Cargo Cults

What’s in it for me?

World War II in the South Pacific

Natives on many south Pacific islands had never before seen airplanes, modern war ships and other strange sights -- such as tanks, Jeeps and men wearing godlike clothing. Very often, cargo planes would parachute crates of clothing, canned food, tents, weapons and other useful stuff for the amazing new visitors -- who often shared the goodies with the natives.

But when the war ended, the soldiers left andall the stuff stopped dropping from the sky.

Sky Gods

The natives assumed that all they had to do was imitate the practices they had seen the soldiers performing to make the “sky gods” come back with all the neat stuff.Thus, they carved headphones from wood, and wore them while sitting in fabricated control towers, or airplanes made of bamboo. They waved landing signals while standing on the old runways.

Members of cargo cults often believe that if they reenact the conditions surrounding their first contact with western “cargo”, the cargo (in this case

rifles) will return. A prime example of imitative magic being put into practice.

Members of the modern day “John Frum” cargo cult celebrate John Frum Day in hope that their deity, John Frum, will bring them “Cargo”.

Jesus Makes Cargo In Heaven

• As a result of missionary efforts, Christianity and the myth of the “cargo” intermix.

• The result is that the natives create their own version of Christianity in which Jesus makes the “cargo” in heaven, and only by being good Christians can they receive the “cargo”.

What do Cargo Cults and some forms of Christianity have it common?

• Both are inexorably linked to commerce.

• “Commerce is intended to carry, even to all the world, the blessed message of salvation.” –Anglican bishop Samuel Wilberforce in a sermon (1860)

Cargo Heaven

• “Cargo Heaven” is a concept of heaven as a place where all your material needs and wants are met.

• An example of this in Christianity is the belief that the streets of heaven are paved with gold. (aka: everyone is rich)

-And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (Rev 21:21 NKJV)

God will make you rich

TV evangelists often promise that if you give to God (preferably 10%) then God will give to you. So believe and you will be saved (financially that is).

There is nothing mysterious about how you earn $US200 million ($215 million) a year promising people prosperity, healing and eternal salvation. No one knows how to do it better than Pastor Benny Hinn. He was at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre last month and the Hinn machine in action - healing and sucking in the money.

Do New Agers Follow Cargo Cults?

The Secret based on the Law of Attraction was a type of Cargo CultA more modern consensus among New Thought thinkers is that the Law of Attraction says people's thoughts (both conscious and unconscious) dictate the reality of their lives, whether or not they're aware of it. Essentially "if you really want something and truly believe it's possible, you'll get it", but putting a lot of attention and thought onto something you don't want means you'll probably get that too.

Misusing the Law Of Attraction

Here’s a sample of what’s peddled

• The secret to prospering through the recession – Become a money magnet.

• The 3 often overlooked principles of The Law of Attraction, and why you must master them.

• One overwhelmingly simple gesture that could change your life and manifest your desires.

• Reject negative energies at a whim – How thousands have prospered through the Lancelot’s Armour technique.

• PLUS: The truth about wealth – a billionaire’s shocking confession.

The Blame Game

Did you ever really want a bike or a toy or something when you were a kid?

And if you wanted it hard enough you got it by wanting it and wanting it …

Or was it really because you saved up or it was your birthday?

Or maybe you didn’t get it.Well then you mustn’t have wanted it hard enough.So it’s your fault!(Not the law or the author or the book!)

Quantum Physics or Quacksome Physics?

Writing in the New York Times, Virginia Heffernan said: "“The Secret” is not really a book but a series of misquotations from historical figures and fraudulent maxims from no-count hucksters. And yet something in that gooey red waxy seal on the front of “The Secret,” and the book’s believe-in-magic glitter, takes me to a happy place." The hitherto undiscovered "Secret", is actually a mix of misunderstood quantum physics and a re-telling of "New Thought" fallacies, which have been around since the late 18th century.

Salma Hayek

...if you think really, really hard, say, about vigorously cavorting with Salma Hayek on a soft, fluffy bed, you will emit a magnetic signal to the universe that will make your vision a reality.Greg Beato, (Reason)

Associative Thinking

Because B follows A then A caused B

I needed a parking space so I rubbed on a spot on the dashboard and lo and behold a space appeared! And that happens again and again (well mostly!)

I want to win the lottery so I pick certain numbers that mean something to me (and I always win! I just buy another ticket so I can win again.)

• Cargo cults• Christian TV evangelists• New Age Prosperity• Some supposedly “magical” thinking

What do they have in common?

What if we had the power?

The Butterfly EffectBy changing the pastto “fix” things in the present

The Lathe of HeavenBy our dreams

The Lathe of Heaven – Cartoon Style

Be careful what you wish for

Because you just might get it!

Especially if you are an apprentice

So what is real magical thinking?

In Ursula le Guin’s Earthsea Trilogy fantasy series, Ogion, the wizard teaching the apprentice Ged (later to become Sparrowhawk), has the power to control the weather but instead he lets them walk around in the rain much to Ged’s chagrin

Why?