A Difference in Perspective

Faith and the Cult Perspective

More and more lately, I’ve observed what I tend to refer to as a lemming personality in followers of a certain ideology. However, after reading an article about cult followers recently, I’m revising my perspective as it seems to describe the current national crisis more accurately from where I sit. The article pointed out people like me are trying to make sense of something which runs, not on logic, but on faith.

As such, no amount of verifiable facts is going to sway the devout followers from continuing to follow their false idols because “faith tells them their version of reality is the only correct one, and  everyone else is either lying, deceived, or evil.” As I’ve experienced myself, the more you offer them facts, the deeper they’ll dig in their heels while spouting the cult’s flawed rhetoric. Blind faith is, and always has been a tough nut to crack.

Whether it was the people who drank the poison-laced Kool-Aid with Jim Jones, the accusers during the Salem Witch Trials, or the children who turned their parents in for Hitler, they’ll continue to believe even as they, themselves are sold up the river, or throw themselves off a cliff at the insistence of their leader. In many ways, their minds are no longer their own. They’ve accepted the brainwashing as gospel and will go to any lengths asked of them to perpetuate the fraud.

Faith Knows No Logic

Where once, I might have attempted to engage in conversations to understand their perspective, I realize (if I hadn’t already) it’s a losing proposition, and no different than Robert Heinlein’s observation in “Time Enough for Love”:

Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time, and it annoys the pig

I’ve experienced this anomaly in the past when trying to discuss religious freedom with a staunch Catholic, but this is mass hypnotism on a much broader, and far more dangerous scale. Yet it reminds me, my purpose isn’t to sway others to my point of view, but to walk my own walk with honesty, compassion, and most of all, consistency.

I’ve never really considered myself a leader, nor aspired to the position. I honestly believe people have a right to their own perspective, whether it coincides with mine, or clashes dramatically. It doesn’t mean I don’t struggle with perspectives which appear to be detrimental to the health and well-being of the many. Yet the perspective presented by “The Fearless and Unapologetic Left”, where I found the words I quoted in the second paragraph, while skewed in it’s own way, helps me understand why trying to get a large number of Americans to see they’ve willingly allowed a fox to wreak havoc in the hen house of the American political system, while giving up their own rights and freedoms is never going to happen. Stronger, more powerful, more eloquent people than I have tried…and failed.

Maintaining Personal Peace in an Unkind World

As our rights and safeguards are rapidly falling into ruin with nothing, and no one blocking the way of those who want to, like a Corporate raider, break our country into small pieces and sell those pieces off to the highest bidder, I know my only real, achievable options are to do everything I can to maintain my personal peace, and align myself with those who remain free of the cult mentality; those who haven’t ceded their right and ability for critical thinking to the cult/hive mind.

Peaceful, constant resistance is still a powerful tool. Fighting back in unexpected ways is still our ally. Freaking out, screaming at the brainwashed, or resorting to violence will only push us further into the void, and towards what appears to be the death of an empire which managed to survive for almost 250 years before greed and self-interest tore it asunder.

Keeping the Spark of Hope Alive

Still, hope springs eternal, and mine is that logic, common sense, and compassion will find a way to turn things around, and even free at least some of the oblivious from the cult to which they’ve willingly succumbed. But it has to start with quiet, concerted resistance, and with finding a way to connect all the scattered dots without attracting notice until we are able to succeed with a single strike. Anything less will be met with what is becoming harsh, anti-Constitutional, lawless vengeance on the part of the cult.

I’m also continuing to remind myself the only approval I, or anyone else needs is self-approval. It isn’t blind approval, where any flaws or need for improvement are ignored. Instead, it’s accepting what is, but also accepting responsibility for continuing to improve on themselves so they keep learning and growing. It’s also a strong reminder that succumbing to cult/hive mind is not an option. As long as we seek, and find approval within ourselves, we won’t join the hordes of lemmings allowing a mental toddler to lead them blindly down into an abyss from which there’s no escape.

Grateful for a Modicum of Rationality

My gratitudes today are:

1. I’m grateful for continuing to be a critical thinker, and a fact checker.
2. I’m grateful for believing in science, and provable facts.
3. I’m grateful for eschewing false promises or people who expect blind faith.
4. I’m grateful for the people in my life who aren’t willing to sell their souls to a devil on Earth.
5. I’m grateful for the people who are in positions to speak out and be heard…and actually are.

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful. In her spare time, she’s also an accountant with extensive experience in Government Contracting.