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Megan Hustad writes in the NYT that while it’s not exactly fair to say that the TED conference series and web video function like an organized church, understanding the parallel structures is useful for conversations about faith, how susceptible we humans remain to the cadences of missionary zeal, and how the TED style with its promise of progress, is as manipulative as the orthodoxies it is intended to upset. According to Hustad, a great TED talk is reminiscent of a tent revival sermon, a gathering of the curious and the hungry. "A persistent human problem is introduced, one that, as the speaker gently explains, has deeper roots and wider implications than most listeners are prepared to admit," says Hustad. "Once everyone has been confronted with this evidence of entropy, contemplated life’s fragility and the elusiveness of inner peace, a decision is called for: Will you remain complacent, or change?" TED talks routinely present problems of huge scale and scope — we imprison too many people; the rain forest is dying; look at all this garbage; we’re unhappy; we have Big Data and aren’t sure what to do with it — then wrap up tidily and tinily. Do this. Stop doing that. Buy an app that will help you do this other thing. "I never imagined that the Baptists I knew in my youth would come to seem mellow, almost slackers by comparison," concludes Hustad. "Of course they promoted Jesus as a once-and-done, plug-and-play solver of problems — another questionable approach."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 17 2015, @07:58PM
If revival sermons were effective at communicating ideas to people then is it a bad thing to emulate?
Almost Godwin: If someone gives a presentation about hand-washing that is reminiscent of effective communication strategies used by Hitler then is that a problem?
(Score: 2) by vux984 on Tuesday March 17 2015, @10:46PM
If revival sermons were effective at communicating ideas to people then is it a bad thing to emulate?
If its effective because it shuts down people's ability to be properly informed, rational, and skeptical then yes it's bad. Revival sermons are effective because of peer pressure; and crowd mentality. They cheer and clap because everyone is cheering and clapping. They walk out believing because everyone else believes. Any idea no matter how catastrophically bad can be effectively communicated and implanted at such events. Recognizing that the event has taken this form and leaving is the only rational response.
Almost Godwin: If someone gives a presentation about hand-washing that is reminiscent of effective communication strategies used by Hitler then is that a problem?
Are false promises of showers involved as part of the motivation? Then yes, that's a problem.