Has sermonizing ever in history moved the mean on virtues, for a group larger than a few hundred, for more than 1 generation?
I’m inclined to think any such effect is transient. Persistent effects can be attributed to tech making it easier to do a right thing than a wrong thing.
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A sermon doesn't move the mean (much); a sermon makes a group more legible to itself.
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But, hell, I just got this from Kevin Simler, and you've probably already read it. meltingasphalt.com/here-be-sermon
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Yes he’s the one who got me thinking about sermons a few years ago
I don’t like them
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Huh! I think they serve a useful purpose: they're the group-level analogue of the individual action of sharpening and clarifying your own beliefs and priorities.
Admittedly, just as with the analogous self-talk, they're frequently abused.

