Of course it works. Anyone pragmatic knows people become afraid when there is no certainty. Promote fear; promise certainty. Surefire win. Success formula for politicians, publishers, and, sadly, many preachers. They don’t even have to believe it to make it work for them. Unfortunately their disciples do pressure each other to believe it. When the comfort of certainty is so precarious already, how indeed can one become strong enough to surrender it? Once repetition makes it ludicrous, we hold on more tightly.
Any of us who dare to challenge the dogma of “right” answers are “destroying the foundations of civilization.” and need to be silenced. Harshly. Like Socrates.
You’re a brave voice crying in the wilderness, Dave. Standing for truth – “negotiated truths that include more people.” (gotta tweet that) I wonder if Jesus might have said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a rhizome” if he contextualized his message for our day.