Steps of descent of the believer into becoming a Pharisee

[Jwanon]

The Pharisee is a believer who has lost the love of God and kept only the shell of religion. Nothing is more dangerous than a religion without love. For he who stops loving ends up hating. And he who hates, in God's name, kills. Pharisaism is the corruption of true religion.

 

Step number one, loses faith, so it becomes exhibitionism. Religion becomes an outward show, a theatre of piety. Faith as performance.

Number two, it becomes a habit without soul, a routine, a career.

Three, it becomes a profession, a career, a business, a source of gain.

Four, power, it becomes an instrument of power over others. A means to dominate others.

Five, Power leads to contempt, the aversion towards the truly devoted, the one who truly believes. They feel uncomfortable about being near them. A profound dislike, as if the believer's belief is something personal, aversion to the truly devout.

Six, persecution. They want to put the believer down, hatred towards them. Sacrilege.

Seven, then it leads to the murder of the just, figuratively speaking. Smears. Character assasination. Ultimately, the false believer comes to hate the true believer.

 

The Pharisee lives in all of us. He is the worm of the religious soul. We can so easily succumb to the very temptation of power, vanity and self-importance.

Edited Thursday at 07:49 AM by Jwanon

[Babseinstein]

Is this the same Pharisee we know?