In Reply to: Re: reposted from Gen Ex: the Family is basically a Pagan belief posted by Mr. Don on November 05, 2006 at 17:33:01:
The question I keep asking is: What are some good ways to expose these sick and blasphemous teachings for what they are. A lot depends on the person, don't you think?
Some people will be more readily convinced if they study scripture and learn a different way of interpretation. Others might do better if they're asked about the logic of their beliefs. For example, what's the point in witnessing your faith to people if they get another chance at salvation after death through the aid of spirit helpers?
Another part of me says this: People who have been traumatized frequently believe quite strongly in the paranormal, in spirits and divinations. I've never seen a study on this, but I have observed it in treatment. Trauma to the mind produces altered states that come and go according to how stressed out and anxious a person is. In some regards, I see the paganism that TF has embraced as being the natural, collective response of traumatized people.
So maybe another answer is to help Family members calm down and relax enough that they begin to feel like they have some ability to exert a little personal control, particularly in the area of choices. Instead of being passive players blown about by the winds of fortune (or the latest escapist, magical thought formulas from Zerby & Company), we can reinforce to Family members that they have the power to make presonal choices, and that these choices allow them to set goals and achieve expected outcomes.