At the Twentieth Congress of the Communist Party in 1956, Nikita Khrushchev denounced Josef Stalin's "Cult of Personality" in the so-called "Secret Speech." He declared, "It is impermissible and foreign to the spirit of Marxism-Leninism to elevate one person, to transform him into a superman possessing supernatural characteristics akin to those of a god."
A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Sociologist Max Weber developed a tripartite classification of authority; the cult of personality holds parallels with what Weber defined as "charismatic authority". A cult of personality is similar to hero worship, except that it is established by mass media and propaganda.
On August 10, 2002, the government of Turkmenistan adopted a law to rename all the months and most of the days of week. The names were chosen according to Turkmen national symbols, as described in Ruhnama, a book written by Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenistan's first president for life. ... According to the paper Neitralniy Turkmenistan physicians were ordered to swear an oath to the President, replacing the Hippocratic Oath. All libraries outside of the capital were also closed, as Niyazov believed that the only books that most Turkmen needed to read were the Koran and his Ruhnama. ... Niyazov requested that a "palace of ice", or indoor ice skating rink, be built near the capital, so that those living in the desert country could learn to skate. The palace was built in 2008 and located near the new Turkmen State Medical University. He outlawed opera, ballet, and the circus in 2001 for being "decidedly unturkmen-like". In February 2004 he decreed that men should no longer wear long hair or beards.
Now what you have to keep in mind is that this is not a surprise birthday party. Which means Monson is fully aware of the forthcoming gala and the attention that he will receive. Any Prophet worth his salt would be saying to the people wanting to organise this "No chaps, in this time of need it would be wrong of me to allow the widows mite to be spent on festivities for me. Let's take the value of the gala and spend it in something more worthy like children in need."
But no, he wants the plaudits, the fawning, the adulation. Dear Leader indeed....
“We look to not only the spiritual but also the temporal, and we believe that a person who is impoverished temporally cannot blossom spiritually.” Keith McMullin - Counsellor in Presiding Bishopric
"One, two, three...let's go shopping!" Thomas S Monson - Prophet, Seer, Revelator
It's not like the books are open where we can see a line item like Birthday parties for the Brethren.
(Nevo, Jan 23) And the Melchizedek Priesthood may not have been restored until the summer of 1830, several months after the organization of the Church.
Drifting wrote:Now what you have to keep in mind is that this is not a surprise birthday party. Which means Monson is fully aware of the forthcoming gala and the attention that he will receive. Any Prophet worth his salt would be saying to the people wanting to organise this "No chaps, in this time of need it would be wrong of me to allow the widows mite to be spent on festivities for me. Let's take the value of the gala and spend it in something more worthy like children in need."
But no, he wants the plaudits, the fawning, the adulation. Dear Leader indeed....
Celebrating a prophet's birthday is akin to celebrating God because a prophet is the mouthpiece of God and certainly the closest you could ever get to Him. Maybe this is how Monson thinks of it and therefore justifies the expense and pomp?
It's understandable, given the prophet really believes in his calling per the Mormon definition of prophet.
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)
They had a surplus of cash this year. Use it or lose it.
"We have taken up arms in defense of our liberty, our property, our wives, and our children; we are determined to preserve them, or die." - Captain Moroni - 'Address to the Inhabitants of Canada' 1775
The Mormon culture is like a giant family and rightfully so. As the head patriarch of this family, Monson deserves a celebration.
The church has a powerful leader and a need for tradition to bind the masses. This can be accomplished with luxurious celebrations at the nucleus. This is necessary for the church to maintain a central figure for the believers to cling to.
Certainly, a justified expense for those that follow it.
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)
The Mighty Builder wrote:Why isn't the cost being donated to the poor and needy? Wouldn't that be a better gift to the Mormon Man god's puppet leader?
Yes if the church was a humanitarian organization.
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)
zeezrom wrote:The Mormon culture is like a giant family and rightfully so. As the head patriarch of this family, Monson deserves a celebration.
The church has a powerful leader and a need for tradition to bind the masses. This can be accomplished with luxurious celebrations at the nucleus. This is necessary for the church to maintain a central figure for the believers to cling to.
Certainly, a justified expense for those that follow it.
The leader merits our veneration. Ruler cult is alive and well in the LDS Church.
Here, however, it is OK, not like the evil anti-Christ ruler cult of Obama that has Dr. Peterson anticipating the imminent return of Jesus.
Now this just needs to happen every year.
"Petition wasn’t meant to start a witch hunt as I’ve said 6000 times." ~ Hanna Seariac, LDS apologist
see Kim Jong Il