An oppressive culture is like a dark tunnel. When you look into a tunnel, all you see is darkness. You can only see the light if you turn around and face outward. Our culture is a mass hallucination that distorts perception like a dark tunnel.
To turn around and see the light of truth, we need to unpack the terms necessary to understand this phenomenon. Then, we can explore the causes and take steps to remedy this perceptual issue.
What are the symptoms of perceptual tunnel vision and mass hallucination effects? How can we identify and avoid them? These are important questions that we need to explore, as they affect a significant percentage of people in our modern culture. You need to understand how this issue affects your life. Let’s begin by defining the terms of our discussion.
Culture is a Mass Hallucination
What does it mean if a collective distortion controls our culture? As the term suggests, it means a majority of people in a culture accept a set of ideas that distort perception. These distortions are invisible to the majority of people. To reveal them, we must peel back the delusions to uncover the truth. So, let’s do just that by starting with some definitions.
Perception is a mental process. The senses only provide input. Perception is a creative process of the mind that uses a filter to provide the results we expect.
Our worldview is a set of beliefs, values, and assumptions that we hold about the world. It filters and interprets our experiences. Our worldview contains elements of a paradigm. Our paradigm is a framework of concepts, theories, practices, and values that we accept.
For example, one driver believes in speed and efficiency. They see a yellow light as a sign to “accelerate to clear the intersection.” Their perception is that the light is an immediate challenge to beat.
Another driver with a worldview prioritizing safety and caution uses a paradigm that treats yellow as a signal to “prepare to stop safely.” Their perception is that the light is an urgent warning to slow down. A yellow light is seen in different ways based on the framework behind it.
These internal frameworks can be distorted, which can result in delusions and hallucinations.
Hallucinations and Delusions
Delusions refer to fixed, false beliefs that persist despite contradictory evidence. They resist change even when presented with contradictory evidence. Delusions are often connected to hallucinations. Imagine hearing your name being called when no one else is around or seeing vivid, colorful images that nobody else can perceive. These sensory distortions are classic examples of hallucinations.
Hallucinations are sensory perceptions experienced in the absence of external stimuli. They take many forms, from visual, auditory, tactile, and gustatory to olfactory sensations. Hallucinations involve vivid perceptions that feel real. Although they lack any external source of stimuli, they seem real to the person having them.
For example, seeing Jesus in a slice of bread is another example of how cultural delusions inspire hallucinations. Schizophrenia, substance abuse, or neurological disorders can also serve as catalysts.
When hallucinations and delusions distort perception, they limit the ability to interpret everything. Limiting our ability to interpret leads to inaccurate and harmful decisions.
The Symptoms of Perceptual Tunnel Vision
Perceiving reality through a tunnel is focusing only on one small idea and missing everything else around you. Living in this tunnel world rewires our minds. It boosts certain pathways and ignores others through neuroplasticity. It effectively changes how the brain allocates its resources and prioritizes information. This “rewiring” mainly impacts the brain’s Attention Network. It helps the brain switch between broad and narrow focus.
We see the symptoms of perceptual tunnel vision and mass hallucination effects in society. Here are the symptoms of this narrow thinking in three different parts of life:
1. Philosophical (How you find truth and think)
- Only Believing What You Already Believe (Confirmation Bias & Dogmatism). Here, you only pay attention to information that proves you are right. You ignore or quickly forget facts that show you might be wrong. This means you stay stuck with a rigid idea instead of finding the absolute truth.
- Missing the Big Picture (Loss of Intellectual Empathy). Focusing on one small part of a problem can lead to overlooking the bigger, more significant issues. As a result, you fail to apply rational thinking and logic and struggle to understand how others see it differently.
- Ethical Narrowness is considering a single rule or the immediate consequences when making a moral choice. Ignoring how our actions affect others can lead to unfair results or negative outcomes.
- The “Closed System” Worldview is the assumption that your current knowledge is complete. Consequently, you reject new information, confusing ideas, or questions that challenge your beliefs. This makes your thinking rigid and stops you from growing and changing beliefs when new facts arise.
We overlook these philosophical symptoms of perceptual tunnel vision and mass hallucination effects. Why? We are distracted by a culture dominated by social media and commercialism.
2. Sociological (How you act with groups of people)
- The “Us vs. Them” Wall (Groupthink and Polarization). Demonizing others who do not share your beliefs creates animosity for no reason. You become so focused on your own way of thinking that you stop listening to points of view. Us vs. Them thinking creates social divisions. It stops different groups from sharing information. This makes it difficult to collaborate on community issues.
