Having grown up in something closely resembling this crap -- it's overwhelming. You never really can understand the power of sensory overload until you have it performed on you.
I have a different take on this. Rather than scaring or bedazzling into a numb insanity, I think the tears show a empathy for the transcendence and victory of the hero. I get that all the time while watching action movies. Good thing the theater is dark and everyone is (hopefully) staring at the screen. The fact that the kids accept the magical fairytale they're being fed as fact just makes the whole thing that much more compelling.
So, why the rave? Because we social mammals feed off of the approbation of others. Many of us are so much more likely to scream and tear off our bras at a live Beatles concert than to do so while listening alone to a 45 in our parent's basement.
I like the little box-of-tissues bearer girl behind howling bowl-cut boy. Let's engage in rapturous transport, kids, but for pity's sake, don't get any snot on the floor.
Am I the only one who finds those Christian programmes where the audience all looks like they're on illegal substances hella disturbing? I mean if we saw cultists all closing their eyes and swaying and crying and generally looking them there's someone on their knees in front of them (and NOT praying you understand) then we'd be freaked.
But then, I've danced myself to exhaustion and overload before so who am I to mock? It still weirds me out something fierce
Quite a few mystics have had things to say about artificially induced ecstatic experiences and how dangerous they are. These rituals are very risky because they can construct a false spirituality and root it quite deeply in the psyche. I believe (from what I've researched and also what I've experienced) that authentic mystical experience cannot be manufactured or forced; it is granted, or not, without this kind of pressure.
It's worth mentioning that this kind of thing isn't restricted to Christianity; a great many religions have relied on psychological tricks to cause trances of various kinds, and the mystical value of some of these is rather suspect.
That it's being done to young children here is especially disturbing, because they don't have the development needed to differentiate subjective and objective reality. The aim appears to be to build "faith" into their psyche during these formative years, but anything built on an illusion is of necessity unstable, and the damage that will be done when this comes crashing down is substantial; they aren't doing these children any favors. One cannot build a tower to reach heaven.
Mock all you want. Until you've experience the love of veloci-Jesus, you just can't understand. Plus, you can make a shitload of money as a veloci-Jesus televangelist.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-23 11:49 pm (UTC)"Lord and Lady, SAVE me from your followers."
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 12:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 05:22 am (UTC)Twist and shout
Date: 2008-08-24 04:04 pm (UTC)So, why the rave? Because we social mammals feed off of the approbation of others. Many of us are so much more likely to scream and tear off our bras at a live Beatles concert than to do so while listening alone to a 45 in our parent's basement.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 01:00 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 01:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 01:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 12:51 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 02:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 10:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 11:52 am (UTC)But then, I've danced myself to exhaustion and overload before so who am I to mock? It still weirds me out something fierce
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 01:55 pm (UTC)It's worth mentioning that this kind of thing isn't restricted to Christianity; a great many religions have relied on psychological tricks to cause trances of various kinds, and the mystical value of some of these is rather suspect.
That it's being done to young children here is especially disturbing, because they don't have the development needed to differentiate subjective and objective reality. The aim appears to be to build "faith" into their psyche during these formative years, but anything built on an illusion is of necessity unstable, and the damage that will be done when this comes crashing down is substantial; they aren't doing these children any favors. One cannot build a tower to reach heaven.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 04:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-24 11:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-25 06:30 am (UTC)