Prayer is a widely accepted practice that many religions promote. But is it harmless? Prayer and pretending can also encourage negative things like greed, hate, and ignorance. Let inspect how prayer impacts your life and culture.
Children use pretending to learn. They pretend and role-play, which helps them practice social skills. Pretending helps kids share and control their feelings safely. This skill lets them deal with real-life situations more effectively.
Adults can also be influenced by pretend scenarios. Propaganda and misinformation can create false realities. When adults hear the same stories or ideas often, they will believe harmful things. Religious and political programs can use groupthink manipulation tactics to change opinions. They often promote greed, hate, and ignorance.
So, while pretending helps children learn social skills, (1) it can also manipulate adults. Understanding this can help us recognize and counter harmful influences, especially in prayer. (2)
What is Prayer? — Why Prayer is Pretending
Prayer is a mystical mental activity used to connect with a higher power or deity. It can involve asking for help, giving thanks, or seeking guidance. Prayer demonstrates religious conformity.
Prayer is a form of pretending because it involves imagining a conversation with an imaginary friend. Praying creates a scenario in the mind, similar to how children pretend during play. However, for many, prayer is pretending, which is a socially accepted practice. It provides a sense of hope.
The difference between what is normal and what is not is based on personal beliefs, not logic. If someone says they talk to an imaginary friend like Oscar the Cookie Monster, most would say they are delusional. But if they say they talk to God, it is considered normal. (3)
Different Perspectives on Prayer
Religions don’t think prayer is pretending. Western religion defines prayer as an act of submission. It is pleading to a higher power to intervene on our behalf. Essentially, this means you believe or pretend your imaginary friend can help you. The Catholic Encyclopedia explains it well:
An act of the virtue of religion, which consists in asking for proper gifts or graces from God. In a more general sense, it is the application of the mind to divine things. It is not merely to acquire a knowledge of them but to make use of such knowledge as a means of union with God. This may be done by acts of thanksgiving, but the petition is the principal act of prayer. ― The Catholic Encyclopedia (1911)
Western organized religions use groupthink manipulation tactics embedded in their indoctrination systems. These tactics create what psychologists call magical thinking. Prayer is pretending, which is willful ignorance. It requires denying facts to maintain a belief in things for which there is no evidence. This doesn’t mean the person can’t understand or find the evidence; it means they choose to reject it.
Groupthink Manipulation: Propaganda, Prayer, and Passion
Prayer is one of the three Ps of groupthink manipulation tactics. It’s the internal mechanism that shuts off analytical thinking, allowing propaganda to be accepted. (4)
Propaganda is another one of the p’s of groupthink manipulation. It is information that is biased or misleading and used to promote a particular political cause or point of view. The goal of propaganda is to influence opinions and behaviors by appealing to people’s emotions and beliefs.
Passion is the last key ingredient in the formula for groupthink manipulation. It is a strong, barely controllable emotion that conjures up emotions like fear, hate, or anger.
The three Ps of groupthink manipulation tactics are propaganda, prayer, and passion. Prayer is pretending with passion. Passion adds the emotional connection that makes hypnotic suggestion powerful. Pretending can make harmful behaviors seem normal. This makes people more likely to accept them. As a result, they may adopt more extremist beliefs.
Phenomenology and the Origins of Prayer and Passion
The Abrahamic religions are not new. (5) They are old religions with new names. They are a rebranding of Babylonian mitigated dualism. Here, you have two gods, with one good slightly superior to a bad god.
Christianity added the dying-god myths to this recipe. This addition helped to differentiate Christianity from Judaism. Islam is a later spun off of ideology. These religions have one thing in common: the philosophy of phenomenology. This ideology perpetuates a culture of hate and ignorance, and here’s why.
Phenomenology asserts things exist only if we sense them. If you don’t experience it directly, it doesn’t exist. Everything only exists when we perceive them with the senses.
It is a philosophy that presumes man controls all creation, second only to his God. Here, a select group controls all phenomena. It is a cult based on supremacy, and this supremacy is rooted in ethnic, racial, or religious sectarianism. This kind of ideology breeds hate and ignorance.
We can summarize phenomenology in answer to the philosopher’s question. Does a tree make a noise when it falls, and no one is around to hear it? A Phenomenologist would answer, no, the tree would not make a sound if they were not there to hear it. Because, for them, the tree does NOT exist until they experience it. Therefore, reality exists only through human perception and experience. If man perceives it, then it exists. If someone doesn’t perceive it or experience it directly, it simply doesn’t exist.
