Quiz: What Religious System Are You... (involved in)?

Just a quick gut check for self examination only in order to make sure you are not trapped in a cult style religious system. Remember this is just a test. The FCC will not show up at your door. The PC or RC police will not come calling. Yo Mamma may slap you about your head and shoulders, however. If this happens you have way more to deal with than this issue... I'm just saying!

Let's start with a dictionary analysis of the word fascism... (now, aren't you excited? We get to look up words in the dictionary!! Wheeee!)

fas⋅cism
/ˈfæʃɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [fash-iz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) the philosophy, principles, or methods of fascism.
3. (initial capital letter) a fascist movement, esp. the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.
Origin:
1915–20; < It fascismo, equiv. to fasc(io) bundle, political group (see fasces ) + -ismo -ism
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

Now, let's play a little game... Let's rewrite the definition like this...

fas⋅cism
/ˈfæʃɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [fash-iz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1. (sometimes initial capital letter) a religious system led by a dictatorial leader that has reserved for himself or a controlling body dictatorial power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism through various means including, but not limited to, guilt and shame projection, the regimentation of all activity, relationship, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive church or spiritual pride and often voicing or tacitly projecting the idea of the superiority of "our system" or "our organization" over others.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) the philosophy, principles, or methods of religious fascism.
3. (initial capital letter) a religious fascist movement, esp. the one established by in . (supply your "favorite" cult leader and location here)
Origin:
1915–20; < It fascismo, equiv. to fasc(io) bundle, religious group (see fasces ) + -ismo -ism
Based on the My Random But Accurate & Sometimes Discordant Opinions , © Random Pad, Inc. 2009.

Back away from the exercise for a few seconds, collect your thoughts, pray about it, put your truth detector cap on, (I think this is the one with a bill in front and back, printed all over with question marks and exclamation points in step and repeat fashion. I could be wrong) then, re-read.

Great exercise. Now, don't do anything rash. Pray and pray again and meditate and pray some more and apply the Scriptures and ask God about it. Whatever you do, allow God to rule in your heart, mind and spirit. But... no matter which way your exercise turns out, it can never hurt to know the truth. Some even say, and I won't mention any names (Paul) that it just might set you free!!

Larry Grizzle
05/07/2009