Sunday Sermonette: The Just World Fallacy

 The " just world fallacy " or illusion is a cognitive bias that assumes the consequences of actions are morally determined -- that people ultimately get what they deserve based on the rightness of their actions. Psalms 36 and 37 are among many that express this fallacy as fact. Indeed, the just world fallacy is central to most religions -- God rewards the righteous and faithful, and punishes the wicked and impious. Of course this is not true. Note verse 11 of Psalm 37, which the RSV translates as " The meek shall possess the land. " KJV translates this as " The meek shall inherit the earth, " and I suspect that the Hebrew is the same as Matthew 5, which is also usually translated as " The meek shall inherit the earth. " As we have seen, a lot of material in the gospels is lifted from the psalms. To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of theLord.36 Transgression speaks to the wicked    deep in his heart;there is no fear of God    before his eyes.2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.3 The words of his mouth are mischief and deceit;    he has ceased to act wisely and do good.4 He plots mischief while on his bed;    he sets himself in a way that is not good;    he spurns not evil.5 Thy steadfast love, OLord, extends to the heavens,    t...
Source: Stayin' Alive - Category: American Health Source Type: blogs