Tag Archives: bible

Understanding Obedience Theory:

Understanding Obedience Theory:

Obedience Theory refers to psychological theories that explain why individuals comply with authority figures, even when doing so may go against their personal morals or ethical standards.

Key Concepts in Obedience Theory:

Definition of Obedience:
 Obedience is a form of social influence where an individual acts in response to a direct order from an authority figure.

1. Milgram’s Obedience Study (1963)

The cornerstone of obedience theory:

  • Experiment Summary:
     Participants were instructed to administer increasingly severe electric shocks to a “learner” (actually an actor) by an authority figure in a lab coat.
  • Findings:
     Over 60% of participants administered the highest voltage, despite believing it caused serious harm.
  • Conclusion:
     People tend to obey authority figures, even against their moral judgment, especially when:
  • The authority appears legitimate
  • The task is framed as serving a higher purpose
  • Responsibility is perceived as being transferred to the authority

2. Factors Influencing Obedience:

  • Authority Legitimacy:
     People obey more when the authority appears credible (e.g., uniformed, institutional).
  • Proximity of Authority:
     Obedience increases when the authority figure is physically close.
  • Proximity of Victim:
     Obedience decreases when the victim is closer or more personally known.
  • Group Influence:
     Presence of dissenting peers reduces obedience.

3. Theoretical Foundations:

  • Agentic State Theory:
     People enter an agentic state where they see themselves as agents executing another person’s wishes, thus reducing personal responsibility.
  • Social Role Theory:
     In the Stanford Prison Experiment, individuals adopted authoritarian or submissive roles based on assigned positions, showing obedience to perceived roles.

4. Applications and Relevance:

  • Military obedience
  • Medical hierarchies
  • Corporate compliance
  • Historical atrocities (e.g., Holocaust)

5. Criticisms and Ethical Concerns:

  • Ethics of experiments:
     Milgram’s and Zimbardo’s studies raised questions about psychological harm and informed consent.
  • Ecological Validity:
     Critics argue that lab-based obedience may not fully represent real-life situations.

Here’s a clear comparison between obedience, conformity, and compliance — three key concepts in social influence:

1. Obedience

  • What it is: Following a direct order or command from an authority figure.
  • Who influences: An authority figure (someone perceived as having legitimate power).
  • Example: A soldier following orders from a commanding officer.
  • Key feature: Power imbalance; the authority has explicit power over the individual.
  • Motivation: Fear of punishment, respect for authority, perceived duty.

2. Conformity

  • What it is: Changing your behavior or beliefs to match those of a group, often due to social pressure.
  • Who influences: Peers or a social group, not necessarily an authority figure.
  • Example: Dressing like your friends or agreeing with group opinions during discussions.
  • Key feature: Informal social influence; no explicit orders, but a desire to fit in or be accepted.
  • Motivation: Desire to be liked (normative influence) or to be correct (informational influence).

3. Compliance

  • What it is: Changing behavior in response to a direct request, but not necessarily from an authority figure.
  • Who influences: Any individual or group making a request.
  • Example: Agreeing to sign a petition when asked by a stranger.
  • Key feature: Voluntary agreement to a request without authority pressure.
  • Motivation: Desire to be helpful, avoid conflict, or gain reward.

Summary Table

Influence Type Source of Influence Nature of Influence Example Motivation Obedience Authority figure Direct command Soldier following orders Fear of punishment, duty Conformity Peer group Social pressure Adopting group behavior Desire for acceptance/correctness Compliance Requester (anyone)Direct request Signing a petition Desire to help, avoid conflict.

Shervan K Shahhian

Gnosticism, what is it:

Gnosticism, what is it:

Gnosticism is a diverse and ancient spiritual tradition that emphasizes gnosis, or direct, personal knowledge of the divine. Rather than relying on faith alone or external religious authorities, Gnostics seek inner enlightenment — an awakening to the hidden truths of existence, the self, and the divine realm.

Here’s a clearer breakdown:

Core Concepts of Gnosticism
Gnosis (Knowledge)

Not just intellectual knowledge, but mystical insight or revelation about the true nature of reality and the self.

Gnosis is experiential — like a spiritual awakening.

The Divine Spark in Humanity

Humans contain a divine spark, a fragment of the true God, trapped in the material body.

The goal is to liberate this spark and return it to its divine source.

The True God vs. the Demiurge

Gnostics distinguish between:

The True God, unknowable, infinite, and purely spiritual.

The Demiurge, a lesser god or creator who made the physical world — often seen as ignorant, flawed, or even malevolent.

The material world is seen as a prison or illusion, created by the Demiurge to trap souls.

