INTRODUCTION
Basis:
I read this article,
and thought, "Wow. It'd be neat to see if packages marked with
Christian and Muslim symbols would be equally tardy in reaching their
destinations as the Atheist marked packages."
So that is my goal- to
find out if three packages shipped at the same time would arrive at the same time, and if not, which of the marked packages has a
clear bias in favor, and which has a clear bias against.
How It Will Work:
In
the nature of the originating article, people wishing to participate
will be sent four packages, each marked in a different way. I will
gather data from the participants to see when the packages arrived.
Ideally, if all packages are sent out on the same date, then they should
arrive at the destination on the same day. How much does human bias
interfere with something as simple as the mail we receive?
Participation:
If
you are interested in participating in this social experiment, there is
a cost of $35 for 4 custom tie-dyed tee shirts. Shipping is $25 (that covers four packages sent by USPS Priority Mail). Upon receipt of each
package, you will be requested to contact me with the date and which of
the packages you received first, second and third.
If I were independently wealthy, I'd fund it myself. However, I'm not. I don't think Kickstarter would cover this sort of project, so consider this social experiment in that vein.
What Then?
I
will compile the data and see how biased people are on the topic of
religion in America. The findings will be used in a non-fiction book, THE BIAS OF AMERICA. The finished e-book will be sent to any participant who wishes to have it; while the manuscript gets shopped to publishers.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Don't judge a book by it's cover. We've all heard that before, right?
Unfortunately,
that isn't always the case. It is human nature to judge by sight,
whether friend or foe. That stems from when primitive man could easily
end up on the menu of a larger predator. As man has evolved society and
civilization as we know it today, our dangers are different.
With
mass media having the power it does, how we respond
to perceived threats has changed as well. The only thing left untouched
it our visceral reaction.
Since 9/11, those of the
Muslim faith have often been linked to the terrorists who enacted the
wanton destruction of lives. It's like saying the Westboro Baptist
Church is representative of Christianity, which it is
most assuredly not.
One cannot say the Christian faith
is without its fair share of bloodshed, after all, its founded on a
murder of a Jewish man. The Crusades, Burning Times, the Inquisition,
and to a much smaller and very American extent, the McCarthy era.
Convert and believe, or be persecuted/blacklisted/killed.
History speaks for itself, unfortunately.
As
more people become disillusioned with organized religion, many turn
Agnostic or Atheist. To them, it makes as much sense to say, "I don't
know." or "Science has my faith," as it does for a Christian
to believe a dead man arose from his grave. Logic isn't their God, nor
are all Atheists "Pinko Commies." To this day, Atheism carries a stigma of alienated God-hating, baby-killing murderers and rapists in waiting because they don't have a literature to lay down moral fiber.
Personally,
I believe there are many different pathways to spiritual enlightenment.
None are more correct than the others, because as entities, are entirely dependent upon it's adherents. Some people are simply more persuasive than others.