- Exclusion and Blame (De-contextualization). Oversimplifying complex social problems by blaming a group. This makes it easier to ignore the complex root causes and justifies treating some people unfairly.
- Repeating Mistakes in Systems (Institutional Rigidity). In large organizations (such as schools or businesses), people tend to focus only on the rules they already know. They miss new information or creative solutions that could improve the system, causing them to repeat the same errors.
- Missed Social Opportunity. You fail to see that different people and ideas are a great source of strength and solutions. This limits the ability of your community or society to grow, innovate, and adapt to change.
The social symptoms of perceptual tunnel vision have the greatest impact on marginalized groups.
3. Spiritual (How you connect to purpose and meaning)
- Spiritual Self-Absorption (Service Paralysis). Individual trials, worries, or spiritual “tasks” dominate your thinking. In this way, you can’t see the needs of others. This keeps you from exercising kindness and serving your neighbors.
- Idolatry of Doctrine/Goal. Fixating on a specific idea about what your faith or purpose should be (like a specific goal or belief). So, when you encounter something new, you reject it because it doesn’t fit your preconceived notions.
- Loss of Gratitude and Wonder. When you focus on failures or disappointments, you lose sight of the good things around you and the mysterious “bigger picture.” This makes it hard to feel grateful or joyful.
- Unreceptivity to “Signs of the Times.” Spiritual thinking can be too rigid. This may lead you to miss deeper truths, warnings, or opportunities for growth.
Tactics That Perpetuate Mass Hallucination Effects
These tactics are not new. They are the same tools used by the ancient mystery religions of Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Persia. The mind control tactics of these cults are the bedrock of the Abrahamic religions. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam use the brainwashing tools that work.
The groupthink manipulation tactics of these ancient cults control perception. It means that the mind not only sees less; it sees only what it expects to see. Indoctrination techniques can cause people to cling to particular narratives or ideologies. It doesn’t matter if they are political, religious, or conspiratorial. They believe in them with total confidence. These beliefs resist logical contradiction and often become the sole measure of reality.
Confirmation bias underlies the thinking process. The mind manufactures perceptions that confirm the internal belief system. When a person with strong religious beliefs sees a vision or hears a divine voice, they are having a hallucination shaped by those beliefs. The brain perceives programmed input as external reality.
Bias and sectarianism shape their beliefs. This leads to strong prejudice against anyone or anything outside their framework. They fight to preserve the dark tunnel because they identify with its confines.
In short, the defining symptom is a lack of freedom of thought. The individual’s mental bandwidth is restricted to the narrow confines of their existing program.
The Source of Mass Hallucinations and Delusions
There are two primary sources of delusions and hallucinations in our society. Religious and political indoctrination are the primary purveyors of harmful propaganda. Religious and political beliefs frequently dictate the content and interpretation of hallucinatory experiences.
Beliefs that Cannot Be Questioned
Fixed beliefs that ignore reality are the basis of Western organized religion. These are the Abrahamic religions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. These are the three most widely practiced religions, and they have a significant influence on the cultural narrative. Culture is a mass hallucination when infected with religious sectarianism from these systems.
For example, let’s say you have a friend named Arnold who tells you that he has an invisible friend that they talk to every day. Your friend is the only one who can hear this invisible friend named George, but he’s a great source of friendship and comfort. Sometimes this invisible friend’s shadow appears to help in times of distress. In this case, you would likely ask Arnold to seek psychological help as he appears to be both delusional and having hallucinations.
Understanding Cultural Context
But if we change the name of the invisible friend from George to God, we have a different interpretation. Now, we say that Arnold is having a socially acceptable religious experience because this same delusion is shared. Arnold’s experience produces a socially acceptable hallucination. Does this seem familiar?
Culture is a mass hallucination on purpose. Religious and political groups use their power to shape culture through groupthink manipulation. They use propaganda to keep people fixated on an idea. Fixation gives them control.
When Myths Become Law
When the values of religious mythology become law, it creates friction in the culture. It creates tension between religion on one side and science, logic, and common sense on the other side. Religion is what makes the culture unhealthy.
You have freethinkers who want a better world for everyone on one side. On the other side are religious fanatics who fight for favoritism. The mass hypnosis of mythology and superstition is the enemy of progress.
Capitalize On Existential Fear
Unfortunately, the most effective liars are those who genuinely believe the lie is true. So, if you can get people to believe a lie, they will pass it along as truth. Use the fear of death and provide an antidote. Then, religion gets them to accept the lie as a fact—this tactic of social programming links beliefs with a person’s identity. Now, you have a mechanism for complete social control.
