Paranoia for the People: The Awful Legacy of Fear Based Religion

Is paranoia a mark of authentic Christian discipleship?

Just ponder that question for a moment then read what this naughty devil has to say:

“When spiritual warfare leads to our becoming paranoid about
individuals, or groups of individuals we need to be wary. Paranoia and
love cannot coexist. In naming the power of Islam, or witchcraft, or
spiritualism as ‘satanic’, it becomes difficult to view those who are
involved in these activities in any other way than as enemies. It
erects a barrier between them and us which becomes difficult to cross,
since fear and love do not easily dwell together.”

To my mind the Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare metanarrative is sorely in need of deconstruction.

9 responses to “Paranoia for the People: The Awful Legacy of Fear Based Religion”

Anna

2006-06-18

I couldn’t agree more!!! In Poland where I live you can hear all too often dialectic of hatered in official church voies for example referring to homosexuals, luckily there are other voices in this same church – deconstructing this dialectic. It is tensed and painful discussion but very necessary.
All the bestest,
Ania

LikeLike

Andii Bowsher

2006-06-18

While it’s a bit old now, I actually wrote and had published something that somewhat deconstructed the strategic level spiritual warfare thing in the early 90-s: Demolishing strongholds in the Grove evangelism series, no.21
There’s a kind of abridged version in article form here I’m actually doing some work at the moment extending and refining the key insights into a theology of human institutions and corporate humanity.

LikeLike

Matt Stone

2006-06-18

Andii,
Thanks for those links. Your article brings out a number of the issues that are of concern to me.
I thoroughly agree with your assertion that “…there is no vocabulary difference between words that, judging by context, refer to human authorities and words that refer to spiritual powers…” The de-spiritualized powers of liberalism and the de-materialized powers of modernist conservatism are equally one-sided perspectives of the same coin. We need to forge a more holistic understanding of the powers and principalities in this day and age. And as you said, we correspondingly need to engage in both prayer and prophetic action as we stand firm in Christ.
I similarly agree that “…the powers are created by God through Christ and are therefore good in purpose…” and that we need to “…make explicitly a distinction between the powers and demonic beings proper…” Not only is this an important consideration in our efforts to tackle the socio-spiritual injustices in our communities, but I have found it is also an important consideration when witnessing to Wiccans, Witches and other polytheists.
When we draw out this often unrecognised distinction between powers and demons we are then in a position to enquire, “Are Pagan earth goddesses and forest gods powers rather than demons?” and “Is the problem here more a case of idolatry (inappropriate worship of aspects of the Creator’s good creation) than demon-worship (bowing down to and celebrating evil)?” This can have a significant impact on how you relate to those who worship multiple gods and goddesses. The traditional approach almost demands demonization of the NeoPagans in our midst. The later allows scope for more humble interaction, as whom amongst us is completely innocent of idolatry?
You also mentioned spiritual mapping. One issue I would like to draw out more is the phenomenological similarities between spiritual mapping and occult geomancy. I’ve even noted that some Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare advocates have a startling fascination with ley lines. You have to wonder to what extent advocates understand what they’re getting themselves into.
BTW, I’ve taken the liberty of modifying your last comment so the link take people directly to the URLs mentioned. Trust you don’t mind.

LikeLike

philjohnson

2006-06-18

Some of the other problems with the spiritual warfare paradigm include:
* a new kind of Christian animism replete with superstitious folk remedies
* a quasi-Zoroastrian dualist cosmology displaces a biblical theology of creation and of angels ( I have said on other occasions that I should like to write a book as a counterpoint to J B Phillips Your God is Too Small; mine [which I have toyed with a publisher over] would be “Your Devil is Too Big).
* a siege-mentality ensues as one engages in a spiritual version of “space-invaders” fedning off spirits, while little is said and done to dialogue with people who follow other pathways; so praxis can easily be distorted and disrupted by a massive diversion into a mono-mania on spirits

LikeLike

Matt Stone

2006-06-22

Actually I should add that I’ve written more on spiritual warfare under the category of
magic and power encounters if any are interested. In essence I’m searching for a new paradigm for interpreting earth magic and the complementary healing movement. All too often its demonized without the slightest pause to consider… is God completely absent from here…or might God be actually ahead of us?

LikeLike

Otana

2006-06-25

As a teen I became fascinated with studying and reading about Pagan religions, and my mother immediately thought it was Satanism (I researched the Church of Satan earlier and frankly thought it was a load of selfish nonsense). It is frightening for me, as an open homosexual to hear fundamentalists considering all gays to be pedophiles. Because I am a lesbian does not make me a pedophile, or a zoophile, a bondage fetishist or any other form of sexual deviance. When people do not see, and in fact refuse to see that there is a difference between disagreeing with a mode of behavior and downright demonizing said behavior, it is endlessly frustrating for those involved.
I had a conversation with a young Christian once, she was about 15 I believe. She told me that she believed homosexuality was wrong, but that she had no right to tell me how to live my life and while she felt I would be happier with a man and following her faith, she offered her blessings to me. I have also been told by other people that I will burn in Hell for my sins, that I am disgusting and that God hates me and that I must be demonically influenced. Regardless as to how I feel about this, I would imagine that first girl is much happier with herself and her life than anyone who sees demons every way they turn and is constantly seeking evil to express their hatred on.

LikeLike

Matt Stone

2006-06-25

Otana,
Yes, I find it frustrating that so many seem incapable of making the basic distinction between disagreement and demonization.
On the one hand you get these hard liners who think its a virtue to hate and alienate, on the other you get these fluffy types who stand for nothin.
Whilst I should be upfront and let you know that I do have points of disagreement with homosexual lifestyles, particularly those of the more cavalier sort, I equally have problems with people bearing false witness … and calling homosexuals paedofiles falls squarely within that court imo.
It is my sincere hope that the Spirit will open the eyes of my fellow disciples to just how hypocritical and unproductive such accusations are. And I say sorry on behalf of my kindred if you have suffered that way. Some of Jesus’ words about ‘casting the first stone’ and ‘taking the log out of your own eye’ need to be heeded by the hot heads and I hope to say a little about the sins of over-zealousness in future posts.
To my mind, how you should live you life is a secondary issue to who you should live your life for. In this respect I would be interested in hearing more from you in terms of your understanding of Jesus, Buddha, Boddhisatvas, nirvana, karma, etc.

LikeLike

Steve Hayes

2006-07-12

It is worth bearing in mind that the primary meaning os “satan” is “accuser”, and the most characteristically satanic activity is the making of accusations.

LikeLike

Matt Stone

2006-12-13

Quite right Steve. I recently read this in “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a Kempis:
“Turn your attention upon yourself and beware the judging of deeds of other men, for in judging others a man labours vainly, often making mistakes, and easily sins; whereas, in judging and taking stock of himself he does something that is always profitable.”
It is simply not Christlike to rashly label others ‘satanic’. Best we look within first.

LikeLike

Curious Christian