since ages or does it only apply to them or ?
  

Religious opression

• “Religion Does Its Worst” by Roger Cohen (New York Times; 2011.04.04) – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/opinion/05iht-edcohen05.html
  “So Terry Jones, the Florida pastor who organized a Koran burning on March 20, wanted “to stir the pot.” Mission accomplished. Perhaps he’d care to explain himself to the family of Joakim Dungel, a 33-year-old Swede slaughtered at the U.N. mission in Mazar-i-Sharif by Afghans whipped into frenzy through Jones’s folly.

  On reflection, no, there’s nothing Jones can explain to Dungel’s family, or the other U.N. staffers murdered. Jones is not in the explanation business. He’s a zealot. How else to describe a Christian who interprets his faith not as grounded in love and compassion but as a mission to incite hatred toward Islam? “

• “Free Exercise of Religion? No, Thanks.” by Christopher Hitchens (Slate; 2010.09.06) – http://www.slate.com/id/2266154/ – …The taming and domestication of religious faith is one of the unceasing chores of civilization…

Appropriation of older cultural elements

• “What Does the Easter Bunny Have To Do With Easter?” by Lauren Effron (Discovery news; 2010.04.02) – http://news.discovery.com/history/what-does-the-easter-bunny-have-to-do-with-easter.html

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Related: Millennialism and other religious catastrophisms – https://eikonal.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/millennialism-and-other-religions-catastrophisms/