In the book, Superstition: Belief in the Age of Science, Robert Park makes fascinating and knowledgable arguments. Park challenges the belief's from different endes of the spectrum, whether is be that of religion or if there is an afterlife to the placebo effect. Park does not leave any superstitions uncovered when exploring this book.
Different style's of healing are examined in this book from homeopathy, accupuncture, or asprin. In one of the chapter's, Park was examining the procedures and effects of accupuncture and asking questions to a believer of accupuncture. The man in question replied, "when we were younger, our mother's used to stick needles in our ears to feel better," in which Park replied, "my mother did that with chicken soup and it seemed to have the same effect." I found this statement to be witty yet accurate. I believe the most efficent way to heal is to actually believe you are being healed, whether you are pierced with a needle or fed chicken soup in bed.
Superstition's have stood the test of time. For thousand's of years superstition's have been brought into society by word of mouth or by religious faith. People are as sure of superstitions as they are that grass is green. Park went above and beyond in this book to prove that there is no empirical evidence for any of these ridiculous yet entertaining myths, however no one dare's to test it themselves.
Being a person of catholic faith, I have been baptized, gone to church, graduated catholic school, made my confirmation, basically everything a catholic is required to do. However, I have never asked the question 'why' this is relevant to me living in this world? If I don't sit through an hour of mass every Sunday, hearing the same testaments as the previous weeks before-- does that mean I'm going to hell? There have been so many empirical findings as to how this world and the human race were created, whether it was created by the big bang theory, the evolution theory, or the religous theory some of us are forced to believe in.
This book held my attention throughout the entire reading. Robert Park found a witty yet intellectual way of showing people just how bizarre some of their 'superstitions' really are. After reading this book it is almost comical what people believe in.
Below is a Youtube clip of a scientist I find to be very accurate in his findings and that, like Robert Park, he too questions thing's that cannot be confirmed through research.
This youtube clip consists of Robert Dawkins vs. Homeopathy.
Different style's of healing are examined in this book from homeopathy, accupuncture, or asprin. In one of the chapter's, Park was examining the procedures and effects of accupuncture and asking questions to a believer of accupuncture. The man in question replied, "when we were younger, our mother's used to stick needles in our ears to feel better," in which Park replied, "my mother did that with chicken soup and it seemed to have the same effect." I found this statement to be witty yet accurate. I believe the most efficent way to heal is to actually believe you are being healed, whether you are pierced with a needle or fed chicken soup in bed.
Superstition's have stood the test of time. For thousand's of years superstition's have been brought into society by word of mouth or by religious faith. People are as sure of superstitions as they are that grass is green. Park went above and beyond in this book to prove that there is no empirical evidence for any of these ridiculous yet entertaining myths, however no one dare's to test it themselves.
Being a person of catholic faith, I have been baptized, gone to church, graduated catholic school, made my confirmation, basically everything a catholic is required to do. However, I have never asked the question 'why' this is relevant to me living in this world? If I don't sit through an hour of mass every Sunday, hearing the same testaments as the previous weeks before-- does that mean I'm going to hell? There have been so many empirical findings as to how this world and the human race were created, whether it was created by the big bang theory, the evolution theory, or the religous theory some of us are forced to believe in.
This book held my attention throughout the entire reading. Robert Park found a witty yet intellectual way of showing people just how bizarre some of their 'superstitions' really are. After reading this book it is almost comical what people believe in.
Below is a Youtube clip of a scientist I find to be very accurate in his findings and that, like Robert Park, he too questions thing's that cannot be confirmed through research.
This youtube clip consists of Robert Dawkins vs. Homeopathy.
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