Quite simply, people use this philosophy to justify and rationalize inhuman acts. It teaches believers they are the chosen ones of their imaginary friend. This gives them preferential treatment. Everyone else exists for their benefit. So, they can treat them any way they wish because they are less than human. These unbelievers do not exist unless the chosen one experiences them.
This kind of thinking often uses a scapegoat to blame for anything that happens. This way, unbelievers become the target of their anger. After all, unbelievers aren’t real people. They only exist for the use of the believer.
A cult of self-appointed chosen ones underlies the fracturing of culture in the modern world. It spawns a war between Christians and Muslims. One side thinks the Muslims are unbelievers, and the other thinks Christians are infidels. Thus, they can kill each other with their imaginary friend’s approval. Even if you belong to the cult, you live in constant fear of making a mistake.
Most people would say this kind of thinking is absurd and irrational. It is arrogant to think reality exists for your benefit alone. Things exist even if you do not experience them directly. Conversely, pretending something exists does not affect whether it exists. Everyone and everything is real, not just a figment of your imagination. This is why many clinicians believe that pretending and prayer create a psychological slippery slope.
The Slippery Slope of Prayer and Pretending
The slippery slope concept means one action can trigger a series of bad outcomes. In psychology, the slippery slope is a harmful bias. It begins with a small step and leads to more extreme ideas. It’s crucial to stop the first step in this downward spiral. Doing so helps us make clear, balanced decisions and avoid irrational thoughts.
The slippery slope of prayer is a key part of the groupthink manipulation tactic. In the formula of propaganda, prayer, and passion, the act of prayer installs the cognitive errors of propaganda. It is prayer that triggers the passion or emotions that fuel and reinforce the chain of irrational thinking.
Religious people claim that it’s just the fundamentalists of each religion that cause problems. But there’s got to be something wrong with the religion itself if those who strictly adhere to its most fundamental principles are violent bigots and sexists. — David G. McAfee
Why Pretending and Prayer Are Used in Indoctrination
The first step of religious indoctrination is believing in and connecting with an imaginary friend called God. This belief sets the foundation for magical thinking. Magical thinking is the key to hypnotic control. Get someone to believe in an imaginary friend, then you can get them to believe anything. Get them to believe anything, and you control them. This is accomplished with the following elements:
Repetition is Psychological Cement. Repeated prayers can reinforce certain beliefs and values. When people repeat the same prayers, the ideas in them become rooted in their minds. This repetition can make the beliefs feel more real and unquestionable.
Trigger an Emotional Response. Prayer often involves triggering powerful emotions like hope, fear, love, and guilt. When emotions are high, people are more likely to be influenced by what they pray about.
Use Peer Pressure. Group prayers create a strong sense of belonging and pressure to conform. When everyone around you is praying and believing the same things, it’s hard to question or reject them. This social aspect can strengthen the indoctrination process.
Project Authority and Authenticity. Religious leaders often guide prayers and provide interpretations of their meanings. These leaders can use prayer to emphasize certain doctrines and discourage questioning. The authority of these figures can make their messages more persuasive and harder to resist.
Religious and political indoctrination uses these tactics to install and reinforce ideas. They use propaganda, prayer, and passion to spread harmful beliefs and values. They create a mindset where extremist ideas are accepted without question.
Pretending and Prayer Across Different Cultures
Prayer is practiced in many different ways around the world. They all employ the same methods above.
In Christianity, people often pray in churches, sometimes using special prayers called liturgies. They might pray alone or with others, asking for help, giving thanks, or seeking guidance. Some Christians use rosaries, which are strings of beads, to help them focus during prayer.
In Islam, prayer is very important and happens five times a day. Muslims pray facing Mecca, their holy city. They follow specific movements and recite verses from the Quran. These prayers are called Salah and are a way to connect with God.
Hindus pray in temples or at home. They might use statues or pictures of gods and goddesses during prayer. They often chant mantras, which are special words or phrases, to help them focus. Prayer in Hinduism can include offerings like flowers or food.
Buddhists pray in temples or at home, too. They might use prayer wheels, which are spinning cylinders with prayers written on them. Buddhists often meditate, which is like prayer. But instead of appealing to a higher power, they focus on their breath or repeat mantras.
In Judaism, prayer happens in synagogues or at home. Jews might use prayer books called siddurs, which have specific prayers for different times of the day and year. They often pray together as a community, especially on the Sabbath and holidays.
These are just a few examples of how people pray in different cultures. Every culture has its own distinctive practice of prayer, which helps people to connect with their beliefs and seek solace.
