The coronavirus pandemic has revealed how lonely many of us are in our day-to-day lives, as technology has slowly crept into our pores and replaced meaningful human contact. But, John and Stephanie Cacioppo, neuroscientists, found that acts of kindness and generosity are essential in reducing loneliness and helping to build a sense of belonging and connection. We must reduce our social isolation and make the effort to interact meaningfully if we are to bridge the gap and bring people closer together. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
