MODERN-DAY IDOLATRY
The group [Opus Dei] displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
“...As a condition of membership [Escriva] demanded acceptance that ‘The Work’ was divinely revealed to him, that it was therefore ‘absolutely perfect,’ and that he was infallible in matters of the ‘spirit of the Work.’”
—John Roche, former Opus Dei numerary, “The Inner World of Opus Dei,” unpublished manuscript (1982)
“...Escriva always insisted that Opus Dei was not his own invention, that it was not the consequence of a series of speculations, analyses, discussions, or experiments, and that it was not the result of good and pious intentions. He clearly implied that the actual founder was God Himself and that the commission of the task to a young priest was a supernatural act, a unique grace.”
—Peter Berglar, Opus Dei: Life and Work of Its Founder Josemaria Escriva (1994)
Many instances may be cited of Saint Josemaria Escriva’s belief in his own infallibility as an instrument of God, using his own words:
“My children I try...to throw out...gold coins, the gold of God…if you don’t pick them up, you are doing wrong, and God our Lord will ask a very strict accounting from you.”
—Cronica (1971)
“…[Opus Dei’s] spirit transcends all geographical, historical, social, or cultural barriers. It transcends as well the evolutionary developments over the ages. As a result, as long as there are men on earth, there will be Opus Dei...[our internal law] by the will of God contains everything necessary for our sanctification and our effectiveness. That is why it is holy, unchangeable, everlasting. God has entrusted this treasure to us. Our first obligation, then, is to guard and defend it exactly as we have received it...There will never come a time, now or in the centuries to come, in which circumstances would advocate habitually abandoning some part of our internal law.”
—Cronica (1968)
Blessed Alvaro del Portillo (1914-1994), Escriva’s protégé and the “second Founder” of Opus Dei, roundly curses those who challenge or repudiate the assumption that Saint Escriva infallibly communicates the Opus Dei “spirit” revealed by God:
begin “If someone would try to divert The Work [Opus Dei] from the divine characteristics that our Founder has given us…if [someone] would try to undermine The Work of God…he would be entitled to the DIVINE CURSE [all capitals mine]” (Alvaro del Portillo, quoted in “Meditations,” VI, page 223) end
—E. B. E., Opus Dei as Divine Revelation (2016), page 18
“Escriva is God.”
—Lou Nicholas Calugcug, former Opus Dei numerary
...Opus Dei is identified with God—a sin against the first two commandments—so that the choice of Opus Dei is represented as the choice of God. This identity is untenable in the absolute sense. Opus Dei is not God.
https://oddsandendsgonzalinhodacosta.blogspot.com/2017/11/is-opus-dei-cult.html
How did this happen? How did a harmful cult flourish inside the Roman Catholic Church?
The social sciences, social psychology especially, can provide some answers.
Unless the institution takes steps to understand what happened as well as how to prevent it from repeating again, I’m sure it will continue to recur.
After all, religious and spiritual totalism is very much a part of the history and culture of the Roman Catholic Church.
We know that the institution is susceptible to cult origination and propagation, more so when the pope himself gives it his backing.
https://oddsandendsgonzalinhodacosta.blogspot.com/2023/05/opus-dei-is-cult.html
You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them. ...You shall not invoke the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. (Exodus 20:3-5, 7)
Public domain photo
ReplyDeletePhoto link:
https://www.wallpaperflare.com/search?wallpaper=golden+calf
Gonzalinho
IS OPUS DEI A CULT?
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/podCrimQYS0
—Breaking in the Habit, “am I in a CULT?” YouTube video, 16:43 minutes, October 6, 2022
The principles Opus Dei propagates and by which it lives are evil. Opus Dei’s intentions are evil. Opus Dei is evil. Opus Dei is a cult.
The Opus Dei agenda is to militantly spread and forcefully implement within the organization its own bigoted version of the Roman Catholic faith in violation of the legitimate freedom that individual Roman Catholics should be granted and freely exercise within the practice of their own religion.
The notable argument Father Casey makes is that legitimate religious organizations distinguish themselves from cults on the basis of intention. Religion has good intentions. Cults have evil intentions.
In my view, Opus Dei fails this test. Opus Dei might not have consciously or purposively bad intentions, but the intentions that animate and drive the organization are demonstrably evil. By this test, Opus Dei is a cult.
Happy memorial of Saint Josemaria Escriva!
Gonzalinho
HUMAN SCIENCES IN THE UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATION OF RELIGIOUS CULTS
ReplyDeleteWhat Is the Psychology Behind a Cult?
Experts who study cults suggest the human need for comfort prompts people to seek out others or things to soothe their fears and anxieties. Research suggests that those elements and others have led hundreds of thousands of people to commit to thousands of cults operating around the world.