The Promotion of Greed, Hate, and Ignorance
In Buddhism, ignorance, hate, and greed are called the Three Poisons. They manifest in people and cultures in various ways. Greed leads to an excessive desire for material possessions and power. Hate fuels anger and aversion towards others. Ignorance causes misunderstandings and false beliefs about oneself and the world.
These poisons of the mind manifest as systemic inequality, discrimination, and widespread misinformation. These harmful elements lead to suffering and conflict. Addressing these issues requires personal and collective efforts. The antidote is the promotion of generosity, inclusion, compassion, and equity. Understanding where these poisons come from and what you can do about them is essential for your mental health and the health of the culture.
We can better understand how greed, hate, and ignorance are promoted by exploring how it is used by religion.
How Religion Sells Greed
Pretending and prayer create a mindset where people believe they deserve more than others. When individuals pray for personal gain or success, it can foster a sense of entitlement. This can lead to greed as they prioritize their desires over the needs of others. Pretending or creating imagined scenarios where they always come out on top can reinforce this mindset.
Sometimes, religious leaders use prayer to urge followers to donate money or resources. They promise divine rewards in return. This exploits people’s faith, fueling greed in both leaders and followers. Followers believe that giving more will bring them more in return.
Examples of Religion Selling Greed
Greed took hold in the Church and culture during the Middle Ages. The Catholic Church sold indulgences, which promised to lessen punishment for sins. By praying and promising spiritual rewards, people were persuaded to buy these indulgences. This led to rampant greed and corruption within the Church.
Some televangelists have taken advantage of their followers for money. They use prayer and emotional appeals to encourage people to give large donations. In return, they promise blessings and prosperity. This has made the televangelists wealthy, while many followers struggle financially.
The Prosperity Gospel is a modern religious movement. It teaches that faith, positive speech, and donations can boost material wealth. Followers often pray for financial success and give generously to their church. This focus on wealth can lead to greed among both leaders and followers.
Modern religious leaders often use prayer to trigger emotions of fear, anger, and hate. They create urgency and exclusivity. They claim to have special insights or divine messages. This encourages followers to give money or resources to support their mission. It can lead to greed and exploitation as these leaders gain wealth and power.
How Religion Promotes Hate
Let’s explore how prayer, pretending, and hate are connected and look at some instances where prayer has been used to justify hate.
Prayer and pretending to create a mindset that promotes and magnifies hate. When people pray, they might imagine scenarios where their beliefs are the only truth. This act of pretending can make them feel superior to others who don’t share their beliefs. Over time, this can lead to intolerance and hate towards those who are different.
For example, if a group prays for the downfall of another group, they pretend their prayers will cause harm to others. This can create a sense of righteousness and justify hateful actions. The emotional intensity of prayer can amplify these feelings, making them more powerful and harder to question. So, prayer is pretending with harmful intent.
Instances Where Prayer Has Been Used to Justify Hate
History shows us many extremist groups that have used prayer to justify hate and violence. For example, some radical factions pray for the destruction of their enemies. They believe their prayers are approved by a higher power, and this justifies violence against their opposition.
In the past, some people used religious texts and prayer to support slavery and segregation. They claimed their beliefs justify treating certain groups as inferior. This fuels marginalization, discrimination, and violence.
Today, some hate groups use prayer to support their beliefs and actions. For instance, the Ku Klux Klan has used prayer to spread racist ideas, thinking they are fulfilling a divine mission.
These examples show how prayer and pretending can justify hate. It’s vital to spot these patterns. This way, we can stop the misuse of prayer and encourage more inclusive and caring practices.
How Religion Promotes Ignorance
Let’s look at why pretending and prayer can lead to ignorance. We’ll also see how they affect education, science, and critical thinking.
How Prayer and Pretending Contribute to Ignorance
Praying and pretending can create ignorance by blocking questions and shaping beliefs. When people concentrate on prayer, they often choose spiritual answers over facts and science. This creates a mindset that values faith more than evidence. As a result, critical thinking skills may decline.
Imagining scenarios that match one’s beliefs can strengthen that mindset. When people act as if their beliefs are the only truth, they may ignore or reject opposing information. This can lead to a narrow view of the world and resistance to new ideas.
In education, prayer and pretending can impact student learning. For instance, if students depend on prayer for answers, they may not build strong problem-solving skills. This can lead to difficulties in subjects like math and science, which require evidence-based reasoning.
Science relies on questioning, testing hypotheses, and seeking evidence. We see how prayer and pretending are used to explain natural phenomena. This substitution of fiction for facts hinders scientific progress. People may reject scientific findings if they clash with their beliefs. This can cause misunderstandings and reduce acceptance of scientific principles.
