In the wake of the recent news I’ve listened to a few of the music videos posted on youtube. They are nothing like the traditional hymnns of the older Christian churches which speak of human frailty and humility. They are, frankly, about the Grandiosity of God, with an appeal to sharing in this grandiosity by being among the worshippers who have the President’s ear.

I’ve been thinking about this, the strangely soothed worshippers (seen by me on Dawkins documentaries) waving their hands in the air, in strange trance. Holy Spirit, perhaps, or perhaps just flattery and adulation of the self as seen participating in this politically powerful gathering.

In that light, isn’t it easy to see how the fall of the pastor to scandal could create a sudden deflation of ego among the church members, with accompanying rage, and how the deflation of one young member due to mental illness and refusal of a missionary assignment could be the breaking point for the whole community?

In other words, one young man with a weak ego/personality was encouraged to balloon his self esteem through affiliation with this Church of the Grandiose Self. The church balloon was destined to burst. That is typical of such movements. The young man’s fate should be a warning to all of us not to inflate ourselves and each other with too much fantasy/fiction. It really can hurt.

My heartfelt prayers go to all who are victims here, those who were shot and also Matthew.