People become desensitized to the use of groupthink manipulation tactics. This programming dictates their values and thinking. Culture is a mass hallucination made to sell everything from soap to ideologies.
A worldview can thrive even though it is logically false and historically false. All it needs are the tools to program the culture and maintain control. It can overcome logical reasoning with group hypnosis or groupthink manipulation tactics. Religious dogma and doctrine keep you facing the darkness of mythology.
Two Choices
There are two choices. The first is to accept the darkness of the tunnel. The second choice is to reject the darkness, turn around, and venture outward toward the light.
Option one is to accept the hallucination and delusion of organized religion. Claiming you are facing light while immersed in mythology is ludicrous. The Abrahamic traditions are the origin of mass hallucination effects.
Option two is to reject the domination of the cultural narrative. More people are awakening to the facts behind the mythology. The mass hypnosis of our culture is fracturing and crumbling.
Option Two: Overcoming Your Hallucinations and Delusions
Here’s a proven way to fix perceptual tunnel vision and mass hallucination effects.
1. Identify Harmful Programming
Finding harmful programming is the first step. It is the doorway to reclaiming freedom of thought. Religious indoctrination is often the source. You can expose these beliefs with the proper inner work tools.
We recommend the Cultural Values Test, the Repeating Question Exercise, and the Enneagram. These tools will reveal the thought scripts that dictate your thinking. Once you identify these thought scripts, you can reflect on how they shape your worldview. It takes courage to remove them, but the goal is worth the effort.
2. Develop critical thinking skills
Rational thinking is crucial. It helps us navigate the programming of the mind. Logical tools can help us confront and overcome religious indoctrination.
Educate yourself about different belief systems, philosophical ideas, and scientific discoveries. Embrace skepticism and question everything, including your own beliefs. Allow yourself the freedom to explore alternative perspectives.
3. Seek Objective Knowledge
Balance is the key to seeking knowledge. Dive into various scholarly works. Conduct research into the historical accounts of various belief systems to gain a broader understanding of the world. Look for objective sources that present different viewpoints. Brainstorm using facts and evidence to develop an informed opinion.
4. Remove the Harmful Sources
Once you identify the harmful thought scripts and beliefs, you can eliminate them. This guards against reprogramming harmful scripts. It is hard because you must evaluate social connections of all types, media, people, and organizations. The symptoms of tunnel vision and mass hallucination effects will last as long as you stay exposed to the programming sources. Fox News and other media outlets need to be eliminated.
While breaking free from religious indoctrination is liberating, we must remain empathetic. Be an example of compassion and understanding for those still in its grasp. Respect individual choices and allow space for personal growth. Remember that everyone is on a unique journey. Confronting others who are not ready to make the change can perpetuate the same kind of indoctrination we seek to reject.
5. Reprogram with Healthy Beliefs and Values
After decluttering your psyche, it’s time to reprogram. Removing harmful prejudices like racism and sectarianism gives us space to create a healthy worldview. Utilize affirmations and mantras to cultivate and reinforce your new core values.
As you begin to break free from the programming, continuing the journey of self-discovery is crucial. Reflect on your values, morals, and principles that transcend any religious affiliation. Identify what brings meaning and purpose to your life independently of indoctrinated beliefs.
6. Build a Support Network
Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals can be very helpful. Individuals who understand and respect your journey can help you on your journey. Seek out people who provide a positive environment for challenging religious indoctrination. Sharing with others who have undergone a similar transition gives us a safety net. They provide validation, comfort, and strength for your journey of self-development.
Conclusion: Perceptual Tunnel Vision and Mass Hallucination Effects
Sadly, ancient mythologies and superstitions still hold sway in much of modern society. Western religion distorts perception by contaminating beliefs and values. Around the world, fascist and autocratic political entities use their power to subvert democracy.
So, our culture is a mass hallucination. We live under the influence of religious bias and prejudice. But the tide is turning. More people are awakening and turning away from the darkness. They are turning away from the groupthink manipulation of Western organized religion.
There are things we can do to overcome harmful programming. We start by acknowledging its influence. It is essential to cultivate critical thinking and seek objective knowledge. Engaging in inner work is the key to identifying and removing harmful programming. Breaking free from the chains of religious indoctrination enables one to be free. We can discover an authentic path of spiritual development. As we adopt a more open-minded and compassionate worldview, we create a more compassionate and better world.
References
- Abrahamic Religions, Wikipedia
- The Catholic Encyclopedia and International Work, Vol. 14 (1907).
- Cambridge Analytica, Wikipedia
- The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell, Wikipedia