It’s Called Projection

In psychology, the term “projection” means accusing someone else of a flaw or negative characteristic that you, yourself, exhibit. (We see lots of examples from this President, who calls other people “dumb” or “fat” or “a liar”…)

A recent report from the Washington Post provides a perfect example.

Post survey found that white Evangelicals in the U.S. are convinced that atheists and Democrats (categories that they see as interchangeable) would, if elected, strip them of their rights.

Of those white evangelical Protestants, we found that 60 percent believed that atheists would not allow them First Amendment rights and liberties. More specifically, we asked whether they believed atheists would prevent them from being able to “hold rallies, teach, speak freely, and run for public office.” Similarly, 58 percent believed “Democrats in Congress” would not allow them to exercise these liberties if they were in power.

In other words, these respondents believed that–if they were in power– atheists and/or Democrats would refuse to extend fundamental civil liberties to people with whom they disagreed.

Admittedly, there are many Americans who take the position that “freedom is for me but not for thee.” Research confirms that a very troubling percentage of the general public is willing to curtail the liberties of groups they dislike. That research suggests that only 30% of the general public would grant disfavored groups the same rights they themselves enjoy, an incredibly depressing finding.

The perception by white Evangelicals that they are disliked is also pretty accurate.  Research into intergroup attitudes confirms that white Evangelicals are among the least-liked groups by pretty much everyone else, and certainly by atheists and Democrats. The question isn’t about likes and dislikes, however. It’s whether distaste translates into a desire to deny the objects of that animosity their First Amendment rights.

It turns out that 65 percent of atheists and 53 percent of Democrats who listed Christian fundamentalists as their least-liked group are nevertheless willing to respect the civil liberties of those fundamentalists. As the article noted, that’s a much higher proportion than the sample overall.

And that brings us back to the psychology of projection, because it also turns out that those fearful White Evangelicals are attributing their own unsavory motives to atheists and Democrats.

We found that a smaller proportion of white evangelicals would behave with tolerance toward atheists than the proportion of atheists who would behave with tolerance toward them. Thirteen percent of white evangelical Protestants selected atheists as their least-liked group. Of those, 32 percent are willing to extend three or more of these rights to atheists. In fact, when we looked at all religious groups, atheists and agnostics were the most likely to extend rights to the groups they least liked.

Conservative Christians believe their rights are in peril partly because that’s what they’re hearing, quite explicitly, from conservative media, religious elites, partisan commentators and some politicians, including the president. The survey evidence suggests another reason, too. Their fear comes from an inverted golden rule: Expect from others what you would do unto them. White evangelical Protestants express low levels of tolerance for atheists, which leads them to expect intolerance from atheists in return.

The Golden Rule isn’t the only thing these people have inverted, according to my friends in the clergy.

It’s ironic that self-proclaimed “Christian Patriots” are perfectly willing to subvert the clear mandate of the Bill of Rights– and the equally clear teachings of the Savior they purport to worship– in their pursuit of social dominance.

They lack both authentic Christianity and genuine patriotism–the very deficits they project onto atheists and Democrats.

30 Comments

  1. When do these deficits that Christians project onto atheists and Democrats become self-fulfilling prophecies?

  2. These people are the favored group in America. I think they fear loosing their superior position. They would see EQUAL as I big step down.

  3. I was always taught that if something seemed to good to be true, it probably wasn’t. That’s how I have always viewed religion and the promise of life everlasting. In one of his standup routines, Richard Pryor made a statement about the “ultimate test” then went on to say that as far as we know nobody has passed the ultimate test, which seems much more plausible to me than everlasting life in “heaven”. The fear of death is recognized as a powerful motivator and too many people seem willing to believe anything they’re told if it is wrapped in that promise of everlasting life. I’m an old biologist; I just think we decompose and our molecules recycle through the earth’s system. That’s enough for me.

  4. If I may paraphrase George Orwell: All people are equal, but some are more equal than others. Is there a time in our history that we DIDN’T firmly believe this?

  5. I can’t give the source, but someone described this as the inverse of the Golden Rule (a stated value for almost every faith). “I believe you would do this to me because I would do it to you if I had the chance.” This is one of the most disheatening effects of the DT era. He didn’t invent this. It’s been developing for decades. But his blatant bigotry, cruelty, and ranting tweets have certainly opened the door to public displays.

