In 1865, a train crash near Staplehurst, Kent in England shocked the world. Charles Dickens, author of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, was a passenger on the train and survived the crash with minor injuries. But the experience left him with long lasting psychological trauma: he suffered from post-traumatic shock and was seen trembling, sweating and in a state of panic on trains afterwards. 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
