While the notion of a typhoon ending the first Mongol invasion of Japan is still contested, there is little doubt about the wind’s role in stopping a second invasion years later. After a two-month-long battle, a large typhoon hit Kyūshū, sinking all Mongol ships. The Japanese attributed this victory to their gods, who they believed sent the kamikaze (divine wind); “The belief that a divine wind would blow to save the country when Japan faced crisis led to the tragic events involving kamikaze pilots in World War II.” 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
