The power of Authority Figures and Group think

What I strive for is to think freely. For myself, it is always a struggle. There is much brain washing, mind control and group pressure going on all around us everyday.

The only way to think freely is to get in touch with your higher self (and God) and break away from all outside human authority when it comes to making decisions. By this I mean any religion that dictates to you how to think and behave, instead of showing you the advantages of Love.

When you act with love, you always do the right thing.

An Example of Group think:

If you read the old testament, the book of Joshua, you will find yourself reading about the merciless slaughter of the Men, women, children and animals of Jericho and the rest of the land.

This action, according to the Bible, was commanded by “The Lord.” (or so Joshua told the people.)

Apparently when Joshua reached the so-call “Promise land” there was a problem. It was already occupied.

Now whether or not there was some person or entity giving orders to Joshua or not, the solutions was to murder without mercy, all of the inhabitants of that land.

In order to do this, there had to be a reason. One does not go into a city and chop off the head of a helpless infant without a good reason.

Therefore the troops were told that all the people in the land were “evil” and claimed that he had been told this by “The Lord.”

They were told not to harm the vineyards, or the homes or the crops, but to kill all the inhabitants including their animals. They were told to bring the gold and give it unto the “Lord.”
Later, in other cities, they were allowed to keep some gold for themselves.

I have read this book several times. This kind of slaughter is a perfect example of humans tendency to follow the orders from their authority and go along with the group think, even when it might go against their own conscience.

Some of the soldiers did go against the orders and took pity on some of the people in the land.
They left the group think.

Looking at this story in a logical way it is easy to understand what really happened and why. It was simply a story of conquest. The invasion and takeover of a land. It happens all the time.

Joshua needed the promised land so he took it. His troops took his word for it that he was speaking to “The Lord” and they obeyed his authority. Some questioned him, some did not. Some went against him, some were afraid to. Many were killed on the spot for questioning his authority.

For the sake of argument, lets assume the story in the book of Joshua was a true historical account. Lets assume the slaughter and invasion did take place.

When modern day people defend the killing of babies with their logic (which I think is twisted) that this slaughter was ordered by “The Lord” their God, – (Just because Joshua said it was,) It is my opinion that they are as guilty as those who went into that land and did the killing themselves, and they are probably capable of murdering people today simply because they believe those people to be “evil” according their chosen authority. It is my opinion that these people are scary and dangerous people under the influence of group think and their powerful authority.To find what is true you have to open your mind. That is not easy. All information is valid.


How many people are willing to open their minds and look at new information about reality without coming to a screeching halt and start kicking and screaming NO NO NO that is not true before they look at or consider it?

Is obedience to authority a moral virtue?

So much of the bible was written to list history and so much was written to make a point. It hard to discern the difference and also its been translated 7 times in 7 different languages and that changes the aspects over and over again.

I just know I have a loving heavenly father, he is all powerful or he isn't. I believe he is, and we have such a hard time looking at things from his perspective and knowing his plan. We are here to short a time to be able to understand why he does what he does, I just know what ever he does its only done with Love and that is the greatest of all the laws written in the bible .......Love.

And that is what I call "Faith."

Yes its faith based on knowledge though not blind faith.

A person with faith does not worry and they do not question what is. They simply accept what is and deal with it. They do not blame others and they do not blame God for their woes.

They don't always understand how everything works but they have faith that it will, and that there is a reason or cause for everything. They don't have to understand it, it is not possible to see the intricate pattern of circumstance that governs all that happens around us.

You are delayed for that appointment, and that delay may have saved your life. Always relax and trust. Always act with love.

Jeannie

If the story of Joshua is to be believed from a religious viewpoint then clearly God is saying that it's ok to slaughter non-Christians.

That was the rationale that God gave Joshua. It's ok to slaughter them because they don't worship me!

The creator of this universe said that?

No way!

