Is it the Message, or the Men?

[InChristAlone]

Originally Posted by Igzy

Right. The difference is that the communists probably cynically knew this and still exploited it.

Do you seriously think the LC leadership cynically manipulates their members? Or you think they really think that Lee was the MOTA and that reverence to him is part of their duty?

I still think it's the latter. I could be wrong, but when I was there people really, really believed this stuff.

As for communists and their leaders, there were two types of them: those who were sincerely mistaken. And those who used the teaching to gain personal power.

I can't say for the LC leadership since I do not know their hearts. But I believe that most of them became leaders not because they were real spiritual shepherds but because they could listen to the Big Boss, speak in one accord, and OBEY. (That really reminds me of communist leaders). When these people get there, on the top, and become leaders, they do not belong to themselves anymore. They don't serve common people, or brothers and sisters. They serve the idea, the organization, and the teaching. If they realize mistakes in the ideology, they have three ways:

1) keep quiet to keep their position;

2) speak up and become a black sheep;

3) persuade themselves that there are no mistakes because the big boss (Nee, Lee, Stalin, Lenin, Mao, etc) is always right.

Everyone chooses his own way, according to his spiritual growth, character, consciousness, and motivation.

PS I don't know about the elite in Anaheim (bro RK & Co), but as for responsible brothers in my locality, they seem to believe the stuff they preach. On the other hand, they do not look like people who ever question their teachings. And maybe that's why they are responsible brothers.