But what we've got going wrong is we've got a kind of bifurcation [in cultural development]: You take your classified telephone directory, and open up 'Churches', and have a ruler in your hand. And you will find that the longest space is occupied by authoritarian, Bible-banging churches. And these people are barbarians, who take the written word of the Bible literally. Because they need terribly, they have a personal need, for something to depend on. [...] The government realizes that there is a very large number of people like that; and therefore, to keep their votes, they have to pander to those kind of people. And these are the boys who never grew up; they always need Papa. [...] The trouble is that the boys who need Papa, are violent. They have the guns. And they are the types of people who like to be soldiers, policemen-tough guys. And therefore they have a great deal of power.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Authoritarian religious groups and the politicians who pander to them gain power by exploiting people's need for security. This dynamic creates violent people who crave strict authority.
- In plain terms
- People who need security are easily controlled by strict religious groups.
- What can you take from it?
- Security needs can be exploited by power.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What do you depend on?
- Who gives you security?
Another view
Structure provides necessary stability for some.
More from Alan Watts
Nothing fails like success.
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