How are the "Hell Houses" marketed? Are they marketed as scary haunted houses, with the intent of luring in the unsuspecting/unfaithful, or are they marketed as what they are?
Because if it's the latter, then their message is going to those who already know it, who know they aren't going to Hell because they don't do those sinful things (and when they do do those sinful things, it's an exception, their case is special), and the show is mainly tittilation, not education.
And if it's the former, I don't know how the shows can continue from year to year.
psychologyext_2266394November 14 2013, 01:08:40 UTC
"The question I have then, is why should any church push hell and damnation?"
I view the answer to your question differently... instead of looking at it in terms of the incentive, I see human psychology.
If I had to generalize the character of the religious folks who sell fire and brimstone, I would say that they view themselves as being immune. In other words, since they are the messenger, and since they are persons of God, they don't have to worry about Hell. From that position, they are able to point at the rest of us and glare disapprovingly when we get out of line. It puts them in a position of social power.
So, I don't think the Hell House concept is necessarily viewed, from their perspective, in terms of effectiveness. I think that those things serve as another outlet through which the religious leader can lord over his flock.
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Because if it's the latter, then their message is going to those who already know it, who know they aren't going to Hell because they don't do those sinful things (and when they do do those sinful things, it's an exception, their case is special), and the show is mainly tittilation, not education.
And if it's the former, I don't know how the shows can continue from year to year.
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Reply
I view the answer to your question differently... instead of looking at it in terms of the incentive, I see human psychology.
If I had to generalize the character of the religious folks who sell fire and brimstone, I would say that they view themselves as being immune. In other words, since they are the messenger, and since they are persons of God, they don't have to worry about Hell. From that position, they are able to point at the rest of us and glare disapprovingly when we get out of line. It puts them in a position of social power.
So, I don't think the Hell House concept is necessarily viewed, from their perspective, in terms of effectiveness. I think that those things serve as another outlet through which the religious leader can lord over his flock.
Reply
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