Cosmic Hierarchies and Aeons

The True God emanates Aeons, divine beings or aspects, which together form the Pleroma (fullness of the divine realm).

The fall or error of one Aeon (often named Sophia, meaning Wisdom) leads to the creation of the material world and the Demiurge.

Jesus as a Revealer, Not a Sacrificial Savior

Many Gnostic sects viewed Jesus not as someone who died for sins, but as a divine messenger or teacher who came to awaken gnosis within humans.

Gnostic Texts
Most Gnostic writings were suppressed by early church leaders, but many survived hidden for centuries. In 1945, a major discovery occurred: the Nag Hammadi Library in Egypt, a collection of ancient Gnostic scriptures, including:

The Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel of Philip

The Apocryphon of John

The Gospel of Truth

Gnosticism vs. Orthodox Christianity
Gnostic View Orthodox Christianity Knowledge (gnosis) saves Faith and grace save The world is a prison The world is God’s good creation The true God is unknowable God is personal and revealed Jesus brings gnosis Jesus dies for sin Salvation is escape from matter Salvation is resurrection of the body

Modern Relevance
Gnostic ideas still resonate today in:

Mystical Christianity

Esoteric traditions (e.g. Theosophy, Jungian psychology)

Science fiction and philosophy (like The Matrix or Plato’s Cave allegory)

New Age spirituality

Shervan K Shahhian

Parapsychology and Table Levitation’s:

Parapsychology and Table Levitation’s:

Parapsychology is the study of phenomena that seem to defy conventional scientific explanations, often associated with the mind’s influence on the physical world or perceptions beyond the known sensory capabilities. These phenomena include telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, and survival of consciousness after death. While fascinating, parapsychology remains controversial due to its reliance on subjective experiences and challenges in replicating findings under controlled scientific conditions.

Table Levitation in Parapsychology
Table levitation, also known as table tipping or table tilting, is a phenomenon often associated with séances and spiritualist practices. Participants, usually seated around a table, place their hands lightly on its surface. Under certain conditions, the table appears to move, tilt, or even rise off the ground, seemingly without any physical force applied.

Possible Explanations
Skeptical View:

Ideomotor Effect: Subtle, unconscious movements by participants can cause the table to move.
Deception: Fraudulent mediums have historically been caught using hidden mechanisms or physical tricks.
Group Psychology: Suggestion and expectation in a group setting may lead participants to perceive or exaggerate movements.
Paranormal Perspective:

Psychokinesis: Some believe that mental energy or spiritual forces can cause the table to move.
Spiritual Communication: In spiritualist traditions, table movements are thought to be a means for spirits to communicate.
Scientific Challenges
The reproducibility of table levitation under strict experimental controls is rare. Controlled studies often fail to replicate the phenomenon, leading many scientists to view it with skepticism. However, it remains a compelling subject for those exploring the boundaries of consciousness and physical reality.

Shervan K Shahhian

Purity Culture, what is it:

Purity culture, what is it:

“Purity culture” refers to a set of beliefs and practices that emerged within certain religious and conservative communities, emphasizing sexual abstinence until marriage and promoting a narrow and often idealized view of sexuality. This cultural phenomenon gained prominence in the late 20th century, particularly in certain Christian circles in the United States.

Key aspects of purity culture include:

Abstinence as a Virtue: Purity culture often places a high value on Abstinence, framing it as a virtue and a form of moral superiority. Those who abstain from premarital intimacy are often praised for their commitment to purity.

Modesty Standards: Purity culture frequently advocates for modesty in dress and behavior, with the belief that avoiding provocative clothing and actions can help individuals maintain their sexual purity.

Courtship Instead of Dating: Purity culture may encourage a model of courtship, where couples are chaperoned and follow a more intentional and supervised path toward marriage, as opposed to casual dating.

Abstinence Education: Purity culture is associated with abstinence-only education, which promotes refraining from sexual activity until marriage as the only acceptable option. This approach sometimes involves limited information about contraception and comprehensive sex education.

Shame and Guilt: Individuals who do not adhere to the standards of purity culture may experience shame and guilt, as their actions are often framed as sinful or impure. This can have lasting psychological effects on individuals who have been part of such a culture.

Critics of purity culture argue that it can be harmful, leading to feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety about one’s sexuality. They suggest that it often creates unrealistic expectations, reinforces gender stereotypes, and fails to provide a healthy and comprehensive understanding of human sexuality.

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness and critique of purity culture, with some communities and individuals reevaluating these beliefs and seeking more inclusive and nuanced approaches to discussions about sexuality and relationships.

Shervan K Shahhian