{"id":10334,"date":"2024-09-24T21:55:15","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T20:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heinesen.info\/wp\/?p=10334"},"modified":"2026-07-08T13:36:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T12:36:23","slug":"open-letter-to-a-former-drug-addict-turned-born-again-christian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heinesen.info\/wp\/en\/blog\/2024\/09\/24\/open-letter-to-a-former-drug-addict-turned-born-again-christian\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Letter to a Former Drug-Addict Turned Born-Again Christian"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Russel Brand<\/p><\/div>\n

Dear Russel,<\/p>\n

Let me say right away, I\u2019m not one to mock your newfound passion. \u00a0If your love for Christianity is genuine, and you truly have a desire to become a better person, then this might be the right path for you to follow. You certainly seem convinced that the Bible holds the key to your conversion. And you\u2019re right that the Bible does, in fact, contain a great deal of wisdom. After all, it was written by people who struggled with difficult living conditions and who strove to find meaning in a complex world. It\u2019s neither strange nor unnatural that people recognize themselves in some of the insightful reflections in the Bible, which leads many to the conviction that such wisdom must be inspired by God.<\/p>\n

However, let\u2019s not overlook the more troubling aspects contained within those same pages. The Bible, I fear, is rife with morally dubious, not particularly loving claims attributed to our supposedly all-loving God, which likely have a more earthly origin. At times, it reads almost as a reflection of its very human authors\u2014flawed and fallible\u2014rather than the voice of the divine.<\/p>\n

This brings me to a pressing question: What truly draws you\u2014a fairly intelligent man\u2014to embrace the rather paradoxical world of biblical belief? Is it not a source of cognitive dissonance, grappling with these contradictions? Or perhaps your foray into the Good Book is still in its infancy, so you haven’t realized these dilemmas yet?<\/p>\n

In any case, your attraction to Christianity is intriguing. Might the reason possibly be that this religious fervour, particularly evident within evangelical circles, serves as an euphoric high akin to the effects of certain intoxicating substances you once were so fond of? Surely, you\u2019ve heard the old adage, \u201cOnce a drug addict, always a drug addict.\u201d It seems particularly fitting here, as you find yourself walking a path trodden by many \u201cborn-again\u201d individuals before you, who profess to have overcome addiction, only to substitute one potent dependency for another.<\/p>\n

Why risk sowing doubt about this newfound “cure”? Those seeking salvation\u2014especially from themselves\u2014are often drawn to evangelicalism, lured by its promise of liberation. It offers a comforting illusion of a different self-image for those yearning to feel enlightened and absolved from sin, while in truth, they are attracted to the high that religious passion provides them.<\/p>\n

You are a man of no small intelligence, and it must have crossed your mind that evangelicalism can indeed act as a seductive drug, particularly for people with narcissistic tendencies. A tendency you have professed to have yourself. This is not least the case for those who fancy themselves as altruistic figures. They relish the admiration of their peers while often remaining just as manipulative and harmful to others as any run-of-the-mill narcissist. Religiosity allows them to maintain a lovely facade\u2014one that cloaks their grandiosity and self-righteousness in the guise of humility before God, again allowing them to feel superior.<\/p>\n

The allure of being \u201cright\u201d, for instance, is intoxicating, isn\u2019t it? To believe that you hold the key to truth, while those who choose doubt wander in darkness, that must at least grant a certain sense of elevation, musn’t it? In reality, this mindset fosters fanaticism, as it leaves no space for doubt. Yet, you are as already stated not stupid, so might you, deep down, grapple with the realization that it all may just be a fragile construct\u2014sweetly delusional, indeed? So, if you’re completely honest: \u00a0Does this transformation genuinely render you a better person?<\/p>\n

If things go for you as they do for many others, it is not likely. Many who immerse themselves in evangelical faith still exhibit the same self-serving behavior patterns as before, often failing to engage in the Christ-like actions they so fervently espouse. While some undoubtedly yield positive outcomes, is that the case for everyone?<\/p>\n

Consider, too, the numerous leaders of faith who have succumbed to their basest instincts, revealing skeletons long hidden in their closets, perhaps for many years while they led their congregations. The scandals of sexual abuse, hypocrisy, harassment, disgrace, and more among those in the clergy are alarmingly common, and yet their cries of repentance often mask far deeper issues. The missionairies proclaim love for sinners while paradoxically positioning themselves as the arbiters of morality, which begs the question: do they truly embody the virtues they preach?<\/p>\n

Those who so eagerly point out the flaws of others are, perhaps unwittingly, casting their own shadows onto those they deem imperfect. The polished fa\u00e7ade is a cloak they drape themselves to cover their arrogance and vanity\u2014positing that they are moral paragons while demonizing those who exist outside their beliefs.<\/p>\n

Such a worldview can create a chasm between the believer and the world at large, fostering an \u201cus versus them\u201d mentality that breeds fear and hostility. Such a perspective can lead to unhealthy paranoia and justify aggression towards those viewed as adversaries. Isn\u2019t this the tender root of many conflicts?<\/p>\n

As a \u201cborn-again Christian,\u201d you may find it convenient to brush aside these observations, dismissing them as temptations from the very evil you seek to escape. I do hope, however, that once the euphoric veneer begins to fade, you won\u2019t be left with the aching realization of just how deep you have fallen into the rabbit hole. Will you awaken to the truth that what you thought was your salvation may just be another form of addiction\u2014an addiction to nurturing your unruly narcissism, but this time merely hidden behind a beautiful facade?<\/p>\n

For your sake, let\u2019s aspire for you to see your path clearly. There\u2019s still time to step away from the edge and instead of using your energy to indulge in your own conversion, flaunting and signalling how “good” you are (in other words, virtue signalling), it would be better to reclaim the potential within you to be a genuine force for good, one that does not attract all the attention to yourself, but rather shines a light on those you wish to help.<\/p>\n

Wishing you all the best,
\nA well-wisher who believes in your capacity for growth.<\/p>\n

P.S.
\nPerhaps watching this video explains what I mean by “the paradoxical world of biblical belief”.
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YnOCpacEOFA<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Russel, Let me say right away, I\u2019m not one to mock your newfound passion. \u00a0If your love for Christianity is genuine, and you truly have a desire to become a better person, then this might be the right path for you to follow. You certainly seem convinced that the Bible holds the key to … <\/p>\n

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