Question 1:
"As I have stated, I help to bring people into your world with
weak brains by giving to them, before birth, as many as possible
of the weaknesses of their ancestors. You call this principle
"physical heredity." After people are born I make use of what
you earthbound call "environment" as a means of controlling
them."
weak brains by giving to them, before birth, as many as possible
of the weaknesses of their ancestors. You call this principle
"physical heredity." After people are born I make use of what
you earthbound call "environment" as a means of controlling
them."
The Devil mentions that he gets to us through nature and nurture (heredity and environment). In what ways does heredity weaken our minds through fear? Can fear of a hereditary disease cause us to not live life to the fullest?
Question 2:
"As I said before, I start people drifting during their youth.
I induce them to drift through school without knowing what
occupation they wish to follow in life. Here I catch the majority
of people. Habits are related. Drift in one direction and soon
you will be drifting in all directions. I also use environmental
habits to give me a definite grip on my victims."
I induce them to drift through school without knowing what
occupation they wish to follow in life. Here I catch the majority
of people. Habits are related. Drift in one direction and soon
you will be drifting in all directions. I also use environmental
habits to give me a definite grip on my victims."
Why is it so easy to drift when we are younger? Are there ways we can teach our youth to be independent and focused on a goal?
Question 3:
"I cause the parents to teach their children to believe as the parents do in connection with religion, politics, marriage, and other
important subjects. In this way, as you can see, when I gain control of the mind of a person I can easily perpetuate the control by causing that person to help me fasten it upon the minds of
his offspring."
important subjects. In this way, as you can see, when I gain control of the mind of a person I can easily perpetuate the control by causing that person to help me fasten it upon the minds of
his offspring."
Do you find that this is often true with individuals? For example: a child rooting for the same sports team as their parents, believing the same religion, being a democrat or republican because their parents are, believing whatever teachers tell them, etc.
Question 4:
"Schoolteachers help me gain control of the minds of children not so much by what they teach the children as because of what they do not teach them. The entire public school system
is so administered that it helps my cause by teaching children
almost everything except how to use their own minds and
think independently.School children are taught not to develop and use their
own minds, but to adopt and use the thoughts of others.
This sort of schooling destroys the capacity for independent
thought, except in a few rare cases where children rely so definitely upon their own will power that they refuse to allow others to do their thinking. Accurate thought is the business of
my opposition, not mine!"
is so administered that it helps my cause by teaching children
almost everything except how to use their own minds and
think independently.School children are taught not to develop and use their
own minds, but to adopt and use the thoughts of others.
This sort of schooling destroys the capacity for independent
thought, except in a few rare cases where children rely so definitely upon their own will power that they refuse to allow others to do their thinking. Accurate thought is the business of
my opposition, not mine!"
When teachers teach us theories as if they are facts or tell us the opinion of a "great mind" of someone long dead as if its an objective truth are we unintentionally telling kids to not rely on their own thoughts and beliefs and instead believe what they are being taught, whether they agree or not?
Question 5:
"I cause it to appear that everything done by the parents, the
schoolteachers, and the religious instructors is being done by
my opposition.
schoolteachers, and the religious instructors is being done by
my opposition.
This diverts attention from me while I manipulate the
minds of the young. When religious instructors try to teach
children the virtues of my opposition, they generally do so
by frightening them with my name. That is all I ask of them.
I kindle the flame of fear into proportions which destroy the
child's power to think accurately. In the public schools the
teachers further my cause by keeping the children so busy
cramming non-essential information into their minds they
have no opportunity to think accurately or to analyze correctly
the things their instructors teach them."
minds of the young. When religious instructors try to teach
children the virtues of my opposition, they generally do so
by frightening them with my name. That is all I ask of them.
I kindle the flame of fear into proportions which destroy the
child's power to think accurately. In the public schools the
teachers further my cause by keeping the children so busy
cramming non-essential information into their minds they
have no opportunity to think accurately or to analyze correctly
the things their instructors teach them."
The Devil can make it appear as if works of God are being done when it is really his doing. He also uses the cramming of non-essential information to prevent us from thinking or analyzing what our teachers teach us to see if they are really sound. Why is it that we put so much trust in our teachers that we don't question what we are taught? And why is it so easy for the Devil to disguise himself as God?
Question 6:
"I cause people to drift on every subject through which I
can control independent thought and action. Take the subject
of health, for example. I cause most people to eat too much
food and the wrong sort of food. This leads to indigestion and
destroys the power of accurate thought. If the public schools
and the churches taught children more about proper eating,
they would do my cause irreparable damage."
can control independent thought and action. Take the subject
of health, for example. I cause most people to eat too much
food and the wrong sort of food. This leads to indigestion and
destroys the power of accurate thought. If the public schools
and the churches taught children more about proper eating,
they would do my cause irreparable damage."
Marriage, Occupation, Savings, Environment, and our Dominating thoughts are all areas that the Devil can cause friction and harm in to further his grasp on us. Pick one of these areas and explain how you feel the Devil can control us through it.
Question 7:
"Yes, that is correct. Any habit which causes one to procrastinate-to put off reaching a definite decision-leads to the habit of drifting."
What do you think of the Devil's description of a drifter (pg. 92-93)?
Question 8:
"The first sign of a non-drifter is this: He is always engaged
in doing something definite, through some well-organized
plan which is definite. He has a major goal in life toward which
he is always working, and many minor goals, all of which lead
toward his central scheme."
in doing something definite, through some well-organized
plan which is definite. He has a major goal in life toward which
he is always working, and many minor goals, all of which lead
toward his central scheme."
Why is it important for us to have a goal oriented life in order to escape drifting and the grasp of the Devil?
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