Only if you are a small child is obedience a wise thing, and only if your parents are not "evil" or "unwise." If they are loving with your best interest at heart, then you might want to listen to them and obey their "advice."

If you are a small child and your parents tell you to steal someone's purse and you feel, even as a small child, that it is wrong, then you should not obey your parents. You want to obey your own authority if an outside authority seems wrong to you.

You are always your own authority. That is free will.

Jeannie

Well on that note, the other side of the spectrum. You are saying that you should always follow what you feel is morally right, and as long as your parents are not "evil" or "unwise" you should listen to them. Although how is a little child supposed to distinguish what is "evil" or "unwise"

If the child was raised from the time he/she was born that theft, racism, murder, and any other horrible crime was perfectly fine and that they shouldn't care what anyone else thinks. Then to that child these things may seem moral and reasonable and they are trying to be oppressed by society. At that point who is classified as the free thinker. Both groups of people truly believe what they are doing is morally acceptable and that the other person is wrong.

I know based on what you are saying the child that was raised to be dishonest and mean would be labeled as a group thinker. Although what if that child truly believes what he is doing is acceptable. Then they are two free thinkers on two ends of the spectrum.

Im speaking of secular authorities. Such as governments We are taught that obedience to secular law is a moral virtue. Most people seem to believe this whether they realize it or not.

The brain is like a computer. You can program it to do just about anything. When a computer is processing its given tasks, computer geeks call that "thinking". But the computer really is not "thinking." It is just following its programing.

That would be the case for the child trained and programed with "wrong thinking" all of its life. That child still has a choice to either reject the programing or accept it. It is easier to accept the programming and fit in with the group. If the child were a robot it would never reject the programing. But the child is not a robot, even though the brain does work like an organic computer.

The child has a connection to its higher being. That connection is connected to its higher being and so on and so forth until it goes all the way up to the highest being of all...what we call God.

If the child listens to that inner voice, it can have the power to reject its programming and rebel against its evil authority.

Jeannie

Of course there is a reason for law and a reason for governments. It is part of the manifestation of bringing chaos into order that happens to all societies and environments.

Yes we are taught to obey the law. But it is just the law. It has nothing to do with moral virtue. There would be no need for law at all if all people would act with divine LOVE towards each other.

Jeannie

Edit P.S.
The only real law are not the man made laws. They are the laws of the Universe. These are the laws of attraction and manifestation, and the Laws of action and reaction. These are automatic laws.

If a person breaks a secular law, has that person committed an immoral act?

I don't know. I guess it would depend on what you define as immoral and moral.

Is secular law the same as moral law? They overlap somewhat. But not always The penalties for disobeying secular law is much harsher that the penalties for disobeying moral laws. If you disobey secular authority is that considered "sin" ?

Considered by whom?

I am quick to tell anyone that the word "sin" has no meaning except to those people confined within Christianity or some other type of religious dogma that uses that term.

In truth the word "sin" in meaningless outside of that mind set.
There is no sin.

Jeannie

Then why does society turn a blind eye to so many moral violations but takes such a dim view of violating secular laws?

This question assumes that it does.

I would have to have more information, or a good example of this scenario to even comment on it.

What is "moral" or "immoral" is also an opinion. It is the same as what is "sin." These are opinions.

Laws on the other hand are confined within a particular society or group. Not all groups agree on these laws.

I would hope society would not pass a law against me dancing in my back yard or reading tarot cards and pass a law against that just because the dim wits believe that I am being "immoral."
That would be interfering with my personal beliefs and freedom.


Jeannie

Coolbeans You ARE intelligent Jenniebean

Group think? Ingroup and Outgroup???


Is this Psych101?

I think for myself, speak for myself, and act for myself....omg!!! I must be selfish!!!!

I must be a gazillion labels of the haves and havenots... of the religious, and the non religious... ummmaaa!!!

Oh dear, if I gave a rats arse what other people think, I may have just got bent out of shape....

Good thing I don't.