The Cult of Christianity

[Sandy Eggo]

How do YOU view members of a cult? Let's say, the Heaven's Gate cult, whose members all killed themselves in the hopes of riding the UFO in the tail of Comet Hale-Bopp.

1) Probably, you would say that members of a cult have lost the ability to think for themselves.  They abandon rational, critical thinking.  (Most normal people would not accept the idea of salvation in the tail of a comet.)  Now, consider the claims of the bible- walking on water, parting of the Red Sea, sticks to snakes, Jonah and the whale, Noah and the Ark, etc.  Do people accept these things without question or critical thinking?  They most certainly do!

2) You would probably say that they do not have any thoughts that are different from their leadership. Now, do most Christians hold wildly different viewpoints from their leaders?  No.

3) You would also say that they do not question what their leaders say, and are willing to do ANYTHING they are told to do for salvation, including the killing of others, or themselves. Most Christians would not question what their minister or priest told them, and they would do anything to secure their salvation, if they were told to do it by their leaders.

4) You would say that they deeply and sincerely believe that they have found the truth, and that they are strongly defensive when they are confronted on areas of their beliefs. This statement applies exactly to all Christians.

5) Also, you know that people who are in cults always deny that they are in a cult...

http://freethought.mbdojo.com/cult_of_christianity.html

[Sandy Eggo]

"A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing..."

Fundamentalist Christianity stresses excessive devotion to Jesus above all else, marking them as a cult.

"employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control ..."

The Christian Church uses several known brainwashing techniques to gain and then keep converts. Here is an example: Ever been to a church service where the same song is sung over and over and over again? I have, and it is a common practice. What the vast majority of church members do not know is that this is a brainwashing technique. The repetition of the song breaks down mental barriers and puts people in an extremely suggestible state. The music plays a part as well. Deep bass tones played rhythmically and repeatedly will cause people to enter an altered state of consciousness - they go in and out of trance while the song is playing. Watch a Charismatic praise & worship service or pay attention next time you are in a church service. You will notice some folks staring blankly into space. They are in a hypnotic trance. Some preachers also use a speaking technique called "voice roll", which also has a hypnotic effect. While in a relaxed altered state, most people's defenses (and critical thinking skills) are down and what they are taught at that time they will not necessarily think through for themselves. So, while the defenses are down, the brainwashing and indoctrination takes place.

"use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience..."

http://www.dicksutphen.com/html/battlemind.html

[Locutus]

True!   Like I said on another thread, one has to disengage their brain to believe in ANY of that crap; Christianity included. 

[Palehorse]

Yup!

[Locutus]

Case in point right here.  Look at this absolute stupidity.   

In times like these, as we wrestle within ourselves, our communities and with our thoughts as Christians and Jews, some reflect on the words of Christ when he taught us to "turn the other cheek". Undoubtedly, millions of Americans are asking themselves, if He were here, right now, what would Christ do?


This is where issues of faith require absolute clarity. If Jesus Christ were here, right now – at least as his prophecy reads to me – I would not be here. I would have already experienced the Rapture, the marriage supper would have ended, and He would have returned clothed in white linen to battle the Beast on earth.


You may not know me, nor have read my work, but I am a true believer and scholar. I have studied – as many have – the Qur'an, Torah and Bible. I concur on the overt wicked nature of the Qur'an, I know of Taqiyya, recognize it in use and fully realize the subservient nature of the earlier texts to the later writings. The Torah teachings help us understand the life of my ancestors dating to the Patriarchs, and my Holy Bible teaches God's words and the ministry of Christ through His saving blood and the redemption of our sins. Christ's Revelation as shared with John will come to fruition in our days, evidenced by the current 7th ascension of the Roman Empire (a subject I've devoted thousands of words to) and I fear not. But Christ is not here, not yet.


