An Art of Religious Exploitation: Storytelling

Abstract

Religious abuse is the desire to control emotions and distract human reason from what is reasonable. The intense exposure of a religion to emotionality is the distortion of the sphere of values. Therefore, religious abuse is the desire to render the principles and values of a religion dysfunctional for the sake of worldly interests. In its negative sense, parable telling is the intentional creation of confusion and dissemination of false information in order to gain some benefit. One of the main reasons for the lack of reasoning is that parable-tellers, for the sake of worldly interests, influence the masses through enthusiastic sermons, high-tone speeches, intense emotionality, and deceptive assurance. The inability to counter unfounded rumors, exaggerated stories and fictional discourses with reasonable measures is the transformation of religion into myth. In this way, false information can be made more widespread and vibrant than true information. When a religion begins to inculcate itself into society through fictions, it is inevitable that values degenerate and the principles and values of religion become dysfunctional. This means that the expectations of a storyteller and the real ideals of religion do not coincide. Since it is not possible for true religion to market and commercialize itself, a religious understanding that becomes identical with the desire for rent and profit is tantamount to nothing. What the article wants to emphasize is the destructive effect of a belief that religion exists to serve itself. In this respect, the article will examine the role of storytellers in the abuse of religion in a descriptive way. Since the article deals with the problematic dimension of the issue, it will not include the historical process or detailed conceptual analysis. Since the article leaves the comparison between the past and the present to the reader's perception, the mental analysis will be reflected in the text.

Highlights

• Religious abuse is the desire to control emotions and distract human reason from what is reasonable.
• Parable-telling is the deliberate creation of confusion and dissemination of false information in order to gain some benefit.
• If the ignorance-based self-confidence of the storytellers is appreciated and respected in a society, the ability to doubt, criticize and object will cease in that society, and thus knowledge and wisdom and all kinds of development will cease.
• Since it is not possible for true religion to market and commercialize itself, a religious understanding that becomes identical with the desire for rent and profit is tantamount to nothing.
• When the interests of the storytellers and the ideals of religion are equated, emotions are uncontrollable and all kinds of extremism and aggression can find a rationalized ground.