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Why didn't people correct William Branham?: Difference between revisions
Why didn't people correct William Branham? (view source)
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We received a question from a reader who asked: | |||
:''In one tape I was listening to William Branham said to Charlie Cox (I think it was): | |||
:::''"...and some of you old-timers remember we were renting the Redmond Hall in 1933 when I gave these prophesies". | |||
:''If he didn't give them in 1933, why didn't someone raise their hand or say something about it at that time? | |||
'''This is a very good question.''' | |||
When individuals are affected by herd mentality, they may make different decisions than they would have individually. The concept of the spiral of silence was developed by Elizabeth Noelle-Neumann. Because individuals have a fear of isolation within their group (which would include a church), they may remain silent instead of disagreeing with their leader or voicing an opinion which disagrees with the majority. | When individuals are affected by herd mentality, they may make different decisions than they would have individually. The concept of the spiral of silence was developed by Elizabeth Noelle-Neumann. Because individuals have a fear of isolation within their group (which would include a church), they may remain silent instead of disagreeing with their leader or voicing an opinion which disagrees with the majority. | ||
We understand from the | We understand from the testimony of [http://offtheshelf.life/podcast/episode-31-sylvia-perkins-part-3-why-i-left-the-message/ '''Sylvia Perkins'''] that disagreement with William Branham was not tolerated in the Branham Tabernacle. This is a clear example of the spiral of silence at work within the message. If William Branham said something that someone in the church disagreed with, they were ridiculed and either kept quiet or would leave the church. As a result, there was no one in the church that disagreed with Wiliam Branham. | ||
::''“People would rather live in a community with unreasonable claims, than face loneliness with their truth”<ref>Bangambiki Habyarimana, Pearls Of Eternity</ref> | |||
This is understandable from a psychological standpoint. Individuals' within Branham Tabernacle had an inherent desire to be good members of the church. The fear of social isolation is necessary for the spiral to occur. Individuals who are subject to ridicule or intolerance will be inclined to maintain silence when expressing their opinions in public. | This is understandable from a psychological standpoint. Individuals' within Branham Tabernacle had an inherent desire to be good members of the church. The fear of social isolation is necessary for the spiral to occur. Individuals who are subject to ridicule or intolerance will be inclined to maintain silence when expressing their opinions in public. | ||
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The fear of isolation is the centrifugal force that accelerates the spiral of silence. Essentially, people fear becoming socially isolated and thus take measures to avoid such a consequence. People feel more comfortable by simply remaining silent even when they know that statements were made by William Branham that they know are wrong. | The fear of isolation is the centrifugal force that accelerates the spiral of silence. Essentially, people fear becoming socially isolated and thus take measures to avoid such a consequence. People feel more comfortable by simply remaining silent even when they know that statements were made by William Branham that they know are wrong. | ||
“Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear.”<ref>Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays</ref> | ::''“Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear.”<ref>Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays</ref> | ||
=Quotes of William Branham= | =Quotes of William Branham= | ||