Learned Helplessness

[aron]

Another example that comes to mind is that when church members' money goes to a for-profit business run by the church leader's family, then the cheerleaders say, "It is a test", supposedly a test from God to see your purity to bear affliction.

Likewise, in the letter by Greg & Jo Casteel, that if they noticed something amiss, they were worried that THEY were wrong! Somehow anyone who sees the problems in the ministry, the leadership or church affairs has a problem with God. Number 1, this is an invitation to abuse, and #2 the person (like Jo & Greg) lives in mental disarray, fearful of God's wrath.

And all of this, naturally, comes from a source with a clear conflict of interest. The teaching to "bear the cross" in this circumstance is published in a book sold by a publisher that's run by the book author! The affiliated church groups use materials written by the owner of the publishing house, with full time laborers whose only job is to promote (sell) the publisher's materials and to get others to go to the training, where they're trained to read more material telling them to obey without question.

And if the trainees notice, they're trained (conditioned, or brainwashed) to think that somehow it's their fault, like they aren't being spiritual enough.