Scammers and Christianity, Too Much Alike


The AARP Bulletin I received today had a good article about how to guard against scammers. It focused on a trait we all have, "Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)". Probably every reader has heard such a pitch, "You have won Publishers Clearing House. We just need $500 to complete the paperwork." One I got recently said, "We have an important package for you." And, "You can get your credit card balance excused if you act immediately." So many of these. 

AARP listed the steps to guard against falling for scams. Don't fall for glowing testimonials. Beware of "everyone's doing it". Critique your motivation. Turn off your emotions. 

These bits of advice are good, too, for dealing with religion. Let's start with the first, "glowing testimonials. Every Christian, present or past, has heard glowing testimonials from Christians. It's almost a requirement that a Christian bore others with how happy he/she is in his/her Christian practice. AARP's advice is "Don't fall for glowing testimonials."

The next one is really hard for some to turn away from, "Everyone's doing it." That includes you dead mother who is waiting for you. All your loved ones are or were believers so you must be one too. Mormons stretch it further. A long dead spouse is waiting for you. Your current spouse will suffer in heaven alone because God allows only the original. Maybe you really did not like your first spouse as much, you're stuck. We should all remember AARP, "Beware of 'everyone's doing it.'"

It's a little tough to "Critique your motivation." We all think our motives are good. In the case of Christianity, those who promote the faith do not want you to critique your motivation. You might discover your motive for being in the faith is a selfish one. Examples are praying that God cure you of cancer. Sure, it's OK if he cures others but it's me that needs it most. Or, never having to be dead--life everlasting. If you do critique your motivation you might recognize the faith is a quite cynical thing.

Last is "Turn off your emotions." That is impossible when you hear, "Jesus loves you." If everyone turned off emotions there would be no Christianity. 

Perhaps it is best if Christians do not read the article about scams in the AARP Bulletin. 


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