The esoteric agenda

[Gbob]

So, my ranola loving hippie sister (who I love) spent the night pestering me on the phone to watch a movie called "The esoteric agenda". From her description, it sounded like your typical woo, but before I subject myself to watching it, does anyone have a quick link with the skeptic knowldge I need to get through it?

[Uncayimmy]

Maybe this should be moved to the Conspiracy Theory forum.

BTW, what is skeptic knowledge? You don't need special knowledge to get through it. You just need to ask the right questions, especially the ultimate skeptical question: How do we know that's true?"

[Miss_Kitt]

Or, better yet, "Why is it no one's heard of this movie if it's good enough to demand two hours of my time?"

I'm just sayin'. MK

[MG1962]

http://www.psyc3d.com/content/esoteric-agenda-review

[Ysidro]

Man, if the review can't even spell "Illuminati" and "Mayan" properly what chance does the movie stand? :D

[my_wan]

So, my ranola loving hippie sister (who I love) spent the night pestering me on the phone to watch a movie called "The esoteric agenda". From her description, it sounded like your typical woo, but before I subject myself to watching it, does anyone have a quick link with the skeptic knowldge I need to get through it?

The version I watched was:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6030443037963555139.

In this one they stated the myth of "nom de guerre". That is that when your name appears in all caps in a legal document it has a specific legal meaning, presumed sinister in this case. For a good description of the source of those legal conventions go here:
http://home.hiwaay.net/~becraft/NamesInCaps.htm.

The video is an almagation of such a huge variety of concepts, that go back to the beginning of recorded history, that it is impossible to respond to. Even in the video itself it implies some of it may be wrong but the volume implies it is essentially right. There's another way to take it. Even if they are right on every singular point it does not imply they are correct that it is a singular conspiracy spread throughout our history.

The fact is every corporation exist to out-compete its' competitors. If they don't they don't survive. That applies even if their business is to get you to contribute by donations. In essence the thesis of this movie is that since it's true corporations "conspire" they must all be connected though some secret organization that has persisted through our entire world history. That's the best skeptical point I can make without writing a book.

I wouldn't have any problems telling your sister that it's ok to be concerned about the motives of governments, etc. People can be very greedy at any cost to others. There are certainly people who fantasize about being part of and/or in control of such a conspiracy, yet it is mostly fantasy. No unlike the fantasy of these people that they are the holders of the ultimate truth. Or even the common mans fantasy of doing something really important. Thinking there is some super secret singular mega conspiracy, that ties it all to one source, only diverts you from issues you really should be paying attention to.

[TheSkepticCanuck]

Wow. That was mind-boggling. I have never before seen such an attempt at a unified theory of woo and conspiracy theories. This movie attempts to unify just about every conspiracy theory and every religion and spiritual belief system into a single unified conspiracy to dominate and enslave the entire world. My brain is still spasming from the sheer volume of BS presented there.

As Robert Hanlon would point out to the movie's creators:

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

[tyr_13]

I love that quote.

[ParrotPirate]

http://www.psyc3d.com/content/esoteric-agenda-review

Did you scroll down and read any of the comments following the original post? The posters seem at least as dim as the reviewer.