“[They] provide meaning, purpose and belonging,” says Josh Hart, a professor of psychology at Union College who studies personality and social psychology, world views and belief systems. “They offer a clear, confident vision [and] assert the superiority of the group.”
As to the leaders themselves, they typically present themselves as infallible, confident and grandiose. Their charisma draws people in, Hart says. And followers who are craving peace, belonging and security might gain a sense of those things as well as confidence through participation in the group.
…What Is the Difference Between a Cult and Religion?
While many religions began as cults, Lalich explains that some integrated into the fabric of the larger society as they grew. In addition, while religions may offer guidelines and support for members to live better lives, a cult separates its members from others and seeks to directly control financial assets and living arrangements.
Recruitment can take months and resemble a pyramid scheme. Meaning, a cult’s expansion relies on existing members to recruit new members. This might involve extending friendship and connection to an individual who is new to an area, lonely, suffering from a personal or professional loss or looking for meaning in life.
…The fascination of cults lies in their complex interplay of psychological, social and cultural factors, and they will undoubtedly continue to fascinate and puzzle us for generations.
https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/the-psychology-behind-cults
—Carl Shane, “What Makes a Cult, and How Do Cult Leaders Control Their Followers?” Discover, September 26, 2023
To be continued
Gonzalinho
HUMAN SCIENCES IN THE UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATION OF RELIGIOUS CULTS
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Vulnerability and Recruitment
No one joins a cult voluntarily; they are recruited into it. There is lack of informed consent. Everyone has vulnerabilities. Possible situational vulnerabilities include illness, the death of a loved one, breakup of an important relationship, loss of a job, or moving to another city, state or country.
Individual vulnerabilities may include high hypnotizability, strong ability for concentration and vivid imagination, learning disorders, or autism spectrum disorders. Excessive use of hypnosis, meditation, and other activities can induce an altered state of consciousness. These, in turn, increase susceptibility to being recruited by a cult unless there are strong critical thinking, media literacy and good supportive network, which can help a person stay grounded.
Other risks consist of:
Learning and communication disorders
Drug or alcohol problems
Trauma
Unresolved sexual issues
Phobias (fear of heights, drowning, sharks, aliens, terrorists, crime, etc.)
There are even recent 21st century contributors:
COVID-19/pandemic
Severe economic disruption
Isolation, lack of touch, social distancing
Social/political polarization
Increased time online
Internet addiction
Recruitment into extreme conspiracy theories and cults/scams
If in a vulnerable state, you may fall for one of the many recruitment strategies. Some take place in person, where you may meet someone at work, through a friend or from a community. Or you may find yourself recruited online from social media posts, websites, YouTube videos, discussion forums, dating apps, movies or video games.
Examining Cults
What exactly is a cult? Destructive individuals and cults use deception and undue influence to make people dependent and obedient. A group should not be considered a cult merely because of its unorthodox beliefs. It is typically authoritarian, headed by a person or group of people with near complete control of followers. Cult influence is designed to disrupt a person’s authentic identity and replace it with a new identity.
There are many types of cults: political, religious, self-help, large group awareness trainings, mini-cults (family or one-on-one), multi-level-marketing (MLM), conspiracy theory, commercial, and labor/sex trafficking.
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Gonzalinho
HUMAN SCIENCES IN THE UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATION OF RELIGIOUS CULTS
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…Cult Psychology
Cult leaders want people who will be obedient to them and their rules. They look for ways to “break” people; they want people who will work hard and long hours for little or no pay. They want “willing” slaves. Authoritarian religious cults often use members for labor trafficking. When the mind is controlled, a victim may appear happy and willing to suffer for the profit or benefit of the leader/group.
For members, happiness comes from "good" performance within the group, along with elitist thinking—believing they have the "truth" or the the best way of life. But strict obedience is required. They are manipulated by fear and guilt and may be stuck, with no way out!
Identity Change
Undue Influence does NOT erase the person’s old identity but rather creates a new identity to suppress the old one. After different types of manipulation, the creation of a new identity is done step-by-step by formal indoctrination sessions and informally by members, videos, games, movies, publications, and social/digital media. Behavior modification techniques are employed, such as rewards/punishments, thought-stopping, and control of environment (isolation or restriction of access to others). And then the new identify is reinforced and the old identify suppressed.
…In an era when cult mind control is ever present and growing, it is essential to better understand the basics of cults, in order to combat their influence. The first goal in educating yourself is prevention, for yourself and others. But, if you have been affected, recovery is possible. And if your friends or family are involved in a destructive group, you can help rescue them from harm.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/freedom-mind/202106/understanding-cults-the-basics
—Steven A. Hassan, Ph.D., “Understanding Cults: The Basics,” Psychology Today, June 5, 2021
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Gonzalinho
HUMAN SCIENCES IN THE UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATION OF RELIGIOUS CULTS
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Opus Dei is a controlling, manipulative organization that feeds off vulnerable human psychology. It is particularly successful in its recruitment of members because it is sponsored by an institution, the Roman Catholic Church, that is widely respected and followed by a religious population numbering in the hundreds of millions—and in this regard we fault the leaders of the institution for their ongoing endorsement of the religious and spiritual regime of Opus Dei.
