The True Believer | Forum

They're interchangeable, including atheism, according to Eric Hoffer.

"The opposite of the religious fanatic is not the fanatical atheist but the gentle cynic who cares not whether there is a God or not. The atheist is a religious person. He believes in atheism as though it were a new religion. He is an atheist with devoutness and unction."

I haven't read the book but from its description on Wikipedia it seems to be an interesting read. It's hardly a revelation, though. All oppressive and fanatical regimes start as revolutionary movements. Frustration and discontent lead to disobedience and outright defiance of old dogmas only to give rise to the new dogmas at a later time. It's all due to the slave mentality of these movements' adherents, who simply replace one master with another master.

As I wrote several times here and on 600 Club, the common enemy is something that unites people together. This is why religions and ideologies are so fanatical and aggressive in nature. This hatred draws the believers together and makes the group/community more cohesive. The hatred and fear of the enemy also motivates people to action and to sacrifice. It also helps them to put up with all the inconveniences forced upon them by the new religion/ideology/political regime. If the regimes like Nazism and Communism didn't rely on enemies (Jews, Capitalists etc) people's frustration would turn against the leaders. The Enemy helped to redirect the people's aggression and hatred.

I'll give you a C-. Here's why: you're about 60% on target in your description of what the book is about. For the true believer, their cause isn't about disobedience or defiance of old dogmas. That's projection on your part. Instead their cause is a way for them to lose their self, become free of responsibility and the necessity of making decisions. In other words, it allows them to become a part of a corporate being rather than an individualist. The frustration is the frustration of having failed as an individual.

The opposite of the true believer is an effective individual who holds themselves accountable for their own thoughts, decisions, and actions, and works towards their own self-advancement. In other words, a Satanist.

Someone could defy dogmas and break taboos all day but that doesn't do anything to help anyone become self-directed -- only autonomous. At most, it weakens the influence of a group on the (becoming) individual but the freedom gained is pointless unless they are capable of finding a way on their own, otherwise they're better off sticking with the group.

Quote from Shawn you're about 60% on target in your description of what the book is about.

Well... as I said, I haven't read it yet.

Quote from Shawn their cause isn't about disobedience or defiance of old dogmas.

That's my opinion. And actually, it's true in many cases. How do all revolutions start? The masses of people must be inspired and led by someone. And usually it starts with the intellectuals, writers and philosophers criticizing the old system. The revolution leaders then play on people's frustrations. This discontent, fury and aggression is already there in people's minds. It only needs to be fueled and given a proper direction.

The same is with the new religious movements. How did protestantism appear? Wasn't it born from the defiance of old dogmas? And yet, it became even more fanatical than Catholicism.

Quote from Shawn Instead their cause is a way for them to lose their self, become free of responsibility and the necessity of making decisions. In other words, it allows them to become a part of a corporate being rather than an individualist. The frustration is the frustration of having failed as an individual. The opposite of the true believer is an effective individual who holds themselves accountable for their own thoughts, decisions, and actions, and works towards their own self-advancement. In other words, a Satanist.

I agree with you but here is a thing. Many Satanists are sheep in the wolves' clothing, they desire to be a part of the greater whole, they cherish community over individualism and they are always ready to jump on the bandwagon of popular trends.

I added it to the library if you want to read it.

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