At its root, the logic is that of the Grand Inquisitor, who bitterly assailed Christ for offering people freedom and thus condemning them to misery. The Church must correct the evil work of Christ by offering the miserable mass of humanity the gift they most desire and need: absolute submission. It must “vanquish freedom” so as “to make men happy” and provide the total “community of worship” that they avidly seek. In the modern secular age, this means worship of the state religion, which in the Western democracies incorporates the doctrine of submission to the masters of the system of public subsidy, private profit, called free enterprise. The people must be kept in ignorance, reduced to jingoist incantations, for their own good. And like the Grand Inquisitor, who employs the forces of miracle, mystery, and authority “to conquer and hold captive for ever the conscience of these impotent rebels for their happiness” and to deny them the freedom of choice they so fear and despise, so the “cool observers” must create the “necessary illusions” and “emotionally potent oversimplifications” that keep the ignorant and stupid masses disciplined and content. Noam Chomsky
About This Quote

When the leaders of the Church use their power and authority to make people feel less free, they are usually trying to make them happy. The leaders of the Church want people to be content and use their power and authority to make them feel like they are not free. They do this by creating the illusion that the Church will give them what they want and need. The Church can give you what you want and need, but it does not mean that you will be happy because if you knew what was really going on then you would not be happy.

You would not be happy because you would know that all your leaders gave you what you wanted and needed but they were not giving it to you as a gift as much as as a way of making themselves look good. If this is what is going on then it is no surprise that people do not trust the leaders of the church nor listen to them very much because they do not believe that they really care about what is best for them and what is best for others.

Source: Necessary Illusions: Thought Control In Democratic Societies

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