Free An Ecology of MInd by Stephen Johnston

construct in the brain is attacked or challenged the defense can
    use either logic or emotion. Usually, they are not so clearly demarcated, and the defense has both aspects to differing degrees. The logic defense is more
    open to allowing changes to the construct. One of the problems, however, with most people's constructs is that they often put very little logical thought
    into the building of the construct and so when the construct is challenged or attacked, the brain goes straight to the only defense left to it, emotion.
    Since the brain sees this as an attack, one of the emotions triggered is often anger."
    "This type of response it not limited to religious constructs. We just happen to be using religion as our example. See if this sounds familiar to anyone.
    Think of a time when you took a position or a stand in an argument? It could have been an argument or debate about anything at all. Why the Red Sox are
    better than the Yankees, who the best drummer in the world is. It doesn’t matter. During the case of whatever this argument was about; it became more and
    more obvious as the argument progressed that you did not have a logical leg to stand on. But instead of backing down, you became angry and more entrenched
    in the defense of the point of view you were arguing? I see a number of nods around the room, so I will assume at least some of you have experienced this."
    "Now again, just to remind ourselves the name for the seminar is "Barriers to Reality." I'll leave any logical exploration of your religious beliefs to you
    but would like to point out some interesting historical facts about religion that may be new to you and may alter your view of the world in a small way.
    Mostly, I bring them up to keep Dr. Wales happy. I'm getting nasty looks from him in the corner about wanting more history in the seminar."
    Dr. Wales was smiling benignly in the corner.
    "When I say "The Inquisition" what construct pops up in your mind?" Michael looked at the class and pointed to a young lady in the fifth row on the left
    side. "You miss? What comes to mind for you?"
    "Torture and religious persecution."
    "Okay, anyone else? Yes, you sir."
    "Burnings at the stake."
    "Nasty stuff. Anything else?"
    "It was carried out by the Catholic Church."
    "Okay, when was the Inquisition? Anyone?"
    "I think it was in the sixteen and seventeen hundreds." answered one student.
    "Anyone else with a different time period?" there were no replies so Michael moved on.
    "The Catholic Church used the Papal Inquisition to defend itself against any beliefs that it considered dangerous or heretical. It did not matter if those
    beliefs were accurate or not, only that they were seen as a threat. Threats included almost any scientific observations, theories or experimental results.
    It also included religious beliefs different than those stated by official church doctrine and the Pope. The Papal Inquisition was officially launched in
    the year 1227 AD."
    "Can anyone tell me when the Inquisition officially ended? Anyone? Okay, hold up your hand if you think it officially ended in the 1700s." A number of
    hands went up. "Good, hold up your hand if you think it officially ended in the 1800s." A slightly smaller number of hands went up.
    "Would you find it surprising to discover that the Inquisition did not officially end until the year 1963?" There were rumblings of disbelief, and Michael
    noticed some people looking a bit hostile as if he was attacking their Church.
    "That is within the life times of many of your parents and definitely of your grandparents. The Inquisition went through periods where there was a lot of
    activity such as you mentioned, tortures, burnings, etc., but it also had quieter periods. There were no burnings at the stake by the Catholic Church that
    I am aware of in the 1960s but still, that was when the Inquisition officially ended."
    "This suppression of thought or perceived threats is not unique to the Catholic Church. Some Muslim countries