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  %TRANSCEND DOUBLE BIND COLLUSIVE GAME MUTUAL SELF+980526                            
 %DECEPTION RELIGIOUS LEADERS CHURCH CHRISTIANS SIN 980526 
                                                                                                                               
     How are members of a religious group to transcend the                                               
double  binds  in which they are placed by their group  if                                                                     
their group  is  leading  its members  in  the  playing of                                                                     
collusive games of mutual self-deception?   It is not only 
religious "cults"  which play such dishonest games.   Many               
respected  religious  groups also play collusive games  of                                      
mutual  self   deception  ---  professing to  believe  one 
thing,   and  systematically  acting  in  ways  which  are      
contrary to what is officially professed.                                                           
                                                                                                                               
     What are members of a group to do if:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                               
     1.  They are expected to say that they believe/affirm             
statements  --- which  in  fact do not  make sense to them                                                                     
because the statements run  counter  to their own personal                   
experiences and perceptions?        
                                                                                                                               
     2.  They are expected to say that they believe/affirm             
statements --- which according to their understandings  of                                                    
the statements, the statements are mutually contradictory?                            
                                                                                                                               
     3.  They are asked to treat each other in ways  which      
are contrary to the teachings of the group ---  which make                                                           
the most sense to them?                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                               
     4.  They  find  that members of the group  are  upset                                                                     
when they openly  and  honestly  describe  their  personal                                                                 
experiences ---  which are most significant and meaningful                                   
to them?                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                               
     5.  People  who  impress  them  most  as  persons  of                                                                 
integrity  are criticized by the group for  reasons  which                                                                   
are petty --- in the light  of  the  integrative  people's                                                                   
demonstrations of authentic living?                                                                                            
                                                                                                                               
     6.  The group is so preoccupied with the past ---that                                                                     
it  cannot learn from experiences in  the  eternal now  of                                   
present  authentic  meetings ---  within open  and  honest                             
dialogue  wherein people are being true to themselves  and    
others?                                                               
                                                                                                                               
     7.  The  group is unable to integrate creative people                         
who are different in healthy ways --- into the life of the  
group?                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                               
     How  can  such  a  religious  group  enjoy   communal                                               
integrity ---  if its members  fail  to  find satisfactory                                                                   
answers to these questions?                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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