"Faith comes by hearing"

[John V]

The number is approx. 44,000
The division into denominations was caused by disagreements within the church, mostly

Yep. IOW, people were thinking about things, and not just blindly following.

I was referring to the question whether religious leaders use psychological tricks knowingly

I've said before that, even if you don't believe the Bible is true, you should give props to those bronze-age goat herders who wrote something that tapped into the human psyche so well that it's still being followed by a big chunk of humanity thousands of years later.

I can't see why they would give everyone, including slaves and animals, every seventh day off.

Anyway, do religious leaders use psychology? Sure, some of them do. Why do you call them tricks?

[vorlon13]

 . . . .
I've said before that, even if you don't believe the Bible is true, you should give props to those bronze-age goat herders who wrote something that tapped into the human psyche so well that it's still being followed by a big chunk of humanity thousands of years later.

I can't see why they would give everyone, including slaves and animals, every seventh day off.

Anyway, do religious leaders use psychology? Sure, some of them do. Why do you call them tricks?

followed ?

really?


99% of those 40,000+ schisms are filled to overflowing with scripture cherry pickers that think they know better than God/Jesus/Ghost about what's important to follow and what ain't.

God needs to throw in the towel and get in line behind his supposed 'followers' cause they sure as hell ain't following Him.

[John V]

followed ?

really?


99% of those 40,000+ schisms are filled to overflowing with scripture cherry pickers that think they know better than God/Jesus/Ghost about what's important to follow and what ain't.

God needs to throw in the towel and get in line behind his supposed 'followers' cause they sure as hell ain't following Him.

See? One atheist says we're a bunch of sheep, another says we're doing as we please.

[Spooky]

followed ?

really?


99% of those 40,000+ schisms are filled to overflowing with scripture cherry pickers that think they know better than God/Jesus/Ghost about what's important to follow and what ain't.

God needs to throw in the towel and get in line behind his supposed 'followers' cause they sure as hell ain't following Him.

See? One atheist says we're a bunch of sheep, another says we're doing as we please.

Why can't it be both?

[Longhorn]

Anyway, do religious leaders use psychology? Sure, some of them do. Why do you call them tricks?

Because the tactics commonly used are designed to subcosciously instill ideas in people's heads - fool them, and that's dishonest

See? One atheist says we're a bunch of sheep, another says we're doing as we please.

And? Different people say different things
Who said we had to hold the same opinion on everything?

[John V]

Because they're somewhat contradictory. A small amount of splintering could fit with the sheep characterization, but not the amount of splintering that's alleged. 

[Longhorn]

Because they're somewhat contradictory. A small amount of splintering could fit with the sheep characterization, but not the amount of splintering that's alleged. 

People who blindly follow leaders are labeled sheep, but the ones causing the schisms were leaders
It would be a gross overgeneralisation to say all religious people are sheep, obviously

[vorlon13]

and compulsively and blindly following the scripture cherry picker in the pulpit. And if he does spew something that offends, there are 40,000 more schisms to cherry pick to find something more comfortable and inline with what limited degree of piety and fealty you're willing to render unto the Lawd.

[John V]

Because the tactics commonly used are designed to subcosciously instill ideas in people's heads - fool them, and that's dishonest

First, what tactics are those?

Second, do you have a problem with such tactics per se, or do you just have a problem when they're used to convey information which you disagree with?

And? Different people say different things
Who said we had to hold the same opinion on everything?

Which side do you hold?

[Longhorn]

First, what tactics are those?

Second, do you have a problem with such tactics per se, or do you just have a problem when they're used to convey information which you disagree with?

Regular, mandatory attendance, trance stimulation, big fancy buildings, repetitive drills and condemning people who don't conform, guilt trips, basing an individual's self-worth on obedience to the gorup and following of the doctrine, asking for public donations (sometimes even going as far as reading the list of those who donated so that those who didn't are known and shunned)

The fact that I disagree with the message doesn't influence my view on the tactics, they're dishonest and would still be if the message changed

Which side do you hold?

People are different
There are many who do in fact behave like sheep and only follow, but I'd never deny that there are believers who think for themselves, it's a false dichotomy to say it's either or