291 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 47 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing Summarizing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

How Barack Obama Can Move Beyond "Cult" & "Messiah" Charges

By       (Page 3 of 3 pages) Become a premium member to see this article and all articles as one long page.   7 comments

Stephen C. Rose
Message Stephen C. Rose
We are not going to live forever. We build for future generations. The call is always the same. But the cast of characters always changes,

Underline freedom of people to both join and leave the campaign.

The most deleterious example of cultic behavior is the unwillingness to allow for "defections".

+

Finally some caveats of interest to those who take the problem of "cult charges" seriously:

Absolutism of any sort is not a good idea.

Likewise anything that would engender a "suspension of disbelief".

Balance universal regard with the need to discriminate carefully based on the values and behavior of those you are dealing with.

Have an honest understanding of accomplishments. Both in terms of scope and import.

Maintain reverence for and reference to texts such as the Constitution, Scripture, great literature -- all sources we depend on because we are finite and limited and no one is able to encompass or manifest truth save partially and imperfectly.

Take pride in ownnership. It is a sign of normality to be happy with things one has. Cult leaders like Father Divine and Jim Jones made a lot of not owning anything.

Share power. At all levels this is something to both acknowledge and celebrate. Stress the actual and yet limited powers of office.


Much of the above may seem like "a bit much", but if the Obama campaign sees charges of being a cult of personality as a problem, the considerations here, taken as a group, are a powerful antidote based on a careful analysis of cult and messianic behavior that has engaged me for more than 30 years.

Important further reading: On J. Krishnamurti, Jesus, Barack Obama and The Coming Assault

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Stephen C. Rose Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Born in NYC, attended Oberlin & Trinity Schools, then Exeter and Williams (Phi Beta Kappa 1958). Worked with the Reverend James Robinson, finished Union Theological Seminary in NYC (1961). Joined Student Interracial Ministry in Nashville. Founded (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter

Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

My May 1963 Interview with Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mining the Clinton Giustra Connection

Preamble to A Critique of James Cone

Rush Limbaugh's Mouth Has Many Sides

Growing Up -- Two Sonnets

Steven Grossman's Departure from Democracy

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend