Some years ago, I stumbled across an interesting video on the internet (I know, red flag right away.) It was an independent movie called, "Zeitgeist". I'll admit, at the time, it was entertaining. It certainly presented its dogma in a palatable manner.
An Overview
Part 1 focused on Christianity. Already an atheist, it seemed to resonate with my own negative feelings about organized religion.
Part 2 focussed on 9/11 conspiracies. They were starting to lose me... a good conspiracy yarn is ALSO entertaining, but these people were serious.
Part 3 focused on the US Federal Reserve and the shadowy world of international finance. Meh, but engaging nonetheless. Is it the truth? It presents itself that way.
Still, I liked the beginning.
Now some people would stop here. Those with an axe to grind with the 'establishment' (be they underachievers or underperformers), would think that they had just unlocked all of the secrets to the cosmos. However, when prompted with sensationalism, one should DO SOME RESEARCH.
So, that's what I did. Why quote my own, when I can quote someone else's. No sense reinventing the wheel. (http://conspiracyscience.com/articles/zeitgeist/) (PP)
From the minor to the profound, Zeitgeist just plain gets facts wrong. They misinterpret quotes, assert "facts" that are easily debunked, and generally skip merrily along to their conclusions on a rope of confirmation bias (the sources for the movie seem to be mostly an echo chamber for other conspiracy theorists), all along claiming they are "just asking questions". Whether the leaders of the organization are liars, spectacularly ignorant, or pitiable entertainment, you be the judge. Hey, I'm just asking questions. (PP)
Zeitgeist mistakenly compares the cross of the crucifixion to the cross of the zodiac.
It confuses religious history: misattributing coincidences, incorrectly describing origin stories and creating parallels that don't exist.
Zeitgeist borrows wholly unsubstantiated and proven claims when examining the tragedy of September 11th. See 'Loose Change'.
AND, in the third section, Zeitgeist misquotes, makes gross historical mistakes (again), and tries to use half-truths and lies to convince people unwilling to do any research, that it has all the answers.
One can't base a 'movement' on conclusions that are incorrect. Or can they?
Back to these 'axe-grinders'.. they LOVE their straw men.
A Zeitgeist Movement club started up in my local post-secondary institution. I am ashamed. New students are the perfect disciples for a movement with no basis in fact but with a lot of radical 'theories'. Young students love to rail against the establishment.
The Zeitgeist Philosophy
Power bad, government bad, religion bad. It should be replaced by... drum roll please people with no knowledge or experience in the aforementioned! Yes, the granola eating, new age hippy could CERTAINLY do better than a mature adult who studied political science,law for years and then worked successfully in the private sector for decades. "They're on the take, man!"
The Zeitgeist 'chapter' in my area links itself to other counter-culture and conspiracy idealogues such as 'The Venus Project' and 'Loose Change'. These bedfellows are appropriate. They all stir the pot but offer no legitimate arguments.
Recently a friend became blindly allied to this crap. They described it as 'a religion' and didn't want to debate any of it. Deja vu - bringing me back full circle to the reason Zeitgeist caught my attention in the first place. It would appear that these Zeitgeist disciples aren't as interested in free thought as they espouse. They have merely replaced one pile of 'Sheitgeist' for another.
(Contributory thanks to 'Pazuzu's Petals')
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