You just gotta see this - advertisers seek to influence us subliminally, and it works - subliminal advertising works!!. Here's an experiment where advertisers use subliminal advertising on the advertisers. (HT - Fresh Creation).
Now, let's think of all the ways we think we are being original and creative and are being unconsciously influenced by others and by our environment.
For a spiritual application of this think of all of those who claim to be "just reading the bible" in all it's purity. In other words, it's common for people to claim that other people are influenced by their theological traditions, by their denominations and other influences, but they themselves don't do that - it's just them and God - they have transcended earthly things and have a direct line to God. Such people ought not to say such things - they are influenced by more people, more things in ways they can imagine. Nothing wrong with that, we all ought to just admit that we play on an even playing field - I've been influenced, so have you. Now let's do the best we can to evaluate our influences and not claim a moral high ground against the other, as if we are somehow more pure than others.
Stunning illustration. I will be chewing on this one for a while.
Posted by: David Porter | March 19, 2008 at 02:17 PM
This is great. We should see it and have the kids watch it once a year. It would improve our awareness tremendously!
Posted by: Gayle Johnson | March 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM
all are very much on an even playing field in truth i agree.
but, don't we also have the choice to have a direct line to God in believing that Jesus is the Son of God? Don't we have the Holy Spirit of God living in us? actually there is no need of a direct line to God because God is everywhere at all times and made you and made me. we all are more directly in touch with God than we can even imagine, for God is life and made life.
in any event the video was interesting
and i agree that it is not wise to feel superior to anyone else in any way. but it is also easy to see why some people, myself included, can be a bit confused about church and denominations and all the things that humans can find to disagree about.
i think that i do not feel superior to these things, mainly sad in some ways for it shows the state of the world that we live in, that nothing is perfect. and i can see how it would lead many to want to just have it be them and God. but, it is not that way, for as believers we have God in us and we fellowship with a whole life and world of people. like you showed in your video...life is all around us...the good, the bad, and the ugly...and we are to love.
Posted by: nancy | March 26, 2008 at 11:16 PM