Critical thinking involves analyzing information, questioning assumptions, and making reasoned decisions. Prayer and pretending discourage critical thinking by promoting acceptance of beliefs without evidence. This can make it harder for people to evaluate information objectively.
Examples of Prayer Contributing to Systemic Ignorance
Anti-intellectualism is the distrust or dismissal of intellectual pursuits, reasoned thinking, and expertise. It values gut feelings over facts and simplicity over nuance. Here are a few examples:
In the Middle Ages, the Church often viewed intellectual pursuits with suspicion. Galileo, for instance, was placed under house arrest for supporting the idea that the Earth revolves around the Sun. This scientific theory challenged the Church’s teachings.
Recently, some political figures have ignored scientific experts and their advice. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some leaders called public health officials “idiots.” They also downplayed the virus’s severity. This led to misinformation and resistance to expert guidance.
Science denial involves rejecting scientific consensus and evidence-based findings. For example, some people still deny human activities cause climate change. They claim it’s a natural event or a hoax. Often, these views are shaped by political or economic interests.
The anti-vaccination movement challenges the scientific evidence that vaccines are safe and effective. This movement grew because of false claims that linked vaccines to autism. As a result, vaccination rates fell, which caused outbreaks of diseases that could have been prevented.
Even with centuries of proof that the Earth is round, some people still think it is flat. This belief often comes from conspiracy theories and distrust of science.
Summary of the Affects Prayer and Ignorance
Prayer is pretending that can provide comfort to the religious devotee. But praying can also lead to ignorance by discouraging questions and critical thinking. By knowing these effects, we can promote balanced, evidence-based ways to learn about the world.
These examples highlight how anti-intellectualism and science denial can block progress. They also create risks for public health and the environment. Promoting critical thinking and trusting scientific expertise is key to addressing these trends.
Now for the last section, where we look at propaganda and its use in the formula of propaganda, prayer, and passion.
How Propaganda Uses Prayer and Passion
Emotional Appeal: Propaganda taps into powerful emotions like fear, hope, and love. Prayer, which is an emotional practice, can amplify these feelings. When people pray with passion, they are more likely to be influenced by the messages they are receiving. This emotional intensity can make them more susceptible to manipulation.
Creating a Sense of Urgency: Propaganda can use prayer to create a sense of urgency or crisis. For example, leaders might encourage people to pray for protection against a perceived threat. This can make the threat seem more real and immediate, driving people to take action based on fear.
Reinforcing Beliefs: Repeated prayers can reinforce specific beliefs and values. When people pray for certain outcomes or repeat specific messages, these ideas become deeply ingrained. This can make it harder for them to question or reject these beliefs, even if they are harmful.
Us vs. Them Mentality: Propaganda often creates a divide between “us” (the believers) and “them” (the outsiders). Prayer can widen this divide by emphasizing the righteousness of the believers and the danger posed by the outsiders. This can lead to intolerance and hate towards those who are different.
We see how propaganda uses prayer and passion to create greed, hate, and ignorance in order to control behavior.
Examples of Propaganda Campaigns Involving Prayer
Nazi Germany: During World War II, Nazi propaganda exploited prayer and religious dogma to push their ideology. They framed their cause as a sacred mission. Prayers were used to gain support and justify their actions.
Cold War Era: In the United States, propaganda during the Cold War often used prayer. It aimed to promote patriotism and anti-communism. Leaders urged people to pray for the nation and against communism. This created a feeling of unity and urgency.
Modern Extremist Groups: Extremists twist prayer to justify violence and hatred. They present their actions as blessed by a higher power. Passionate prayers recruit and inspire followers. This is evident in many radical religious movements globally.
Understanding how propaganda uses prayer and passion is important. It helps us see the tactics behind this innocent practice. We must learn to question the messages we hear. This is especially true when the messages they use target our emotions.
Final Thoughts on the Impact of Pretending and Praying
If we understand how prayer and pretending are used to sponsor greed, hate, and ignorance. We know why pretending and prayer are used so we can avoid it and help others do the same.
While they can provide comfort, hope, and a sense of purpose, they can also manipulate and control. Understanding the potential for both positive and negative impacts is crucial. Encouraging critical thinking helps us see the dangers of prayer and pretending.
Asking, what is prayer, can be a way to open dialogue and explain how prayer is pretending.
References
(1) Pretend Play and Child Development
(2) Influence of Propaganda and Misinformation
(3) The Science, Psychology, and Metaphysics of Prayer
(4) Propaganda and Information Manipulation in Group
(5) Abrahamic Religions