In Reply to: Yes, there's more posted by Question on March 06, 2005 at 19:38:39:
You illustrate a good point, one that is well worth discussing in detail. You said, 'I am saying this because in my case I decided to try the words and doctrines. It was not intellectual at all. It was the oposite of what you said. I first acted just because - and then one day faith appeared in me.'
Right! This is very interesting dynamics! If you totally immerse yourself in an all-absorbing lifestyle like the Family (one that has a strong pervasive belief system), then you do tend to absorb the beliefs as well. I don't know whether you'd call it faith by osmosis or peer pressure or what, but it happens. Behavioral scientists have studied this, tho if you asked me to quote a study, I couldn't give you data.
What I was talking about to Perry was approaching Christian faith with an inquiring mind, sceptical even, checking it out to see if there's reason to believe it, a personal intellectual investigation with no peer pressure. But what you're talking about, jumping into mob faith is a whole other dynamic, & I really do think it is fascinating. It happened to so many people who joined the Family. I don't think it's the same kind of personal decision, but more like being absorbed into the Borg because they assimilated you. That's different than coming to your own conclusions all on your own, because you examined things & were persuaded.
I would be interested to hear how Perry came about to believing in Jesus/the Family when he first met them. Perry, were you at an emotional low point & had tried other stuff & thot why not try Jesus? Or were you love-bombed & surrounded by a 'sample' & just sort of sucked into things? Or did you have time back then to sit back & think about things & weigh things & finally make a decision? Or do you get the feeling like you were on the diving board & someone just grabbed your hand & jumped off, taking you into the pool with them?