TED Conversations

Michael Roberts

TEDCRED 10+

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Is 'sharing TED talks" just another form of evangelism?

I've seen a few discussion here that revolve around the question of getting the 'good word' out about TEDtalks to our friends, family and co-workers. The language accompanying these discussions tends to remind me of the language one hears when dealing with the religiously motivated. Are we who want to 'spread the word' of TED simply yet another group who want to spread our 'gospel' or is there something fundamentally different (dare I say better) about those who try to spread the messages we see here than those who represent religious factions?

Topics: TED Conversations sharing TEDTalks
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    Vasil Rangelov 50+

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    TED TranslatorAssociate
    Jul 18 2011: In terms of passion, I suppose you're right... in terms of approach though, I don't think so. The TED approach is show&tell, the religious approach is make-believe (also known as "pretend"). TED relies on results (physical, explanatory or political), religion relies on popularity and authority.
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    Scott Armstrong 50+

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    Jul 12 2011: I think sharing and spreading ideas and a religious belief is fine. It's when indoctrination gets involved that everything turns to custard.

    Don't sell it to me, just give it some feel.
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    Ivaylo Sotirov

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    TED Translator
    Jul 11 2011: I think it might be similar because people essentially are similar.

    No matter if you are religious, agnostic, atheist, naturalist, new age, whatever, when we see something we identify with deeply I think most of us will act similarly in the ways we would try to attract others to identify with what we appreciated. So people who believe in something and are emotional about it will act in the same manner, no matter what the subject – a TED talk.

    And the majority of the TED talks I think would be worth spreading because they would encourage the scientific method and it is the best and most beneficial body of techniques we’ve come up with to approach the world with.
    While religious factions will only encourage themselves with bodies of techniques designed to disregard others and ascertain only their views – often with holy texts that you’re not allowed to scrutinize.

    One encourages inquiry and curiosity while the other encourages devotion, I think one clearly stands better but many will disagree on which one.
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      anthony bruni 30+

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      Jul 12 2011: agreed we have a tendency to share ideas as a species, which is a large part of why we have been so successful.
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    Harald Jezek 50+

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    Associate
    Jul 11 2011: Why ? It's the same as sharing any other site our resource with people you think might appreciate it.
    Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc make a living off this sharing.
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