Bon appetít

How stuff works: Brainwashing


This is exactly, step by step, what I was exposed to in Christian Sunday school until I was 18. I recognised it only years afterwards because the techniques are so refined and subtle, especially the guilt and forgiveness parts. Let's see what goes into this recipe:

1. As base, use the greater part of the inherent human desire for life, individual significance and to be part of something "bigger". Blend thoroughly, adding a handful of gratuitous self-delusion and rationalisation.


2. Soak the mixture in a primitive paternalistic desert society for approximately 3000 years.


3. Have a cunning madman exploit these attributes, and simmer the resulting doctrine for twenty centuries over the fire of the ever-present priesthood, all the while stirring gently with the Ladle of Opportunism.


4. To be sure that the stew doesn't burn up or dry out, add tolerance and appeasement extracted from the man in the street.


5. Enjoyment tips: it mellows with time, but the careful taster will note and should beware of strong undertones of hypocrisy. Serves infinitely many victims, for ever and ever, Amen.

In retrospect, I consider myself lucky because was in the "moderate" Dutch Reformed Church. I stopped attending at age 21. Still, I forgive the those noble spiritual leaders of the community for their little game *makes holy horns* because they had the best intentions.

Or no, wait. Fuck 'em. Organised religions are the cancers of our society, as Jack Vance so nicely put it.