SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
A new study showed a link between strong right-wing views and fear of disease and increased concern about hygiene.
The study showed that people who are more offended by bad odors are more likely to support authoritarian leaders, such as Donald Trump.
In the past, disgust at bad odors was important for survival. The scientists suggested that the disgust at unfamiliar odors may be linked to a desire to keep apart from "culturally unfamiliar" groups.
[...] In the new study, 160 people were rated on their aversion to bodily odours on a scale to one five and their responses compared to their political views. It found that each point higher on the disgust scale was associated with feeling 7.5 points more positive towards authoritarian leaders.
[...] It showed that people who were more disgusted by smells were also more likely to vote for Donald Trump than those who were less sensitive.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday March 01 2018, @08:31AM (1 child)
I've mostly seen atheists and deconverts from the Abrahamic religions go this path, and the more "Christian" someone is, the worse they are as a person, in my experience. This tells me you and said atheists and deconverts have all hit on something fundamental about human nature, but they are predisposed to see it as happening despite some idea of the divine, while you are predisposed to see it as happening because of that idea.
Now, although not atheist myself, I *do* believe based on research into the religions that the former are correct in their approach; hippie humanist Jesus simply is not Biblical. The right-wingers and haters and fundies mostly have the right idea about him. But congrats on coming to the same conclusions about humanity and purpose and there being more than just animal satisfactions of the impulses and ego. I wish more people would do what you did.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 5, Insightful) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Thursday March 01 2018, @10:26AM
There are many paths to enlightenment. Some folk find their way through via religion. Some via atheism / humanism. Some by meditation, some by politics, some through suffering and hardship, and others by yet other routes. They all go to the same place and I suspect GP has found a good road through the "religious" route. Sadly, every path has its pitfalls and dead ends and switchbacks. Not everybody who travels these paths ends up in a good place.