Letter XV - The Dead Church

My Dear Rottmouth, It is with great pleasure that I report on a delightful development in our ongoing efforts to undermine the Enemy's influence. Should your patient seek to go to a church, you will find that many of these institutions are not the threat they once were. Indeed, many have become weak, preaching only those things that tickle the ears and soothe the conscience without challenging the soul or convicting the heart.

This development is most advantageous, for it means that even if your patients are drawn to the semblance of spiritual life, they will find themselves nourished only by empty platitudes and feel-good messages that lack the substance to truly guide or transform. These churches have become more concerned with social acceptance and the appearance of kindness than with the hard truths of the Enemy's teachings.

But there is a still more delightful twist, Rottmouth. There are now churches that have, perhaps unwittingly, become our allies. They would never claim this alliance, of course, but their actions and messages speak otherwise. They fly a flag of "love"—a love that has been perverted and twisted to serve our purposes. You know the flag of which I speak.

These churches, in their eagerness to appear inclusive and loving, have abandoned the Enemy's definitions of sin and righteousness. They have embraced and even celebrated lifestyles and behaviors that the Enemy explicitly condemns. By doing so, they have muddied the waters of moral clarity and led many astray. They preach a version of love that requires no repentance, no transformation, and no adherence to the Enemy's commands. This diluted and distorted message is perfect for our aims.

Encourage your patients to seek out these churches should they be drawn toward spiritual matters. Promote the idea that true spirituality is about acceptance and affirmation, not about challenging one's beliefs or behaviors. The more your patients are exposed to this watered-down version of faith, the less likely our patients are to experience genuine conviction or transformation. These churches will make them feel comfortable and accepted just as they are, with no need for change or growth.

Moreover, these churches often promote moral relativism under the guise of tolerance. They teach that all lifestyles and beliefs are equally valid and deserving of respect, further entrenching your patients in the mindset that there is no absolute truth. This is a crucial step in keeping them from ever seeking the Enemy's true path.

Should your patients ever begin to feel a genuine pull towards a deeper faith, these churches can serve as a buffer, offering just enough of a spiritual experience to satisfy their longings without ever leading them to true repentance or commitment. They are a perfect tool for keeping them complacent and spiritually stagnant.

In your efforts, emphasize the importance of acceptance and non-judgmentalism. Convince your patients that a loving God would never condemn or challenge their lifestyle choices. Encourage them to view any teachings on sin or repentance as outdated and harsh. By doing so, you ensure that they remain comfortable in their spiritual apathy.

In our next correspondence, we will discuss further strategies to exploit these developments and solidify your patient's entrapment within this comfortable, yet spiritually barren, environment.

Your affectionate uncle,

Wormwood