  6. first off,thanks Marv for the kickback,recent articles about right wing judges and wall streets need to control all existing currency,and money flow,is how i feel about the plan….

    .i believe as i hear it,in the working class mingle i endure daily,, the christian right,has little tollerance of most anyother person,unless they speak the same language,as in the what they believe…many have complained that they are under fire,for something,and they should be able to tell others and make them believe its everyone whos against them..seems its moreover the deal where a couple of men wanted a wedding cake and wound up making a case against discrimination,not a belief.but that became the evos rally cry. when i mention they should maybe move to another country like russia,(since they feel its better than here,as many have said to me,though no one i spoke with,has ever lived there.) and practice your religion and see how far you get…. this country gives them the right to be whoever they want, but damn us if they have to tollerate a liberal,and a gay. if they were to back up and reread the verses of tollerance in the bible,,oh hell, they would just theorize something along the lines why they like trump…losing battle..lost minds and souls. glad im a atheist… im back in texas,lucky me….

  7. Trump is good at projection of his shortcomings on others along with variations of that tool to deflect fault, like when someone asked him about his sexual aberrations and he answered: “Look what Bill did!” This instant change of the subject fits in well with his never admitting fault as a terminal narcissist for his rejection of norms he expects others to heed, since from his third grade level the perfection he enjoys in his narcissistic Otherworld cannot be improved upon – so why should he answer to anybody for anything?

    Truth be told, he has simply never grown up and has never been held accountable for his misdeeds, and when someone tries to pin one on him he immediately resorts to projection and other deflection devices – devices that allow him to escape responsibility while taking a swipe at someone he doesn’t like or who stands in his way of making money or who prick his massive ego.

    He is a child north of the neck, developmentally speaking, and we need to send him to his room.

  8. It’s a lot to unpack here, but religious dogma that is based on such intellectually dishonest premises is, as the title suggests, nothing more than political tribalism. Heck, the whole betrayal and persecution of Jesus was pretty much the same thing….if one believes such stories and myths. Among those “true believers” a sense of persecution is what they use to feel closer to their “Lord”. With all the passion and brow-beating that goes with that school of “thought”, it’s no wonder that these projections occur. It’s the expected and natural outcome.

    Some of my relatives think this way, and I even had a fellow teacher often tell me how persecuted Christians were. For evangelicals, it’s anathema to actually think any other way.

  9. The world of humanity is many cultures competing for power. Powerful groups are losing entitlements because the world is evolving. They prefer to blame that on others rather than accept responsibility for the failure of their source of those entitlements. Progress is costing them prestige.

    Rather than accepting the obsolescence of their culture they realize that being equal to others is not enough power for them; they need to be better than equal. They need power, and the freedom of others is too big a price now for them to pay to be only equal.

    Power and freedom for all are polar opposites. Power gives those with it additional freedom at the expense of others with less power. Power is freedom on steroids for those with it. Those who built their cultures on it cannot survive with less.

    None of this is new but as long as powerful tribes had implied superiority they were willing to accept the illusion of freedom to hang on to power.

    This is what progress leads to. This is why those who count on cultural stasis fear it.

    We are trying desperately to avoid the adaptations that will allow us to sustain our population.

    That means by definition that we have reached the end of sustainability.

  10. Seems the Pharisees and Sadducees, as well as the Taliban, would be proud. By the way, I’m related to a lot of these folks.

  11. Conversion has long been a pillar of Christianity, along with Male Supremacy and Authoritarianism.

    At some point it went past converting pagans and heathens to persecution and suppression of pagan beliefs. The Holy Emperor Theodosius the Great during his reign (379-395) he delivered a decisive blow to paganism by issuing an edict, under which any sort of service to the pagan gods was considered a violation of the law. From this point on the sword and bible could be used for conversion and it was: crusades, the religious wars in Europe, the Inquisition, etc.

    The Evangelicals see it as their mission to convert the heathens. The secular society has a core belief in freedom to practice your religious beliefs. There is the other side of that coin, is you do not have the right to impose your religious beliefs on others.

    The Evangelicals not only want the right to believe in their Mythology of the supernatural, they want it sanctioned by the state, i.e., prayer in school, teaching creation myths in lieu of science, etc.