The sciences—in particular, the human sciences of sociology and psychology—meaningfully account for the psychologically harmful effects of cults, religious or otherwise. Our present-day human sciences cogently define and describe cults—for example, in what manner they arise, how they operate, reasons why members are attracted to them and why they persist in their association, what are the deleterious effects of cults, and how to personally recover from cult separation and afterwards adjust to regular “normal” life in society.
At least part of the reason why Opus Dei and similar cults persist in the Roman Catholic Church (“the Church”) is that the leaders of the Church are inadequately educated or informed in religious psychology and sociology. They predominantly or exclusively depend on religious and philosophical understanding in evaluating internal religious movements.
Sometimes suspicious and even outrightly dismissive of the human sciences, Church leaders fail to acknowledge the truth, value, relevance, and application of the human sciences in the interpretation of religious movements. Deplorably, Church leaders are poorly able to harness the human sciences for salutary human benefit.
This backwardly motivated ideological regime calls for enlightenment and reform, for the sake of the many victims of ongoing and prospective religious and spiritual abuse in the institution.
Gonzalinho
REQUISITE CONDITIONS FOR THE OBLIGATION OF RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE
ReplyDeleteOne way in which the obligation of obedience is legitimately constituted in the Roman Catholic Church is by means of public or private vows. The matter of vows calls for a closer and more careful look because vows impose an obligation of obedience and from the standpoint of the Roman Catholic religion they do so legitimately.
The juridic aspect of vows is taken up in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, canons 1191-1198.
The canons are not simply legal imperatives but they are also theological claims and practical directives.
Vows are founded on a theological basis and are exercised in a theological context. They are based on religious understanding and practice.
Vows are practical—they are put into effect in a manner that directly, substantively, and sometimes radically affects the lives not only of the vowed but also of those who receive the vow and who exercise religious and spiritual authority in the name of the Church and of God to oblige observance of the vow and compliance with it, and who thereby assume the role of religious superior with weighty religious and moral obligations.
Title V of the Code describes vows (and oaths) as “…acts of religion that have a sacred character and impose obligations of religion. …Vows and oaths are, moreover, juridic acts which have juridic effects.”
“A vow, that is a deliberate and free promise made to God about a possible and better good, must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion.”
What are some of the conditions under which a vow is legitimately constituted?
Specifically, under what conditions is the obligation of religious obedience, meaning, obedience to a religious superior, made operative and brought into effect?
Commentary (in quotation marks) on the canon law provisions cited below is taken from John D. Beal, James A. Coriden, and Thomas J. Green, eds., The New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law: Commissioned by the Canon Law Society of America (New York, New York: Paulist Press, 1999), pages 1416-1420. See:
https://www.franciscanpenancelibrary.com/vows#:~:text=A%20vow%20must%20be%20made,vow%20and%20has%20no%20effect
—“Public and Private Vows in Roman Catholic Church,” Franciscan Penance Library, 2016
To be continued
Gonzalinho
REQUISITE CONDITIONS FOR THE OBLIGATION OF RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE
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Canon 1191 §3 A vow made out of grave or unjust fear or malice is null by the law itself.
Commentary
“A vow must be made with sufficient deliberation, knowingly, and with due discernment. The object of the vow must be something good; otherwise, it is not a vow and has no effect. …it must be something better, i.e., better than not doing it, or better than its opposite.
“…The vow must be freely made, i.e., without grave and unjust fear, or as a result of malice. A vow made under such circumstances would be invalid. Fear is grave when, in order to escape some serious harm that is perceived, a person sees no alternative other than to take the vow. Fear is unjust if it is inspired by a threat that is not deserved; it is just if it is inspired by a threat that is deserved.
“…Malice (dolus) in the context of this canon is the deliberate act of lying or of concealing the truth in order to get another person to make a vow which he or she would not do if the truth were known, or in order for oneself to get permission to make a vow, which would not be permitted if the truth were known.
“…Also invalid is a vow made out of ignorance or error concerning an element which constitutes the substance of the vow or which amounts to a condition sine qua non (c. 126). Ignorance is lack of knowledge; error is mistaken judgment. Ignorance or error invalidates a vow if the person vowing lacked knowledge of, or erred in judgment about, something that is of the substance of the vow.
“…A condition sine qua non is one which is so important that the vow would not have been taken if it had been known that the condition was not verified or could not be fulfilled.”
