A Quote From The True Believer
I do believe I have mentioned this book before--The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer. It is one of the most influential books I've read. Hoffer is a genius in the way he has captured the particulars of a mass movement--its structure, leader, followers, ideology, rhetoric/dogma, etc. I like to think this following quote has particular poignancy to today's climate in which we are asked not to question the president nor his policies of war.
From page 117, Section 92:
The total surrender of a distinct self is a prerequisite for the attainment of both unity and self-sacrifice; and there is probably no more direct way of realizing this surrender than by inculcating and extolling the habit of blind obedience. When Stalin forces scientists, writers and artists to crawl on their bellies and deny their individual intelligence, sense of beauty and moral sense, he is not indulging a sadistic impulse but is solemnizing, in a most impressive way, the supreme virtue of blind obedience. All mass movements rank obedience with the highest virtues and put it on a level with faith: "union of minds requires not only a perfect accord in the one Faith, but complete submission and obedience of will to the [head of the established governing body] as to God Himself." Obedience is not only the first law of God, but also the first tenet of a revolutionary party and of fervent nationalism. "Not to reason why" is considered by all mass movements the mark of a strong and generous spirit.
The quotes are taken from Leo XIII, Sapientiae Christianae. I added the text in brackets and the bold text on the sentence of highest interest.
Hoffer has an additional footnote regarding the Leo XIII quote that I find most applicable to today's ideological atmosphere--"According to Luther, 'Disobedience is a greater sin than murder, unchastity, theft and dishonesty..."
I would like to explain personal experiences in regards to the above but..........
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