From time immemorial, people have believed that through prayers and rituals they can control _ or at least influence _ the gods and spirits who control everything. Silly primitives. We civilized folk realize that it is people who control everything.
Human science understands the universe. Technology has tamed it. Society uses it to steer our destiny. And so, when things inexplicably go wrong, we look for whom to blame (lawyers are available) and seek out those who can fix it (sales people also on call.)
Most of us eventually realize the limits of such thinking. We do not control our birth situation nor our genetic attributes. Events often arrive haphazardly, and the best we can do is try to react well to them. We may guide the set of future issues we will deal with but only partially, and only some of the time.
Those who truly believe people control everything are usually monsters. They lack the empathy of core understanding “there but for the grace of God go I.” They may focus blame for problems on groups of people, individuals, or social systems, but they are certain it is someone’s fault.
And so our enlightened culture lurches on. Because believing in myths is often helpful to personal sanity, but can be corrosive applied to logical action. Thus the well-educated folks who think crystals can heal.
Or that paradise will arrive if we just do this one thing, or eliminate that one person.
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 