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Religious "doublethink"?
"To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy, to forget whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again: and above all, to apply the same process to the process itself. That was the ultimate subtlety: consciously to induce unconsciousness, and then, once again, to become unconscious of the act of hypnosis you had just performed. Even to understand the word 'doublethink' involved the use of doublethink."~Description of doublethink in Nineteen Eighty-Four
Is it Orwellian doublethink when a church or any other religious authority makes two conflicting claims too it's adherents that they must "attend regularly", but simultaneously "aren't required to attend to declared 'True Christians/Muslims/Jews/whatever'"? If it isn't, how would you define these inconsistent claims?
"Nothing in the Bible states that you do not need to attend church."
"The New Testament teaches that it is unwise to stop attending church regularly-not that it is forbidden."
So what would you say too the church that provides the claim that you don't have to attend?
"What is inconsistent about that?"
It's inconsistent to claim one can simultaneously be of a congregation but also remain separate from it. It's like saying your a "collectivist-individualist", the words contradict each other.
naughty india: I wasn't asking when you read 1984, or about your upbringing.
"I'm of the opinion that Christianity relies on doublethink."
That's all I was asking for, if others agree that it does or not.
Thanks.
7 Answers
- Anonymous10 years ago
When I first read 1984 in high school, I used my religious upbringing as sort of a model for the concept of doublethink. Having been exposed to doublethink for my entire life really helped me understand such an abstract concept while my brain was still growing.
Let me state that again, but more directly. I learned about double think in church. To me, it's not an "Orwellian" thing, it's a religious thing. Clearly, I'm of the opinion that Christianity relies on doublethink.
- happygirlLv 610 years ago
The New Testament teaches that it is unwise to stop attending church regularly--not that it is forbidden. Believers have a lot of freedom, many things are permitted--but not all things are beneficial or profitable for us--or wise.
- Anonymous10 years ago
It's called cognitive dissonance and although we all indulge to a degree, religion really takes the biscuit. Like American Christians murdering abortionists or a celibate Pope telling women what is good for them.
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- ?Lv 510 years ago
Nothing in the Bible states that you do not need to attend church. It actually claims that you do.
- 10 years ago
Your posting lacks logic
No-one becomes a Christian by attending regularly.
But attending regularly will help to develop the faith.
What is inconsistent about that, other than your assertion?
- Anonymous10 years ago
@ mommy of 2
It also says: "Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." And that, to my mind, contradicts your assertion.