  12. Vernon,
    For the mind that likes to work, it is fortunate that the Bible is written in a kind of code; the code–like a crossword puzzle–gives the quenchless human mind something to do while it accepts the Biblical (and ruling class) mandate not to ever, ever, ever think.

  13. We all love power, entitlements, wealth, respect, and position. The possibility of it seduces all of us every time. The only way for freedom for all to survive is to make it a rule that we each accept in exchange for the right to hire and fire who we give it to.

    Thanks founders for the Constitution.

  14. Pete, and all:
    Could it be that many of us also are skilled at projection, especially in regard to our monumental automatic disdain of power?

    In other words, how do you account for people like John and Bobby Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, John Adams, FDR, and so many others, who sought power in order to do something good for others?

    Are we so projective of our own twists that we believe people, like Lincoln, seek to do good merely in order to latch onto something else for themselves? Legend, perhaps? Adoration of the masses? History? Alleviation of guilt?

    It may be scientific psychological fact that power SOMETIMES can be desired in order to achieve heroic historical status, but mere possibility that something stinks does not mean we are free logically to assume it ALWAYS stinks.

    Otherwise, why would we vote for anyone? Why vote this or that person into power when we assume the power they want is only for their own satisfaction?

    Why create a position of authority to get things done–the Constitution–and then denigrate the power to use that authority to get things done?

  15. To all, I apologize for the length of the comment, I would appreciate it if you read it in its entirety and then if you wish to do so, pass judgment on it.

    Federico Mayor, director general of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), Stated a very un-optimistic opinion in the UNESCO Courier;“The world whose emergence can be discerned . . . does not inspire whole-hearted enthusiasm. Religious fundamentalism, nationalism, racial and ethnic prejudice, anti-semitism: the winds of freedom have rekindled the embers of hatred. . . . The collapse of the old order has left the field open for all kinds of new initiatives, some of them extremely chaotic​—and violence thrives in a vacuum.”
    https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000093069

    I believe this comment was made around 1992, so, things have been gradually moving in that direction. Albeit slowly enough where it doesn’t draw as much attention as it should.

    We used to say, the bigger cross around the neck, beware the rubber in the check. This is not passing judgment, look at the televangelists! It’s absolutely accurate, even more prevalent in the South.

    Romans 14:10 reads; But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

    So as a so-called evangelical, there is no right to impose your will upon another. As an evangelical, there is no authority to judge your fellow man. All men were born under the original sin, so, in essence, all are sinners. Every single person has to let their conscience be their guide. All will be judged on what their conscience allows regardless of what they believe their standing is before God. That’s scriptural!

    Jesus Christ himself is quoted in Matthew the 7: 21-23 which reads; “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’

    And one Scripture I always found especially relevant when someone is trying to demonize another,

    You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? 48 You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

    This is further expounded on by the physician Luke.

    “If you love those loving you, of what credit is it to you? For even the sinners love those loving them. 33 And if you do good to those doing good to you, of what credit is it to you? Even the sinners do the same. 34 Also, if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, of what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend to sinners so that they may get back as much. 35 On the contrary, continue to love your enemies and to do good and to lend without hoping for anything back; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked. 36 Continue being merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36)

    No one who considers themselves a Christian has any right to pass judgment on their fellow man. But, Christians do have the right to pass judgment on fellow Christians if they are not acting in accordance with Christian conduct. the apostle Peter wrote: “As obedient children, stop being molded by the desires you formerly had in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written: ‘You must be holy, because I am holy.’” (1st Peter. 1:14-16)

    The apostle Peter actually discussed this in his 2nd letter to the congregation which reads; “But these men, like unreasoning animals that act on instinct and are born to be caught and destroyed, speak abusively about things of which they are ignorant. They will suffer destruction brought on by their own destructive course, 13 suffering harm as their reward for their own harmful course. They consider it pleasurable to indulge in luxurious living,+even in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes who revel in their deceptive teachings while feasting together with you.”

    So in essence, they don’t hide their hypocrisy, and they try to get others to follow in that hypocrisy. Their brazen activity, they do it in the daylight.

    They’ve deluded themselves to believe the lies of those who mislead them, and bilk their congregations for self aggrandized wealth and status, and they are worth emulating! These are ones that would rather be led, rather than enlighten themselves, and there is no excuse for it.

