About the McCrady Annual Lecture on Belief Systems

The McCrady Annual Lecture was established by donor Richard E. ("Mac") McCrady as a means for informing and enlightening people about how the mind works, with emphasis on belief systems as to how they are formed, propagated, defended and changed. Most people tend to believe that they arrive at their belief systems through rational, objective thinking and that consequently what they believe to be true must be correct. Largely as a result of confirmation bias, individuals may close their minds to any input which does not support their beliefs, thinking that those who don't agree with them are incorrect. Their belief systems can thus give rise to dissension, demonizing, disharmony, and even war. If people could be made more aware of the fact that their belief systems are mostly, if not totally, determined by factors over which they have little or no control, they might be more appreciative and tolerant of those who disagree with them. The purpose of The McCrady Annual Lecture is not to evaluate the right or wrong of any particular belief, but to create awareness of belief systems and how they are formed, nourished, reinforced, changed, and extinguished, for the purpose of creating more understanding and tolerance among peoples.