Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
Now that Witness Lee is dead, I think it's a little harder for people to differentiate and discern what the true condition of the Movement really is and how it may be "labeled".
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How about "personality cult"? From Wikipedia: "A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Sociologist Max Weber developed a tripartite classification of authority; the cult of personality holds parallels with what Weber defined as "charismatic authority". A cult of personality is similar to hero worship, except that it is established by mass media and propaganda."
As an example, Witness Lee got Mel Porter to take his personality as his own, then Mel tried to get brother 'awareness' (& others) to take his (Mel's) personality. I also remember the lc's being called "Witness Lee duplication centers", with what seemed to be a straight face. So maybe it's a personality cult, which just happens to be religious in character.