    But it’s not just evangelicals, it’s everyone, it’s human nature, follow the ones that talk the best, follow the ones that allow me to do what I desire, regardless of the appropriateness of that desire. Follow the ones that allow me to hate instead of love, follow the liars, because it is easier, if individuals actually quit complaining and enlightened themselves on what they claim they hate, they could actually refute wrongful and misleading opinions and practices with written evidence.

    Just like any laws, they are written down, just like conduct, the appropriateness of that conduct is written down. When your conscience is scarred, it cannot correct wrongful behavior, so, are we are brother’s keeper? Obviously not, because this movie never will change its ending, because there is no desire for editing out delusion.

    The deceivers are only successful, because so many want to be willfully deceived!

  16. We all want power, always have always will, as evidence that our ability, our ideas, are as monumental as our egos tell us they are.

    What’s difficult is to tamp that emotion down by accepting the rational thought of the benefit of progress as adaptation to reality.

    Democracy is the only process so far suggested to manage the universal human appetite for power.

    It’s the speed limit on our ego dreams.

    We may not like limiting the power our egos tell us we deserve but our common sense says it’s just a sensible limitation in order to have a functional world.

  17. John, the credibility that you grant Scripture is the power driving your life. That’s the best for you and I personally get it if not share it.

    What’s important from the perspective of granting power to other people, not God, over both of us though is that your power in no way trump my power in choosing who.

    That’s freedom, that’s democracy.

  18. Pete,

    The thing that I’ve noticed about myself, I was very resentful about what happened in my youth. I allowed myself to hate everyone. When I was still in my teens, I took my rifle to the Canadian border to support our tribal brethren, people died that day. At one time I was proud of being part of that, now I’m ashamed. But, that was the nice thing about having free will, God never forced anyone to follow his path, or that of Christ. Man always was allowed to make his own decisions, of course man has to have paid the consequences for his decisions.

    I could write down many many Scriptures to talk about free will, that man has the right to decide his fate. Man also has the right and duty to be informed about that free will and what it could eventually entail. But, there is no torment day and night in a burning hell, but just like the parable of the prodigal son, or the parable of the vineyard workers, there is always redemption if one seeks it. The only unforgivable sin is sin against the Holy Spirit. When Job was being tested, his wife, no less, told Job to curse God and die. She knew that If Job sinned against the Holy Spirit, he would die. But he stood fast in his faith, and received tenfold back what he had lost after he was stricken by his maladies.

    Later on, Christ noticed from a spiritual viewpoint, the common people especially were “loaded down.” So Jesus could say: “Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls. For my yoke is kindly and my load is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

    No one was commanded to believe, no one was forced to obey, man always had the free will to make his own decisions. So far, man has made the decision for the same ol same ol. And, you have those who claim to follow the God of Abraham and Isaac, the God of Moses and Noah, and the father of Christ, TO lie, steal, cheat, mislead, and condemn their fellow man for personal gain! Those are the ones who have sinned against the Holy Spirit, those are the ones who will have the everlasting cutting off, (Matthew 25:46)they have no hope for redemption or forgiveness.

    Read Mark 3:22-30, Christ said himself;
    22 Also, the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying: “He has Be·elʹze·bub, and he expels the demons by means of the ruler of the demons.” 23 So after calling them to him, he spoke to them with illustrations: “How can Satan expel Satan? 24 If a kingdom becomes divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand; 25 and if a house becomes divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 Also, if Satan has risen up against himself and has become divided, he cannot stand but is coming to an end. 27 In fact, no one who enters the house of a strong man is able to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Only then can he plunder his house. 28 Truly I say to you that all things will be forgiven the sons of men, no matter what sins they commit and what blasphemies they speak. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit has no forgiveness forever but is guilty of everlasting sin.”30 He said this because they were saying: “He has an unclean spirit.”

    Anyway Pete, you are always granted free will, no matter what you choose to do in your life or with your life. And no one has the right to stop you, in the end we are all judged by our life’s course, and we are judged by one much mightier than ourselves. I’ve done plenty of sinning Pete, I spend years trying to correct wrongs, I still slip, I still, even with medication LOL, even with holy spirit, LOL can explode like Mount Vesuvius, PTSD is a difficult thing to overcome. So is hatred! Every day I pray for strength and beg for forgiveness. Just like the apostle Paul that I mentioned yesterday Pete.

