Homework

Damn... this book is tough.
No, not the concepts (they're actually explained fairly well) - but the exhaustive references in the footnotes.
While the impressions left from the text are a bit too much to list in one post (or whole blog site for that matter) - one simple example has stayed on my mind.

In the above image, what's the answer?
(Most people would assume an answer even before the question is asked.)
A triangle? Maybe - If I asked,"What shape is likely to come next?".
Five? Maybe - If the question is "How many objects are in the image?".
Two? Again, maybe. If the question is, "How many shapes are in the image?".
This example could be used to illustrate many things. I think I'll refer to it later in dealing with other problems.


But the Jaynesian theories made me think of another book which breaks down the state of mind of civilizations dealing with beliefs, mythologies or religions.
Frank Yerby's fictional history of Judas My Brother is filled with a great inventory of sources and references.
Will these books shake your faith? Nope, if it could be shaken by opposition or probing - you probably never really had it anyway.
Will it (or they) shake your reliance on the Church organization? Maybe, but for many... this might be in one's best interest.
Does it diminish the "Magic" of faith? Nope, it (they) can't even come close to explaining such phenomena away. In fact, they make such situations seem even more real.