Christ taught us to turn the other cheek, figuratively. He also displayed rage where appropriate, lest we forget. The temple bookies are Christ's finest act of NOT turning the other cheek. When God's temples (or those places specifically regarded as holy by Christ, or Christ's children) are denigrated, Christ, by example, approves retribution.


Remember: that evil spirit responsible for authoring the Qur'an kidnapped our Patriarchs, our Master and attempted to alter the very words of Christ when he hijacked the Bible. Our Holy Book was written in 35AD; the abomination known as the Qur'an would not be penned until ~650 years later. If Jesus Christ had read the Qur'an – considering His actions in the temple with the money exchangers – I feel confident (based on my roots in Christianity dating to my upbringing in my grandfather's Pentecostal church, now substantiated by years of theological study as an adult), he would speak to us in such a way that would strongly encourage us to remain EXTREMELY vigilant.


He WILL return soon. Until then, on THIS subject – I truly believe we should NOT turn the other cheek.


God bless us all.

[Locutus]

I would post a link to that, but it came from Facebook and requires a login to see it.  So I posted the text of the note for our non-Facebook members.

Pay particular attention to the part in bold.  That dumbass is stating with certainty that the events of the Book of Revelation will occur in our lifetime.  How many know what those events are?   Now all it takes is a few religious loons with their fingers on the wrong buttons, believing they're hearing from the Sky Daddy, and we've got an absolute disaster on our hands. Only it won't be at the hands of any deity;  it'll be our own doing. 

That's why religion is so VERY dangerous. 

[Locutus]

And one more time, I'll quote Bill Maher.  He said it best right here:

"The irony of religion is that because of its power to divert man to destructive courses, the world could actually come to an end. The plain fact is, religion must die for mankind to live. The hour is getting very late to be able to indulge in having in key decisions made by religious people. By irrationalists, by those who would steer the ship of state not by a compass, but by the equivalent of reading the entrails of a chicken. George Bush prayed a lot about Iraq, but he didn't learn a lot about it. Faith means making a virtue out of not thinking. It's nothing to brag about. And those who preach faith, and enable and elevate it are intellectual slaveholders, keeping mankind in a bondage to fantasy and nonsense that has spawned and justified so much lunacy and destruction. Religion is dangerous because it allows human beings who don't have all the answers to think that they do. Most people would think it's wonderful when someone says, "I'm willing, Lord! I'll do whatever you want me to do!" Except that since there are no gods actually talking to us, that void is filled in by people with their own corruptions and limitations and agendas. And anyone who tells you they know, they just know what happens when you die, I promise you, you don't. How can I be so sure? Because I don't know, and you do not possess mental powers that I do not. The only appropriate attitude for man to have about the big questions is not the arrogant certitude that is the hallmark of religion, but doubt. Doubt is humble, and that's what man needs to be, considering that human history is just a litany of getting shit dead wrong. This is why rational people, anti-religionists, must end their timidity and come out of the closet and assert themselves. And those who consider themselves only moderately religious really need to look in the mirror and realize that the solace and comfort that religion brings you actually comes at a terrible price. If you belonged to a political party or a social club that was tied to as much bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, violence, and sheer ignorance as religion is, you'd resign in protest. To do otherwise is to be an enabler, a mafia wife, for the true devils of extremism that draw their legitimacy from the billions of their fellow travelers. If the world does come to an end here, or wherever, or if it limps into the future, decimated by the effects of religion-inspired nuclear terrorism, let's remember what the real problem was that we learned how to precipitate mass death before we got past the neurological disorder of wishing for it. That's it. Grow up or die. "

[LOsborne]

How do I view a cult?

As an untapped market for graphic tee-shirt sales! And maybe the odd bumper-sticker or two.

[The Troll]

  Have you ever noticed that religion is like a large graft.
                  0% Religious *          100%  Intelligence   *

                                       *                                          *

                                       *                                          *

                                       *                                          *

                                       *                                          *

             100% Religious  *                0% Intelligence  *   And it grows this >