This assumes quite a bit about the group. Is it wrong to discuss topics like this and share different views? Why do you want to control this groups private discussions?

I don't think the parent is controlling the discussion, or really even saying it's wrong to discuss this and share their views. But, by the same token, the parent is also allowed to express their concern about people who do hold these views here.

You are correct that I am making assumptions, I’m assuming this group wants to control the behaviors of people outside of their religious group which may not be the case.

I don’t want to control their discussion, it’s fine to discuss things and share different views. I want to understand why a group of people would welcome a panopticon because it would make people easier to control.

I agree it's a bit of a strange dialogue at church, but there is an emphasis on pius behavior both in public and private so I would guess this is the line of thinking they were going down. I would grant the other commenter that God doesn't need 6g to see you, if you believe in that.

I think they implied observing the behavior of fellow congregants not outsiders. Not sure if that makes it any better. But I think that’s what the poster meant.

That said it is definitely what any competent authoritarian would want.

Why should they control the behavior of people in their congregation? I associate controlling the members of your own community with cults.

Not OP, and I can only speak for the circles I grew up in, but some churches are full of deeply traumatized people. I think some of the authoritarian tendencies have roots in a deep desire/need to regain some kind of feeling of control in their lives, and here’s this group of people that meets every week who provides a level of comfort and community while offering a gospel that can both satisfy that need while making people feel righteous in the process.

I don’t want to doxx myself so I’ll keep the details vague, but both of my parents came from disturbing environments and were subject to things that would universally be understood as deeply traumatic. I think they’re good people, but very very confused, and their fundamentalism was a product of the degree of unresolved trauma/dysfunction in their lives and their need to impose some kind of order on their circumstances.

Not all churches look this way. Mine sure did. Almost everyone had a story. Thankfully I escaped the bubble. But not without consequence. Through no fault of my own, I was indoctrinated into a belief system that I then had to spend decades and counting unwinding and unlearning. I mention this because a lot of people want to focus on other people’s lives because that’s what they were taught to do. People were born into beliefs they didn’t choose.

None of which is to excuse the behavior. But I’ve seen up close where it comes from.

Thanks for sharing your story. Mine is similar. Always interesting to see someone else take this life path.

It’s an interesting path for sure. I’d never wish it on anyone, but the experience has also been useful in its own way.

Email me if you ever want to chat about this stuff.

You may not be paying attention. A decent slice of the population wants the government to control everything, all of the time. These people are all around you, all of the time, no matter where you are.