Where does all their hate come from?

[Shagman]

50. All about Death

I heard about a book but can't find it now. Titled "Death Denial" or something like that, it explains conservative thought as a constellation of fears anchored by the biggest one of all, fear of dying. (Could be this: Monbiot post.) We now know that conservatism is inherited, or at least genetic, because they have large amygdalas.

Fear of death ties into religion, because they all promise some kind of afterlife. You connect another fear to that one, and your message is reinforced by unquestioned dogma. Those boil down to fear of the unknown: other people, other cultures, other ideas. The scaffolding keeps getting bigger and shakier. It doesn't fall because it all goes back to death.To admit one thing is wrong is to admit it's all wrong. This is why politics and religion should never mix.

You can't appeal directly to fear, of course. It comes across as hatred. They make decisions based on emotion, not reason, so they never develop the ability to reflect on their own motivations. They aren't honest with themselves, so they tolerate people who aren't honest with them, as long as the lies reinforce their worldview. Denial becomes a way of life.

I don't think it's possible to make progress by educating them individually. You have to disrupt the infrastructure that spreads the lies, because they make sure everyone is hearing the same lies.