Consumerism, evangelism, scepticism

[Jeff Bone]

Russell Turpin wrote:

> >Are there martyrs to consumerism?
>
> Absolutely. They just don't know it.

That's a nice sound bite, but can you truly be a martyr to a cause without your
own knowledge?

> >As for the ad agencies and corporations: is their exploitation of the
> >gullibility of the consumer, their manipulation, is that more like
> >organized religion or is it simply capitalism at work? ..
>
> Yes.

Ummm...  okay.  That was an XOR question. :-)

> >I'm clearly no fan of organized religion, but the equation seems to rest on
> >a particularly cynical view of
> >organized religion. ..
>
> I'm fully capable of particularly cynical views of organized
> religion.

Fair enough.  I still stand by the assertion that much if not most organized
religion is based --- today at least --- on self-delusion rather than knowing,
cynical manipulation.  But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.  Doesn't
make it any less dangerous.

jb