Why do so many Americans believe in silly things?

[Mr Rayon]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-12-21/what-do-americans-believe-spoiler-alert-evolution-and-ghosts-are-neck-and-neck

 

Hi everyone,

 

According to the Harris poll 42% of Americans believe in ghosts, 36% believe in creationism and UFOs, 29% believe in astrology, 26% believe in witches and 24% believe in reincarnation.

 

Does this sound right?

 

Why do so many Americans believe in these silly things?

 

~Being an Australian I was quite shocked by these alarming statistics!

[Phi for All]

Personally, I think it's because some Australians, like you, have tall poppy syndrome. The USA is an easy target with its lack of humility.

[studiot]

 

Personally, I think it's because some Australians, like you, have tall poppy syndrome. The USA is an easy target with its lack of humility.

 

 

Amongst all the Romans, Greeks and other foreigners (no offence meant) using? the phrase Wiki mahaged to dig up one Briton.

Yet it proudly blazons "principly used in the United kingdom"

 

Poppycock

 

Now that is a real British word.

 

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=poppycock

[iNow]

Why do so many Americans believe in these silly things?

For the same reasons that non-Americans do?

[MonDie]

 

"Why do is it that so many Americans believe in these silly things?"

[John Cuthber]

Why do more Americans than British believe in ghosts?

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/10/31/ghosts-exist-say-1-3-brits/

 

Why is America well over to the right on this diagram compared to other "Western" nations?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_of_support_for_evolution#mediaviewer/File:Views_on_Evolution.svg

 

Why do more Americans than Brits (29% vs 22%) believe in astrology.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/5144766/Most-people-believe-in-life-after-death-study-finds.html

(Though, by those figures, slightly more Brits believe in reincarnation).

 

is it due to tall poppy syndrome?

Or was putting forward Tall poppy Syndrome as an explanation just wishful thinking?

 

Could it be because there are several large powerful groups pushing those sorts of beliefs (or, at least, seeking to restrain critical thinking)?

 

If it is, to any extant, the latter, would it be better to face that rather then blaming jealousy?

Edited January 8, 2015 by John Cuthber

[Phi for All]

is it due to tall poppy syndrome?

Or was putting forward Tall poppy Syndrome as an explanation just wishful thinking?

 

I think it's a partial explanation in this case, as well as wishful thinking on my part. I was wishing Mr Rayon might see his red, white, and blue punching bag in a different light, with a bit of mirror thrown in.

 

And I do think there's an active effort to keep the US superstitious and fearful, and as far from critical thinking as possible.

[Endy0816]

Well there are a number of religions which engage in the practice of casting spells. Rationally you can answer "Yes" and not indicate whether you believe the spells themselves to actually work.

 

As for ghosts, I think at least a number of people have had odd experiences. Whether this is due to little known physical phenomenon, actual spirits, or our brains misfiring, who knows.

[Phi for All]

The promotion of superstition and belief in the supernatural is a lot like what the Amish in the US do when they keep their kids out of school. When Amish kids get a secular education, they tend to leave the faith.

 

When people think there are incomprehensible powers at work, they often give up control of their lives to people they assume know best, the authority figures in their lives; ministers, employers, politicians, etc. I think many of those in power in business and politics in the US understand that if something seems incomprehensible, people will look past all kinds of madness to get help with it. Our tax system seems purposely daunting, our medical insurance is labyrinthine at best, and the entire legal industry seems built on this concept of "this is way beyond you, you need help".

 

I also see this as laziness. When a vase falls off the mantle by itself, scientists immediately start looking for vibrations, air movement, structural considerations, materials, anything reasonable and rational that will explain why the vase fell. That's a lot of effort, so the lazy people just look at the glass on the floor and say, "Ooooh, spooky!"

[swansont]

OTOH, we generally think vegemite is disgusting, so we have that going for us, which is nice. Also, if you have that many marsupials and monotremes around, you have less of a need to believe in wacky ideas.

[MonDie]

We like that our native mammals undergo an agonizingly excruciating birthing process.