So…if you are a cuckold, it is god’s fault? Many people are dangerously gullible. Wayne Bent (a.k.a. Michael Travesser) made a new doomsday prophesy that the world would end (again) on 31 October, 2008. The congregation fasted for 2 weeks and deprived themselves of water for one week. Amazingly, Bent remained in jail and his congregation found themselves hungry and thirsty, but still in this world on 1 November, 2008. The fact that none of his prophesies are fulfilled does not seem to dissuade them. Perhaps Mr. Bent will meet a new messiah in jail and he will be the one coerced to consummate. This time it may be the will of someone other than god.
So…if you are a cuckold, it is god’s fault? Many people are dangerously gullible. Wayne Bent (a.k.a. Michael Travesser) made a new doomsday prophesy that the world would end (again) on 31 October, 2008. The congregation fasted for 2 weeks and deprived themselves of water for one week. Amazingly, Bent remained in jail and his congregation found themselves hungry and thirsty, but still in this world on 1 November, 2008. The fact that none of his prophesies are fulfilled does not seem to dissuade them. Perhaps Mr. Bent will meet a new messiah in jail and he will be the one coerced to consummate. This time it may be the will of someone other than god.
One of the techniques used (consciously or unconsciously) by cult leaders is to promote the idea that something wonderful is about to happen. Keeps the sheep in line, looking at the illusion rather than asking what the hell is going on here.
One of the techniques used (consciously or unconsciously) by cult leaders is to promote the idea that something wonderful is about to happen. Keeps the sheep in line, looking at the illusion rather than asking what the hell is going on here.
An observation/question, not an opinion; but what I fail (and have always failed) to grasp is the why. What drives people to seek “answers” in the most unlikely and just plain weirdest of places? Are people generally that effing miserable and/or desperate? Is it plain old fear of death? Is it an offshoot of an evolutionary tendency to congregate? Or is it perhaps, as I have suggested elsewhere, a certain amount of laziness about finding one’s own way and creating one’s own sense of purpose. Is it a combination of the above or something I’ve completely overlooked; because this is one area in which I am absolutely on the outside looking in. Like watching someone do jumping jacks in a minefield, the motivation is beyond my comprehension.
[ Edited: 13 November 2008 03:50 AM by mpbrockman]
One of the techniques used (consciously or unconsciously) by cult leaders is to promote the idea that something wonderful is about to happen. Keeps the sheep in line, looking at the illusion rather than asking what the hell is going on here.
An observation/question, not an opinion; but what I fail (and have always failed) to grasp is the why. What drives people to seek “answers” in the most unlikely and just plain weirdest of places? Are people generally that effing miserable and/or desperate? Is it plain old fear of death? Is it an offshoot of an evolutionary tendency to congregate? Or is it perhaps, as I have suggested elsewhere, a certain amount of laziness about finding one’s own way and creating one’s own sense of purpose. Is it a combination of the above or something I’ve completely overlooked; because this is one area in which I am absolutely on the outside looking in. Like watching someone do jumping jacks in a minefield, the motivation is beyond my comprehension.
All of the above? One thing I’ve noticed is that people have a tendency to become addicted to sensations: not only the standard addictions like sex, drugs, and rock & roll or mystery novels, but also things like ideologies and emotional states with their concomitant viscero-autonomic and kinesthetic sensations (I know a philosophy prof specializing in ethics who is addicted to feelings of righteous indignation, and so manipulates situations in order to experience that). I suppose that a state of fascination and worship centered on a guru and his or her pronouncements would fit that category. The cynical question to ask is whether or not the guru is providing good service for the money? Is the entertainment value worth the cost?
‘One of the techniques used (consciously or unconsciously) by cult leaders is to promote the idea that something wonderful is about to happen. Keeps the sheep in line, looking at the illusion rather than asking what the hell is going on here’
burt
Have you read the work of Anthony Storr? If so, opinion?
The cynical question to ask is whether or not the guru is providing good service for the money? Is the entertainment value worth the cost?
Well, that brings up a slew of surreal parallels. Rev. Moon = soap operas? Shree Rajneesh = James Bond flicks? Jim Jones = Billy Ray Cyrus?
I agree with your thesis, though. I know several people (and have some of this myself) who thrive on anger (the adrenaline rush, the motivational surge, the heightened concentration and reaction times et al). I used to have a drummer who would sometimes intentionally piss me off before important shows because he said I gave better performances that way.
This is something I suppose I haven’t really considered given that I have the personality type that does not enjoy groupthink or too much in the way of enforced peace and tranquility. So the idea that these would be considered enjoyable, even addictive, states by some is an explanation that does not leap readily to my mind. Like I said - jumping jacks in a minefield. Thanks for the insight - I shall consider this.
And McC, I myself have not read Mr. Storr’s work. Any specific titles you’d care to suggest?
[ Edited: 13 November 2008 07:42 PM by mpbrockman]
‘One of the techniques used (consciously or unconsciously) by cult leaders is to promote the idea that something wonderful is about to happen. Keeps the sheep in line, looking at the illusion rather than asking what the hell is going on here’
burt
Have you read the work of Anthony Storr? If so, opinion?
Here is Anthony Storr’s short bio from WIKI. I have seen his book ‘Feet of Clay’ mentioned in some of my other reading, but have not read any of his work yet. Sounds like an interesting man. A psychoanalyst that wrote about historical figures, basically.
Here is Anthony Storr’s short bio from WIKI. I have seen his book ‘Feet of Clay’ mentioned in some of my other reading, but have not read any of his work yet. Sounds like an interesting man. A psychoanalyst that wrote about historical figures, basically.
