The Charismatic Salesman...

It seems that in this world the best sales pitches are thrown from the mouths of charismatics. Salesmen (politicians, religious leaders, businesspersons, etc.), who shout at others who agree with them, provide people a quick opportunity to listen to their words but not think about them. At other times it seems that a charismatic tongue keeps people wholly interested in the voice that comes from it rather than the words themselves. After the salesman finishes his shouting, people go to their quiet homes and think about what was said.

I, for one, know that the truth does not need to be shouted, it should simply be obvious. When I talk to people about poverty or oppression, all I have to do is remind them of how unhappy they are in life, or take them into the city and point out a burdened mother, or turn on the TV to some late night Christian program and point to a starving child from Kenya. I've never needed to shout to get my point across - the truth should be obvious.

I myself loved the Pentecostal church growing up. I loved a shouting minister, who could get his or her point across with such a fiery voice that I knew could move anyone into 'repentance'. I think I was Pentecostal until I was around 23 years old which is roughly the time Yahweh God decided to show up. All of the "speaking in tongues", "going in the spirit", praying, singing, and worshipping that I used to do - He knocked right out of me with one hell of a punch. He quickly knocked me off my happy horse, grabbed me by one arm, and forced me to look at how truly fucked up the world is. I haven't been happy ever since - and it feels like much of my efforts so far have been in vain. Yet still, I find no need to be charismatic. Why should I try to sell a message that I've been instructed to freely give? Yahweh has nothing to sell, nor does He need anyone to believe anything He says - He knows how to be God without you.

I've come to realize that the more a person needs to shout a sales pitch, the more truth they need to hide. For many people, I could simply shout to millions, "Vote for me and I will provide healthcare to all". With all the roaring and cheering of the crowd, not many people will question as to how this is possible. I should say that it is far better to build up to the truth with evidence, then it is to present this 'truth' only to have people blindly accept it, or even worse, ask you ten thousand questions as to how this 'truth' is possible. As we all know, building up to the truth is very time consuming, especially when you're on a time budget trying to make a quick sale. So, it then becomes highly sensible (and highly dishonest) to throw a charismatic sales pitch to sell that truckload of bullshit called 'truth' - as is often realized by the consumer after the purchase is made.