This morning Elizabeth left a brilliant comment on The Law of Attraction – And The Secret – Is Bullshit post and I had to share it with you. For those of you who have read The Secret, or worse dealt with someone who has read it and taken it to heart, you might recognize the disorder that Elizabeth has coined “Superior Spirituality Complex Disorder”
Here is her comment:
“Attracting” and “manifesting” are merely seductive words meant to increase one’s complex sounding vocabulary of incredible denial. As well as having great sales potential. I have another term I would like to add to this “special sauce” that I coined myself after reading some of this stuff. I might just send it in to the researchers who publish the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) to see if it can be added to the list.
“Superior Spirituality Complex Disorder”
It strikes those who’s capacity for believing in self serving bullshit is so high, that you can actually see it splattered all over the ceiling.
I have personally witnessed one’s very unattractive manifestation of “SSCD” while reading “The Secret.” In fact, I was inspired to name this disorder because
there was no other way I could describe the people I knew who felt they were owed something after reading it. Here are some common signs of SSCD.
- Falling in love with her/him self post completion of “The Secret”and her/his subsequent newfound spirituality of “attracting” and “manifesting” to the point of ignoring/denying the needs, opinions and consideration of others. They believe they not only deserve special consideration from the universe, but the universe will hear them and acquiesce to their wishes. This is at the heart of those who have SSCD. Read the rest of this entry »
In our book club right now, we are reading Nonsense: Red Herrings, Straw Men and Sacred Cows: How We Abuse Logic in Our Everyday Language
by Robert J. Gula. It’s very interesting as it goes through emotional language and logical fallacies in several ways that make them easier to understand. Robert Gula wrote the book in the 1970′s which is interesting in its nostalgic examples.
But what I wanted to share with you was something from chapter 1 that I thought was quite valuable:
First, some general principles. Let’s not call them laws; and since they’re not particularly original, I won’t attach my name to them. They are merely a description of patterns that seem to characterize the ways that people tend to respond and think. For example, people: Read the rest of this entry »
You may have noticed that we have a new author here at HDC. His name is Groovecat and he recently wrote Religion and Sexual Predators for us. I asked him to tell us a little about himself and here is what he had to say:
Born and raised Roman Catholic. Had issues with it early on. Asked one too many times “but who made god?” in catechism and spent a lot of time with my nose pushed against a spot on the black-board that the good sisters used as punishment for asking too many questions. Favorite childhood story is “the Emperor has no clothes”.
Jack of all trades by vocation, musician by avocation. Chaser of women, catcher of few. Hedonistically free. Could lose a few pounds, but hey, who couldn’t, huh? Enjoys his martinis, John Steinbeck novels and the salmon-goat cheese pizza at Tapestry in Los Gatos ( available only in the summer from the out-door wood-fired pizza oven, by request). Favorite movie? Aliens with Sigourney Weaver. A classic story of man vs. nature, along with a kick to the status quo of the time by making the hero a woman.
Hired gun and musical mercenary. Spends his free time sleeping, eating, breathing and watching t.v.
Deconversion story to follow.
The A(theist)-Team is growing! There’s me, you’re Incorrigible Ring Leader with a Heart of Gold, Johnny the Erudite Superhero, and now the Intrepid Groovecat.
Kingsville Texas is the county seat of Kleberg County; in January of 1997 county commissioners unanimously designated “heaven-o” as the county’s official greeting.
Okay, I know that’s not really breaking news; but I’ve been on a bit of a separation of church and state kick, so when I stumbled on this I thought I’d share.
So what is wrong with using “hello?” Well it turns out that Leonso Canales Jr. thinks “hello” is a negative greeting due to its association with “hell.” What?! Read the rest of this entry »
Oh, don’t hate me for that. Most of you are probably too young to even catch the reference. I had to do it, I was contractually obligated.
So you may have noticed the post titled How Many gods Are In the Bible?. Well, may I introduce to you, Johnny! He’s commented on HDC before, and befriended me on Facebook, and I realized I really like how he thinks and his fresh perspective. As you may know, I am always looking for people to contribute to HDC, so that you get the best Dead Cats possible. When I asked Johnny if he’d be interested in joining in, he said yes! Woot!
So give him a warm welcome. Hopefully we’ll have his deconversion story in the Testimonial section soon, but you can read a bit about him on the About page. As you can see, he’s now our official resident Superhero. Woot Woot!
Thanks for joining us Johnny. 
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
from Dream Work by Mary Oliver
published by Atlantic Monthly Press
© Mary Oliver
Why am I sharing this? Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s to an interesting year coming to a close, and the beginning of a fresh new year full of change and promise.
I hope you’re all having fun with your celebrations and being safe getting to and from any parties.
This change is really just an arbitrary moment in time. A time to take stock, and a time to celebrate.
Next year will be awesome. I know, that’s my optimism speaking, but we’ll make it the best year it can be. 
Thank you for helping me be my best this year. Luvz U guyz!
Aww, damnit, I was aiming for posting at exactly midnight. But my awesome husband just called to wish me a Happy New Year. Damn, I love that guy. Ok, thank you again for being such great readers and commenters. Suggestions always welcome, as are guest posters.
Since I’m already late, how about one more lolcat? Let’s see if I can find a really good one. (actually the optimist pessimist is one of my favs at the moment 
)
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s 2009!
