I saw this discussion
on a linkedin group. Someone came up with this hypothetical question when she “witnessed the breakdown of communication between
people who are passionately attached to their beliefs.” I couldn't read
the entire thread which literally had thousands of comments. Some said that
this paradigm shift would be the best thing that ever happened to them. Others
said it would be depressing or horrifying. Some made references to “The Matrix”
and other science fiction stories. However, a few people, including myself
admitted that this is not a far fetched scenario. This happens all the time. In
fact, it happened to most of the characters in my latest novel.
When I first started writing this story, I was
a playwright and asked myself the
question of how a cult leader can convince someone to kill themselves. The idea
that someone can control your mind so well that you would override the basic
instinct of survival just to obey him was unfathomable, yet it has happened so many
times in history, and relatively recently with the news of the Order of the
Solar Temple’s suicides (this news was recent when I started writing this
story). I started writing this play as I researched the topic of cults and
brainwashing. As I did this, I came across some remarkable stories and realized
there was so much more than brainwashing going on.
As I researched the psychology of brainwashing, I learned that
while some people may believe a lie wholeheartedly, others may have doubts but
will stay in an organization because that is there home. They may not agree
with their authority figures but will still obey them due to loyalty to their
tribe. And, as someone mentioned in her linkedin thread, some people wake up
one day and realize that everything they believed is a lie.
This doesn't mean they will leave. This doesn't mean they
will stay. This is an earth shattering revelation because it might mean that
everything they gave their life too no longer exists. When I started writing
this story as a play, I explored brainwashing. When I explored it as a novel, I
examined the different ways people respond when they realize that all they had
previously believed was a lie.
When this happens, some fall into depression, maybe even suicide.
Others escape, change their lives or turn over a new leaf. Some will deny the
truth to the bitter end and live in denial. Some will passionately fight the
truth and will enact revenge on those who took away their fantasy. We've seen
all of these things happen throughout the dawn of history and no matter how
many times we witness seeing what happens when the beliefs of people clash, we
are still dismayed and saddened by the results.
In my small, intimate story, I explore all of these things.
Through the lives of these different but very real characters, I created
scenarios that challenge our own sense of judgment. This book took a lot of
courage for me to write and release to the public. I suspect (as pointed out by
my first reviewer) that it will take a lot of courage to read but if you ask
yourself these same questions and you have a passion for psychology,
relationships and adventure, please check it out. Maybe you will find all of
your former beliefs of what a novel should be, challenged to the extreme.
Enlightened Ones is now available on Amazon on
kindle or ebook format. It will be out in paperback edition very shortly:
Purchase Enlightened Ones here
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