Prosperity TV
Most of the religions are but companies, where is the main goal is to suck money from the poor into the company.
How this work:
1. Slightly change other religions rules on order to make your religion a new one, and say that yours is the true one, the others are idiots.
2. Aiming for the poor, because riches are very hard to manipulate (there is a reason why they are riches).
3. Make the followers chosen ones. (Yuppy, God has chosen meeee!!!).
4. Promise them Haven, make them lambs (lambs are passive creatures, that’s why they don’t make lions or tigers).
5. Give them rules to follow. They take it serious, because the chosen ones job must be hard and important, even if the rules are completely dumb ones.
6. Order them to collect followers. (More followers, more money).
7. Ask donation from the followers. (We got the money, it is time to drink.)
Most of the religions are but companies, where is the main goal is to suck money from the poor into the company.
How this work:
1. Slightly change other religions rules on order to make your religion a new one, and say that yours is the true one, the others are idiots.
2. Aiming for the poor, because riches are very hard to manipulate (there is a reason why they are riches).
3. Make the followers chosen ones. (Yuppy, God has chosen meeee!!!).
4. Promise them Haven, make them lambs (lambs are passive creatures, that’s why they don’t make lions or tigers).
5. Give them rules to follow. They take it serious, because the chosen ones job must be hard and important, even if the rules are completely dumb ones.
6. Order them to collect followers. (More followers, more money).
7. Ask donation from the followers. (We got the money, it is time to drink.)
Glad you added ‘causes’ and ‘movements’ as they have the same impact.
I also believe the connecting with one or more of these sometimes starts with an innocent situation: it’s raised in a conversation unexpectedly, just happened to be there, ... And then they were ‘challenged’ as to their thoughts or beliefs. And, rather than responding in ways aligned with their values (as they saw them at the time, probably not firmly held maybe), they choose to “not draw attention” by staying silent. The connection is made - initially at least in other people’s minds. And it often grows in their own thinking and actions from there!
I’m a strong believer that we must, absolutely must, Consider things. First and foremost, we must determine what are true values are and WHY they are important to us. Then we must Consider each situation encountered in terms of those values. It’s entirely possible that the situation could lead to a change in values - but we must Consider!!!
It may be prudent or desirable not to take strong exception to what’s happening in that situation. But we do need to calmly show our disagreement, maybe by leaving - better with a simple statement of disagreement. Otherwise it’s “connection by association.”
I think this happens a lot. For example, I have a hard time believing the numbers of people supporting (or at least seemingly doing so) Hitler each Considered his message / plans and decided consciously to join his efforts. Because of fear or happening to be in a public place where a demonstration happened - or something, they didn’t Consider things even then and were an unintended “connection by association.”
It’s a tough issue for sure. Who knows what I myself might do in any situations I might encounter. I believe I’d do as I’ve suggested and Consider. I hope I would. I know I have ... But I haven’t been in a ‘Hitler’ situation either. I’m guessing (hoping ...) that there were many troops, guards, ... that felt they had no options ... (And of course there were, sadly, lots of true believers!)
We really have to be mindful of our right - and responsability to delight in the sovereignty of our minds. There are challenges to overcome,
But Randy, the purposes we are drawn to at times, in the case of religions, show to be contributing to the good of the world...
The likes of Mother Theresa
Mother Teresa contributed to the world by her personal actions. Whether she cloaked that in religion or not, it remains her personal actions that made a difference.
Something we can all understand, then implement.