    Anyway, that’s pretty much it, and thanks for being a gentleman Pete, you actually show compassion and empathy which is a trait of Holy Spirit, and that’s a good thing.

  19. While the complexity of life has us all searching for he best route through it, there are just a few real observations to guide the journey. One of mine is that I have never met anyone who I couldn’t teach to or learn from. On my journey that makes freedom and collaboration paramount.

    I want everyone with exactly the same power and influence.

    Teach me, learn from me, share our journeys for the moment, move on with new insight.

  20. Pete, right on brother, absolutely and positively. Nailed it. How can passengers on a luxury liner criticize other passengers on a luxury liner? You’re all going to go to the same destination, or you’re all going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. no one is superior and no one should feel their Superior. Everyone is free to make the choice they desire, and that s usually allowed by their conscience. Whether our decisions are the correct ones, I guess eventually we’ll find out, LOL.

    By the way Pete, hopefully you read the last comment to you yesterday, I thought it was very pertinent to your question.

  21. John,
    In my judgment, judging and judgment are not only permitted, they are necessary and advised. It is Final Judgement that is prohibited in the Bible, albeit awkwardly and ineptly in its nubilous and cryptic code.

    Thus: I shall not render judgment of a person as to his or her sins or fitness for heaven, for that is above my pay grade. It ends there.

    For I must judge every person with whom I transact life as to her or his fitness to be my friend, to be my spouse, to repair my roof, to represent me in government, etc., for that is my responsibility to myself, my family and my fellow man. It is why I (and my community) educate me–so that my judgment does not make a fool and a burden of us both.

  22. Somewhere out there is a lonely blog just waiting, empty and waiting, for someone to take it and fill it with long (really long) paragraphs and quotes from the Good Book and lots of other books, plus personal ideas and opinions that could fill the Colosseum (the Roman one) to running over! Yes, your blog awaits you. And there are people who will read every word of your blog every day. Hurry now! Your blog needs you.

  23. I good article in the Guardian today about the “Use” of religion to further your “Goals”.

    Evangelicals using religion for political gain is nothing new. It is a US tradition
    Reverend William Barber
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/08/trump-religion-megachurch-american-tradition

    Being an Agnostic, I find it some what amusing to see and hear the Bible Thumper’s for President Agent Orange tying themselves up in theological knots justifying his actions along with Pastor Pence.

  24. Larry,

    Absolutely, it is wrong to have a superior judgment over your neighbors, or those who might be considered your enemies, and you are right it’s above all of our pay grades. Dealing with a mate, a repair man, a babysitter, a gardener, and auto salesman, and whatever, you have the obligation to vet any and all those you have interactions with.

    It’s kind of the same as calling down evil on someone, that would be more of a final judgment type of thing and which is not a Christian thing to do.

    I knows Sheila is a great person and gives lots of leeway, and I appreciate that I know she wanted to see were some of these latest posts were going to go, and personally I think it was a weeding out process to a certain extent, LOL.

    But to her original point, yes people project, and it is not subliminal or accidental, it’s the old “I am rubber, you are glue” and folks always try to paint others with their personal bigotries, flaws and shortcomings. That’s how you know the current POTUS is actually guilty of all the things he’s blaming others for. It’s on his mind, so he tries to deflect. He doesn’t have a conscience, he’s not concerned about damage, corruption and turmoil, as this allows him to continue down his chosen course unabated, at least to this point. And, the evangelicals are doing the exact same thing, their judgment will cause a groaning unlike anything ever heard, LOL.

  25. ML,

    Amen! They have completely hijacked religion for their own personal enrichment. Then they try to manipulate and or create their own reality to justify the unjustifiable.

  26. Betty,

    LOL, the Snark is always appreciated!

    I find it interesting that when dealing on matters of importance people feel they can cover it all in 200 characters or less. I guess that speaks on the attention span of a lot of folks. But, I will not be on here as a shill, I don’t have to be. Blogs are about opinions, not self-enrichment. I also will not be self-righteous, because it’s plain to see, I have a lot to repent for, and I do so daily. There are examples to follow, Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul) is one, King David is another, both guilty of murder, both submissive to their God, both working hard to make wrongs right. And not to mention the constant struggle with conscience.

