Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt

Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt - FUD

I was first exposed to this concept during a job interview with Digital (rip) Corporation for a technical sales support role.

While I did not get the job, I have never forgotten the acronym FUD that was used:

FUD is the tactic of instilling fear, uncertainty, and doubt in the minds of potential customers about a competing product when your own product is not competitive.

This is very close to the quotation provided in the linked wiki article and more importantly FUD is basically an "appeal to fear" fallacy.

The FUD strategy works by planting a seed of doubt in the mind of the listener, then nurturing that doubt with further insinuations.

It is remarkably similar to the method of conspiracy theorists.

Conspiracy theories are unsubstantiated, less plausible alternatives to the mainstream explanation of an event; they assume everything is intended, with malignity.Crucially, they are also epistemically self insulating in their construction and arguments. (PsyPAG)

The key word is 'unsubstantiated'.

The real problem with conspiracy theories occurs when a person believes so strongly in them, that when presented with proof that the belief is false, they will modify their perception in order to retain the belief (see 'cognitive dissonance') .

The persistent belief that Bishop Fellay is going to 'sellout' the SSPX / Tradition is a good example of cognitive dissonance.

In this case, ever since the communications with Rome started in 2000, there has been a fear that the SSPX would compromise. This came to a head in 2012 when, by all appearances, it seemed that the Pope was going to accept the SSPX 'as they are'. The predictions of 'sell out' were screamed, especially by Bishop Williamson, Fr. Pfeiffer et al. When the predicted compromise did not occur, en-masse the Resistors switched to a number of alternative perceptions of the reality. Such as either the compromise has occurred or it is still in process.

This is a perfect example of cognitive dissonance and it is scary how close to the behaviour of Bishop Williamson et al (including lay resistors) match the theoretical predictions.

I believe that for Bishop Williamson et al, there is another belief that is the foundation for their 'cognitive dissonance'. While Bishop Williamson et al's discourses normally stay at a superficial level, a few times they have shone a little light on their underlying reasons. The defense of Bishop Williamson's 'Various Churches' article by Fr. Rua is just one such occasion.

Where is the error in Bishop Fellay’s theology? It is the ecclesiological model from which he draws his conclusions. He considers the visible structure of the church to be the Conciliar Church. (Fr. Rua - Resistance to What Rebuttal)

Bishop Fellay believes that the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church is the one united under the Pope (currently Francis, but at the time Benedict). Furthermore, he sees the 'conciliar Church' as a label for a movement within the Church. This is evident from his speeches / letters and is completely consistent with Catholic theology and dogma.

Bishop Williamson et al, due to the scandals etc, cannot accept this belief. To the extent that they see any link between the SSPX and what they perceive as the 'conciliar Church' as a schism from Tradition.

I will examine this thought in another article, because it touches on a number of areas key to the Faith.

So beware of FUD, because a person who operates from misguided fear, abandoning Catholic princpiples is:

Susceptible to manipulation because their reaction is predictable (Sun Tzu comes to mind)
In danger of significant errors in judgment as the engendered mistrust will narrow the perceptions of situations requiring decisions based on limited information.

P^3
Prayer
Penance
Patience

Reference: wiki FUD article

Facts and Opinions - An Explanation

+ JMJ When a person's assumptions are events outside of their control they form an opinion and, in my experience, assert this opinion to be fact. So ... it is important to define some terms:

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too thin

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

What the heck is a congregation of "Pontifical Right"

+ JMJ In a discussion with a friend the question occurred to me that I didn't actually know was is involved in being a religious order of 'pontifical right'. I had a vague notion that this meant they reported to Rome as opposed to the local diocese. I'm also aware that, according to the accounts I have heard, the Archbishop received 'praise' and the written direction to incardinate priests directly into the SSPX. This is interesting because it implies that the SSPX priests were no longer required to incardinate in the local diocese but in the SSPX. This is something that belongs to an order of 'pontifical right'. Anyway here's some definitions: Di diritto pontificio is the Italian term for “of pontifical right” . It is given to the ecclesiastical institutions (the religious and secular institutes, societies of apostolic life) either created by the Holy See or approved by it with the formal decree, known by its Latin name, Decretu

Comparision of the Tridentine, Cranmer and Novus Ordo Masses

+ JMJ I downloaded the comparison that was linked in the previous article on the mass (here) . ... a very good reference! P^3 From: Whispers of Restoration (available at this link) . CHARTING LITURGICAL CHANGE Comparing the 1962 Ordinary of the Roman Mass to changes made during the Anglican Schism; Compared in turn to changes adopted in the creation of Pope Paul VI’s Mass in 1969 The chart on the reverse is a concise comparison of certain ritual differences between three historical rites for the celebration of the Catholic Mass Vetus Ordo: “Old Order,” the Roman Rite of Mass as contained in the 1962 Missal, often referred to as the “Traditional Latin Mass.”The Ordinary of this Mass is that of Pope St. Pius V (1570) following the Council of Trent (1545-63), hence the occasional moniker “Tridentine Mass.” However, Trent only consolidated and codified the Roman Rite already in use at that time; its essential form dates to Pope St. Gregory the Great (+604), in whose time the R

Tradicat

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