Eating the Apple Part 3 – Exploitation in the Name of God: Uncovering the Dark Side of Religious Manipulation
Religious manipulation is a dark and troubling topic. Unfortunately, some individuals and groups use religion and the concept of God to exploit and control others for their gain. God knows I had fallen prey to this, especially when I was younger. In this blog, I’ll explore some of the ways I was duped now that reflection and gray hair have given me valuable insights into how these people and organizations work.
One principle often used by these individuals is the idea of authority and power. They may claim to have a special connection to God or divine knowledge and use this to control and dominate others. They may also use fear and intimidation to maintain this power, claiming that disobedience or questioning their authority will lead to punishment from God. This is often implied subtly and casually, backed up with selected scriptures or holy texts taken out of context.
Another principle used by these individuals is the idea of salvation and redemption. They may promise salvation or redemption to those who follow their teachings or donate money to their cause, using this to manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals. Redemption is very effective; who doesn’t want forgiveness? Who doesn’t want a clean slate? And most effective, who doesn’t want financial blessings?
A third principle is the false sense of community. These leaders may create a sense of belonging and community among their followers, but this is often used to control and manipulate them. They may also use this sense of community to isolate their followers from the outside world, making it difficult for them to leave or seek help. For me, I had to come to the hard realization that it wasn’t God I felt connected to, it was the people. When the people were gone so was the feeling of closeness to a God. So, was it God I was following or a congregation? The answer was eye-opening to me.
It’s important to note that these actions and principles do not align with the actual teachings of any religion and are, in fact, manipulation and abuse of the faith for personal gain. It’s always important to be critical of any claims of authority and to question the motivations of those who claim to speak for God. Additionally, it’s essential to seek guidance from respected and reputable religious leaders and to be skeptical of any group or individual that seems to be primarily focused on financial gain or personal power. It’s also crucial to be aware of the warning signs of manipulation and abuse and to seek help if you or someone you know is being taken advantage of in the name of religion.
Ultimately, God’s true principles, according to most religions, promote love, compassion, and kindness toward all. Any individual or group that uses religion as a tool for exploitation and abuse goes against these fundamental principles and should be condemned and held accountable for their actions.
The pain and devastation these organizations and individuals bring can be horrific to the ones who fall prey to them. We must deny the temptation to belong to a group that makes us feel special or wanted.
We can certainly take the teachings of love and forgiveness to heart and apply them to those around us. As I see it, life has already given us a church or congregation just by proximity. We encounter people every day in our interactions. We live in neighborhoods, and we have families. This is what life has given us first as our church or congregation. If we can’t show love, patience, and peace toward those in our lives, we have no business doing it with local church members or within our specific religious belief systems.
Join us next time when we explore how religious indoctrination in children can have a significant impact on their adult life in Eating the Apple Part 4 The Long-Term Effects of Religious Indoctrination in Children.
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