One has to consider the function of the mental and ideological system.
If I begin with a philosophical or religious perspective that is severely binary and is established in a strict either/or, and establish as an a priori that opposition received is confirmation that I am 'doing right' and doing what God wants me to do; then all the opposition received, no matter of what sort, is naturally and if you will logically chalked up to demonic opposition. "I am doing God's work. I am getting opposition. Clearly, Satan is opposing me. Good! This shows that I am on the right track! Avanti!"
My opposition to IC's ideology, yours, Harry's -- the entire forum and indeed the entire world's -- can only be seen by him as evidence of being on the right track. "They will hate you as they hated Me". That sort of thing. Seen in a certain way the use of this manipulation could be seen as extremely evil. And of course all through the ages people have had Issues" with priestly abuse of power.
One has in my opinion to seek out the origin of this imperious position. And the origin of it is in a specific assertions by a priestly class among the Hebrews. They wrote the narratives. They held on to them. They organized them. They wielded them. All *in the name of God*. It is a delicious position.
The first element is that of Election. To have been selected by God to be 'God's chosen people'. Once one sees that this is a self-generated assertion put in the mouth, as it were, of an extremely destructive imago of divinity (the Hebrew Yahweh), and once one understand that assertion put in the mouth of this God is bound up with a command to -- literally -- destroy other peoples who conceive of God differently; to kill them, to rob them, to take over their land; once this is made clear it can really change how one views the entire *construct* through which the Abrahamic religions have been built. They share a core origin.
If *ideas have consequences* this is a ripe area for inquiry.
I submit that the adamancy of IC's stance is evidence of that intolerant, arrogating position. It cannot arrive at compromise but must actually destroy opposing idea-sets. It defines as *enemy* all who will not bend to its will.
Again, I will make every effort to provide some examples soon.
But the key is this: these are not 'revelations from God' they are narratives concocted, cynically, by a priestly class within an ideology of emotional, psychological, existential and indeed cosmological manipulation. It is I think impossible for a *true believer* to even consider this.
The lesson? That powerful elites with cynical intentions, methods and tactics can *enslave* people and keep them 'bound' through mental-manipulation. Those who have this power do not want to relinquish it and since it works well they seek ways to expand its use. This points to all different manner of mind-manipulation, throught control, brainwashing, propaganda and disinformation. In our own day there are specialist in these areas:
Lacewing continues:“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.”
-- Edward Bernays in Propaganda (1928)
It's just fascinating to see nearly everyone challenge your tactics and claims in the same ways, and then come to the same conclusions about you throughout the years, and yet you carry on as if no one notices/remembers.
In my own view, and though it is undeniable that Christianity has been infused with *Hebrew Idea-Imperialism*, the difficult and challenging part is discerning what is actually *good* (upstanding, valid, verifiable, and positive-oriented) within a contaminated system. How does one sort this out?That seems to be an extraordinary example of the powerful extent of blindness and denial associated with (your) religious fervor, despite your denial of religious identity.
Because what I notice about IC is what I am coming to believe is a core narcissism (or something like it). He does nothing but harm to those who have a receptive attitude toward his presentation. What he achieves is the precise opposite of what he claims to desire. He drives people away from being able to *appreciate* both Judaism and Christianity -- yet he does not care. I find this, at the very least, curious.
Yet this too must be *success*.
