In managing our business, we use an approach that’s based on a philosophy called “systems thinking.” Systems thinking is a way of understanding an organization that emphasizes the relationships among a system's parts, rather than the parts themselves. We believe organizations are systems that are best managed holistically—considering the whole, not the individual parts. As with the human body, this means visible “pain” in one area of the business may actually be a symptom of a real, invisible problem somewhere else.
There is a saying in business “Put a good performer in a bad system and the system will win every time.” It’s extremely hard to fight against the system when you are immersed in it. If you take any actions that are contrary to the “system,” organizational “antibodies” will deal with you as if you were virus. Which in this sense, you really are. Anybody ever tried to implement large-scale change in a company or organization? Easy isn’t it! Yes, even beneficial change is strongly resisted.
When I first came into contact with LR Davis and the Good News Singers, I was not impressed at all. LR was a name dropper to me (“We sang for Mickey Rooney”…WTF cares). The people I met were OK and nice (Paine, Hamby, others), but they were unremarkable. Some ever looked creepy to me (Thomas for one—he had this sickly, jaundiced look about him as if he was fighting a disease). No, I didn’t see a lot of “good news” here. My first impression of CFI proved to be dead on the mark.
So why did I later become involved with this wonderful, “world changing” organization?
Well, other members of my family bought the message, hook, line and sinker. So over time, if I wanted to see the family, I had to go see them where they were—usually in Waukegan. When I visited, I was immersed in the CFI “system.” I would have people show me around—talk about all of the great works done by the ministry. Pictures with important people. Endorsements. I would see an endless parade of people whose “lives have been changed” (for the good they told me). They certainly seemed so sincere and being immersed in a "sea of sincerity" can have a powerful affect on you. (I obviously learned later that they were all sincerely wrong.)
They used a powerful tactic with me: “the bible says this” and “the bible says that.” The prima facie evidence for many of their claims, positions and beliefs appeared convincing and compelling. One guy told me after an extended session “I think you know deep down inside that this is right. God will now hold you accountable for what you have learned here. Why don’t you act on that right now?”
I was surrounded by several zealous “servants of God.” My family was involved and all seemed so happy. The pressure on me was overwhelming. If I gave in, I’d be accepted and I’d belong. (The heading instinct in humans is extremely powerful.)
After several more hours, they flipped me. As John Cady says, I “drank the Kool-Aid.” What I didn’t’ fully understand, I accepted by faith. But I later learned there is such a thing as toxic faith.
Because I didn’t live in Waukegan, my involvement with CFI over the next couple of years was a long-distance one. I’d show up when I had vacation time and so forth. That’s another story for another time. I will say that when I did have the opportunity to spend a few months up there with them, I was one virus that the CFI antibodies couldn’t kill.
Two observations:
First, in the-most-popular-ever-now-deleted Citi-Data thread, I once said:
The biggest red flag for me is when others say “The bible says this,” or “the bible says that.” When I hear this kind of stuff, I want to say “the bible says go f*ck yourself.”
If one picks and chooses his or her own scriptures, one can make the bible say anything one wants it to. LR used to use the bible as a club IMHO. It still is for the emasculated leadership today.
The bible is a unique and wonderful collection of books that must be considered as a whole. Those that prefer some verses and ignore others do things like start cults and build an army of followers out of fear. The world is full of suckers. Scripture twisters use the bible as a weapon. They terrorize other people. They take advantage of other people's sincere desire to try to do good and they turn that into a power pyramid with them on top.
In other words, cults do not use “systems thinking” when they consider the bible. They pick and choose the verses that support whatever points the wish to make at any particular time (always with the goal to make you feel guilty).
Second, when a person is immersed in the “system” of the cult, it is extremely difficult to break free. The system usually wins every time. Look at some of the human wreckage and debris that’s there now to see how “successful” CFCMI has been here.
So if you want to know why I sometimes push the envelope in my comments and not be as tactful as others might wish me to be, it’s the utter disgust and contempt I have for the leadership of CFCMI.
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice — Barry Goldwater
In my view, a little extremism in the fight against CFCMI is no vice either.
So keep the pressure up. Someday people might even thank you for having the courage to fight.
She is Different
Originally Posted by thistime
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More Rita. Is that some sort of Talaban code she's talking at the end?
