Humans are social creatures.
We’ve always survived in herds, groups, units.
We can survive alone, yes.
But deep down, it’s in our nature to crave human connection, understanding, and bonding.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9473704/
When people get together, something amazing happens.
We feel it.
Collective effervescence.
The feelings of unity,
Of peace
Of empowerment.
At concerts the music vibrates through our chests as one, as we all sing the same lyrics and dance to the same beat.
We bond through song, dance, and human emotion.
In book clubs and tea parties
People meet up and share similar interest, get good conversation flowing, and leave feeling uplifted and understood.
And at church,
People gather and sing songs together. Read scriptures together. Join in unity against similar life struggles; help one another feel as though they are not alone.
And that, is collective effervescence.
Something that the church likes to call
“The Spirit.”
https://durkheim.uchicago.edu/Summaries/forms.html
Now, I’m not talking about times when a person is sitting alone and feels “the spirit;”
That would be a topic regarding the human conscience; a topic for another time.
For this specific blog post,
I am specifically focusing on moments in which “three or more are gathered.”
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/25stevenson?lang=eng
Anyone who has ever attended a concert, a social gathering, a party, a general conference, a church meeting or activity
Knows this feeling.
And it’s the feeling of not being alone.
Of feeling understood.
Of feeling unified.
It’s the feeling of being human
And having your “tribe” to back you up.
But the Mormon church likes to take this beautiful, natural, human occurrence
And of course, create a trademark on the feeling.
“The spirit.”
“It comes from God!”
“It comes from being a part of the church!”
“See? The Children of God are all one body in Him!”
Churches love to turn everything religious.
https://journalofsocialontology.org/index.php/jso/article/view/8732
Can we not just enjoy the human feeling of unity?
Why must religions create their own trademarks for every happy human experience?
It’s being human. Finding joy in being human.
Not everything has to have a religious claim to it.
Some things are better left felt,
And experienced.
Not everything needs to be tied to a religious God and creator.
Which is what the church wants you to believe it is, that feeling.
So that you’ll stay tied to them.
Feed into their organization.
Buy into their enterprise.
Because joy in the church, never comes without a cost.
Why do people struggle to leave the church?
Well, because of collective effervescence,
They feel united to their tribe; their ward. Their congregation. They feel the support system that’s systematically set in place. The collective tears and shared struggles result in one finding it difficult to leave.
And while it’s important to have your own support system,
The church is one that is not to be bought into.
Because once you taste the beauty of collective effervescence within church walls;
They pull you into deeper things, such as paying money to enter heaven, threats of being cut off from God if you don’t obey additional commandments, fear of being separated from your family in the afterlife.
So it’s not that the church calls “collective effervescence” “the spirit.”
Sure, call it “the spirit.” Why not?
It’s the fact that the church utilizes and preys upon these intense emotional bonding moments
And pulls members into its corrupt and abusive Religous system.
The abuse of human emotion.
Turned for profit.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/25stevenson?lang=eng
When people experience collective effervescence,
The church uses these emotions to join their ranks. Convinces people to buy into the belief system.
And the next thing you know,
These people are paying 10% of their income to make it to the celestial kingdom or be cut off from God and their family in the afterlife.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/25stevenson?lang=eng
The abuse of human emotion for man’s selfish gain is a disgusting thing.
Because what once was a beautiful moment of unity among people,
Becomes a trap into financial abuse, fear mongering, the severing of family ties, and more.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/25stevenson?lang=eng
And people buy into it.
Sounds a little bit like our blog post before this on “divine trauma bonding,” does it not?
Same thing,
Different font.
I mean, does the church not teach that only baptized members can have the “constant companionship” of the spirit?
Life is hard, and humans crave peace.
And the church uses that knowledge to manipulate members into being and staying a part of the church
For the hope that they will feel those “feelings of the spirit” for the rest of their lives.
“Get baptized and you can feel this forever! Constantly with you!”
“But only if you get baptized and join the church.”
“Then it will be constant; not occasional.”
Why put a price tag on joy?
On human collectiveness and experience?
Ulterior motives.
https://www.smartmeetings.com/magazine_article/the-magic-of-collective-effervescence
Don’t let people trade your euphoria and joy in for a pretty penny and a fear-filled life of rule-keeping.
Be free, and get lost in the collective effervescence of being human.
Just human.
It’s a beautiful thing, without corruption.
–
If you’re stating things like,
“But I feel this unity even when it’s quiet!”
“Well duh, anything that is good and uplifting comes from the spirit! Including concerts and more!”
“People can always experience these feelings; but the restored gospel really is what gives people the chance to have this companionship with them for always!”
Then tell me.
• Have you considered the idea that maybe it’s the fact that you “feel the spirit” when it is quiet, because the very idea of unity and collectivity is what brings you peace?
• Have you considered the fact that some things that make you feel good and unified, go against the doctrine the church teaches? Why then, do you “feel the spirit” in those settings? When things there actively oppose what the church preaches?
• Do you understand that the LDS church does NOT have a monopoly on human emotion? And that categorizing human unity as one thing, the spirit, is designed to draw people in? To keep people in their church?
And I don’t know about you,
But oftentimes
I feel WAY more fulfilled, heard, seen and understood in environments where collective effervescence is present…
And the church is not.
–
Imagine shaming someone for leaving the church –
Because they don’t believe that any organizations should take advantage of natural human emotions, and that these human emotions should not be used in manipulative or abusive ways to fulfill a selfish agenda.
