Further Thoughts On Group Mentality

I am impressed by the resemblance between normal group behavior and definitely abnormal individual obsessive behavior. It is as if abnormal psychology is the proper study of crowds and groups. What, then, is the dynamic of abnormal psych that renders it appropriate for groups?

Why should groups composed of normal individuals find their only form of expression in abnormal behavior? Why should many non-obsessives find themselves in groups that become obsessed and trapped by the symbolic gravity of their mental focus about a conceptual black hole that imprisons their minds?

Even things like the (a) enormous demand for entertainment products coupled with (b) a growing exhaustion of new creative material, such as we see on the talent-ravenous cable TV, strikes me as obsession: we strip-mine the possibility of stories, combining and recombining them like so many trash ponds of talus.

Religion has perverted itself into a telescoping focus onto itself.
If we recall the discussion of the quarterback, Mr. Tebow, and his penchant for kneeling at random places on the football playing field, and we recall the quotation: Matthew 6  5-6

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for  they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward  in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your  Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in  secret, will reward you.

we may readily perceive that much of modern religious belief and feeling is not only at variance with its own holy writ, but is intent on creating a focus on itself.
What do I mean by "a focus on itself"?
I mean that Religion was meant to free people. In the context above, Religion was meant to free people from the external displays of piety, from Celebrity Cult of Religion (TV evangelists, political pastors like Franklin Graham, etc.), and  from a class system based on perceived religiosity.
Instead, Religion now seeks to put people within the prison of a belief system that is not only mental, but physical: the external forms must conform, that which is seen on TV church service must conform and be iconic!, the actions and thoughts jointly are conformed and imprisoned!
This emphasis on externals is in good accord with the present age's emphasis on security, intelligence, tracking devices in iPhones, data mining, etc. for it allows a better Judgement upon the individual, and will ultimately do away with those other bothersome scraps of Scripture, which tells us to;

Judge not, lest You be judged.

or

Let he among you, who is without sin, cast the first stone 

Judgement is vastly easier when everyone's private actions and thoughts are open for inspection. We may judge people by their expressed views and opinions, and judge their piety by their display of Prayerful Preening!

Modern Religion considered as as group - not the individual people who are most often pious and devote - is failing miserably. Religion is unto itself an idol, created by the obsession of the group mind, and seeks to enforce the ethics of the obsessional group.

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