False Pattern Recognition, Conspiracy Theories, and the Need for Well-Calibrated Perception

~ Alastair Roberts

Today I discuss the dangers of poorly calibrated pattern recognition in biblical study.

Within this video, I mention ‘The Pyramid and the Garden’ by Scott Alexander. I also mention Gordon Wenham’s treatment of the Flood Narrative.

If you have any questions for me, please leave them on my Curious Cat account. If you have found these videos helpful, please tell your friends. If you would like to support my continued production of them, you can do so on my Patreon account. You can also get the audio of these videos on Soundcloud or iTunes.

Unknown's avatar

Published by Alastair Roberts

Alastair Roberts (PhD, Durham University) writes in the areas of biblical theology and ethics, but frequently trespasses beyond these bounds. He participates in the weekly Mere Fidelity podcast, blogs at Alastair’s Adversaria, and tweets at @zugzwanged.

4 thoughts on “False Pattern Recognition, Conspiracy Theories, and the Need for Well-Calibrated Perception”

  1. It is an extraordinary experience for me seeing, hearing the fully-fledged man, when last it was the boy I spoke to.
    I’ve just re-established contact with Phil and Joy.
    Wishing you well.

    Slán ‘s Beannacht Jim

    Like

    Reply

  2. So, when you spoke of pattern recognition, confirmation bias, conspiratorial thinking, and especially “one system to rule them all”, do you think the problems you discussed here are at work in systematic theology and large confessional documents? I would guess yes. I can see how to one degree or another it might be or would be—not that systematics is an inherently bad thing.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Aaron Siver Cancel reply