The first point we would make is that a vow of obedience is done with informed consent, in the words of the commentary, “with sufficient deliberation, knowingly, and with due discernment.” When the right to informed consent is not satisfied, the obligations of the vow are undercut and even lose their obligatory character, possibly entirely.
In the case of Opus Dei, this condition is violated when the Opus Dei member is required to profess the religious vows, in particular, the vow of poverty, and then repeatedly told over many years that they are lay, not religious—a claim which is contradicted by the obligatory profession of the vow itself.
The right of informed consent is further violated when the member is told that the religious community to which they belong does not possess common property but rather that all the members own private property and exercise their right to it—and then years later, in a turnaround that amounts to a betrayal of trust, that they are obliged to sign over their entire private property (which might be very substantial) to a corporate vehicle that the organization legally controls, and that this surrender is required of their ongoing commitment to the organization—a condition to which they never consented at the start!
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Gonzalinho
REQUISITE CONDITIONS FOR THE OBLIGATION OF RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE
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The above illustrates additional conditions under which the obligations of the vow of obedience would be nullified, namely:
“…Malice (dolus) in the context of this canon is the deliberate act of lying or of concealing the truth in order to get another person to make a vow which he or she would not do if the truth were known.”
Malice is not definitively assumed here but rather it is posited that malice could be an underlying factor, especially since recruitment into the organization, what Opus Dei euphemistically terms “apostolate,” represents the very raison d’être of the organization.
“Also invalid is a vow made out of ignorance or error concerning an element which constitutes the substance of the vow or which amounts to a condition sine qua non…. A condition sine qua non is one which is so important that the vow would not have been taken if it had been known that the condition was not verified or could not be fulfilled.”
Still another condition that undercuts the obligation of obedience in Opus Dei is when the organization as a matter of religious conviction, that is, according to its corporate theology, repeatedly threatens that the member who chooses to leave is likely to be damned in hell.
“The vow must be freely made, i.e., without grave and unjust fear…. A vow made under such circumstances would be invalid. Fear is grave when, in order to escape some serious harm that is perceived, a person sees no alternative other than to take the vow.”
We opine that it is a better decision to never join Opus Dei under the aforementioned conditions, because to join entails the explicit, insistent threat of eternal damnation, whereas the opposite, not joining, does not.
Put another way, why knowingly take on the threat of eternal damnation when it is very well possible—and we might add, well attested by the history and tradition of the Roman Catholic Church—to pursue a solid Christian life, even attaining exemplary holiness, outside the confines of Opus Dei or any similarly maddeningly restrictive religious organization in the Roman Catholic Church?
Besides, joining Opus Dei when the right to informed consent has been gravely violated renders the insistent threat of eternal damnation upon departure from the organization unjust, besides the fear that arises therefrom.
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Gonzalinho
REQUISITE CONDITIONS FOR THE OBLIGATION OF RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE
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Finally, it is highly disputable that joining Opus Dei is a better good than not joining the organization for the principal reason that the spirituality and the theology upon which the institution is built is in important and major respects questionable, objectionable, and even demonstrably immoral.
“The object of the vow must be something good; otherwise, it is not a vow and has no effect. …it must be something better, i.e., better than not doing it, or better than its opposite.”
Opus Dei’s claim that Saint Josemaria Escriva is infallible when he defines the spirituality of the organization—infallible, meaning, that the founder speaks for God directly and mirrors the person of God in his actions—is untenable.
Denial and violation of fundamental rights in Opus Dei, systemic duplicity, overbearing and insupportable thought control, and psychologically damaging cultic practices represent, among others, attributes of the so-called Opus Dei spirit that can hardly be said to proceed from God. They rather appear to reflect the autocratic, flawed, and deleterious convictions of Escriva himself.
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Gonzalinho
REQUISITE CONDITIONS FOR THE OBLIGATION OF RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE
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Canon 1194 deals with cessation of a vow.
Commentary
Canon 1194 A vow ceases by the lapse of the time designated to fulfill the obligation, by a substantial change of the matter promised, by the absence of a condition on which the vow depends, by the absence of the purpose of the vow, by dispensation, or by commutation.
“A vow ceases to bind…
“(2) when there has been a substantial change in the matter promised, i.e., the thing promised becomes impossible or wrongful whether in itself or due to circumstances, e.g., one vows to attend Mass each year at a certain church and the church is closed, or one vows to give a large donation to the parish building fund and it becomes necessary to use the money to pay for emergency medical care;
“(3) when a condition on which the vow depends no longer exists, e.g., one vows to fast every day because of obesity, and the excess weight is lost; …”
The obligation of vowed obedience in Opus Dei—or simply obedience, which in Opus Dei is represented in an absolutist manner as obligatory—is nullified by at least the following conditions that have been observed, as expounded earlier and above:
“substantial change of the matter promised”
“…the thing promised becomes…wrongful…in itself”
“absence of a condition on which the vow depends”
Gonzalinho