  27. And the main freedom so many Christians seek is the freedom to revile those who disagree with them. Devoid of a scintilla of evidence, they accept the most unacceptable superstitions ever foisted on mankind. Amazingly, what they accept supports their own conceits and proves their own godliness although no person has ever lived knows what God might be thinking in the off chance he exists. Show me someone who can read God’s mind (in the off chance he has one) and I will show you a charlatan – or a best an irrational person – convinced that his thoughts rank well above those of others in terms of their sanctity and unquestionability.

    Here in South Carolina, the United Methodist Church – my old haunt – is congratulating itself for splitting up amicably over the question of whether they are obligated to hate the LBGT community. They consider themselves far superior to the Episcopalians who were not able to deal with the same issues of hate without imploding. Although, as John Sorg shows, it created some of the most beautiful literature man is cap[able of, all religion is made up of whole cloth out of a desire to hold dominion over those unable to see the light. Worship, like that of Rick Perry calling Trump the “chosen one”, is a form of servility unbecoming to thoughtful adults who actually – in most cases – know better but act on calculation of future rewards. Some minds, like those of Pastor Pence and Pastor Pompeo and Moscow Mitch bend in that direction so naturally that looking for someone to offer servility to becomes a natural tendency. Others, understanding that they are responsible for their own thoughts and actions, do their best to live meaningful lives in a world of hobgoblins, ghosts, “wise” men, holy men, Popes, priests and the countless hangers on who achieve self-love by believing in the unbelievable. The self-discrediting institution of the church has dug its own grave for 2000 years. May it rest in peace and join with us non-believers in celebrating the death knell of self-delusion.

  28. Hey Terry,

    South Carolina, have always enjoyed South Carolina, had some good debates down there over the years. Conway, Aynor, Little River, doing a little fishing in the PeeDee, Charleston and Georgetown with all of their culinary delights. Have relatives in Lake City. I remember touring the vineyard that made 7 sisters wine, they made it from local native grapes. She told me in a discussion we had around a bonfire, everybody is taught the salute, LOL. I asked her what that was, and it was holding your hands up like you were wearing blinders as you are walking through the liquor store. Don’t acknowledge your church mates that you see in the liquor store. I laughed for about a half an hour. She also said, if you don’t like what your preacher is saying, buy the property next door and build your own church. She was saying that’s why you’ll see 3 or 4 churches in a row, so obviously a lot of infighting in the congregations.

    If ones belief is based on hypocrisy, one has no belief! And absolutely Terry there are a lot of beautiful works of literature out there, some we take as literal and interestingly literal is also a root word for literary and literature. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11: 1.

    Do congregants have the faith in their church? Does the church have faith in its congregants? Is a church going to collect its tithing? Is there a penalty or not for deceiving teachings? Is that check going to bounce? Is your mate faithful? Will your car start? Will you wake up in the morning? Is there a rapture? Is there a burning hell of torment? Should priests marry? Are some of these sound church dogmas? Are some of these just personal hopes? Yep, there are a lot of questions, and, when you really get into it, there are a lot of answers. It’s just, truth has been hijacked by hypocrites and charlatans to the detriment of all mankind, especially when lies are passed off as truth and truth passed off as lies.

  29. Larry Kaiser – Well stated

    I often wonder when people declare the selfishness, greed, the desire for power or money or whatever is “human nature”, whether they are describing human nature or projecting their own desires.

    I have often taken issue with the old economists who declare that they can understand all economic behavior by the desire to accumulate wealth. That was projection as well. Behavioral economists are discovering that not all people act that way. People’s economic behavior can have many and varied motivations. and some even will happily lose money for “altruistic” goals.

    Trump is the king of projection, or at least a crown prince. Meanwhile, I choose to believe, like Larry, that there are people out there who truly want to help others and find great satisfaction there – like Washington, Lincoln, FDR, JFK and RFK.

    Taking a cue from Eric Hoffer, whom a quoted here recently, people want a sense of worth and purpose. This can take many forms, not just seeking power for its own sake. Many who seek a sense of self-worth do so by projecting all of their faults and short comings onto “the other”. Those become invested in the cult of Trump. All goodness stems from being part of the Trump cult and all that is bad is projected onto “the other”.

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