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Heard an interesting comment tonight that the ancient Hebrews suffered a kind of Stockholm Syndrome regarding YHWH. The idea of stokholm syndrome is an interesting one. I’m aware that my wife leaving the church lead to a form of it for me. Because of how much I obviously sympathised with her it made me also sympathise with her views and in turn altered my own.
How does it relate to Hebrews? Sounds interesting.
(For anyone who doesn’t know Stockholm Syndrome it is the process by which kidnap victims come to like and even love their captors) The Hebrews of the OT being chosen by YHWH was a mixed blessing, with God alternately rewarding and punishing them. They invaded and were invaded, enslaved and were enslaved because they were chosen but did not choose to be chosen.
SamBee wrote:The Hebrews of the OT being chosen by YHWH was a mixed blessing, with God alternately rewarding and punishing them. They invaded and were invaded, enslaved and were enslaved because they were chosen but did not choose to be chosen.
Interesting point, Sam. Putting aside our doctrine on pre-mortal agency, I didn’t choose to be born to Mormon parents – I could just as easily have been born to parents living on a hippie commune in the California desert. I think one can safely assume I would have a radically different world outlook had I been born to the hippies instead of the Mormons. I wonder if we might analogize our captors as being the Church instead of YHWH?
I’m not comfortable linking normal people and religions to Stockholm Syndrome and labeling them “captors”. I think it cheapens those terms, honestly. I actually think you can make the case that almost ANYTHING is Stockholm Syndrome. For example, how do you think about the company you work for? Both love it and hate it, but they haven’t fired you yet, so at the end of the day you are terrified to leave it? Boom. What about your family? Your parents and siblings are a mix of nice and mean to you? At times they support and other times they invade your privacy, but you will defend them to the death. Boom. Find a relationship that isn’t stockholm syndrome on some level!
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