One of my favorite parts of the particular brand of Conservative Fundamentalism I grew up in, is that they tell you all you need to do is be saved, and then your life will be so much better, and you won't have to worry about the Afterlife, and God, THE GOD, is on your side. Then later they tell you, By the way, if you aren't really feeling so much better and fulfilled, it's because you need to get Filled With The Holy Spirit and Sanctified. If you ask how this is different than just being saved, no one can give you a real answer, but will vaguely point you to somewhere in Acts. You'll ask how you know you've been Holy Spirited, and they'll tell you, you just know or maybe even that you'll speak in Tongues, which really means that you can speak in languages you don't know, but most churches have switched it to some gibberish that is "Angel Language". If you manage all this, and you still don't feel right, it's probably because you don't really love God enough, and you're backsliding. It's always your fault if it's not working, so you fake it, and everyone else is faking it too.

Follow

@RickiTarr this is how all cults work. If you succeed and feel fulfilled it is because of (leader/god...) if you feel bad, it is your own fault for not trusting or working for (leader/god). Its a way of removing individuals' ownership of their internal life and installing a censor in the believers own mind.

Sign in to participate in the conversation
DPW (and friends) Mastodon Server

This is a server intended for use by people who have worked for the burningman project at large. Please be prepared to prove that this applies to you.