Groupthink

There is an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide. Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when the desire for group consensus overrides people's common sense; desire to present alternatives; critique a position, and/or express an unpopular opinion. Whereby, the desire for group cohesion effectively drives out good decision-making and problem solving.

In classic antiquity, “religiō” broadly meant conscientiousness; sense of right; moral obligation, and/or duty to anything. Religions often contain symbolic stories that are sometimes said by followers to be true, such may also attempt to explain the origin of life; the universe, and other phenomena. Traditionally, faith, in addition to reason, has been considered the source of most religious beliefs.

Scholars have failed to agree on a definition of religion. Thus, it is usually defined as a social-cultural system of designated behaviors and practices; morals; beliefs; worldviews; texts; sanctified places; prophecies; ethics; organizations relating to humanity to supernatural: transcendental, and spiritual elements.

Different religions may or may not contain various elements ranging from the divine; sacred things; faith; supernatural being(s), or "some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will provide norms and power for the rest of life".

A Church for the sake of example, is a conventional religious organization. It is not a building, but a body of believers united in faith. Its role is to worship an all mighty God; nurture; edify, and reach out to a suffering world with the saving message of a Gospel as well as the practical compassion and mercy exemplified in Christ.

The Church is considered a society like other societies in that it has certain structures and laws; unlike most others however, its essential structures are believed to be of divine origin, with a position of privilege and sovereign authority.

A Sect, meanwhile, is a subgroup of a religious; political; or philosophical belief system, usually an offshoot of a larger group. It is a religious body consisting of members having similar beliefs that differ greatly from those of the main body.

An Order, on the other hand, is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. It is usually composed of laypeople and, in some order, a clergy.

A Cult, in comparison, is often looked upon as a deviant religious organization with novel beliefs and practices. While, in modern English, a cult is a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal.

Whereas, a School of Thought, or intellectual tradition, is the perspective of a group of people who share common characteristics of opinion; outlook of a philosophy; discipline; belief; social movement; economics; cultural or art movement. ?Schools of thought in Christianity (and Gnosticism) are largely Neoplatonismic, and have massively influenced Christian thought, from Augustinianism to the Renaissance, and Humanism to the present day.

While, a Mindset is an "established set of attitudes, esp. regarded as typical of a particular group's social or cultural values; the outlook, philosophy, or values of a person; (now also more generally) frame of mind, attitude, and disposition." A mindset may also arise from a person's world view or philosophy of life.

Whereby, a firmly established mindset could create a powerful incentive to adopt or accept prior behaviors; choices; or tools, sometimes referred to as “cognitive inertia” or "groupthink".

Within these phenomena, it is often difficult to avoid the perils of groupthink and counteract its effects upon analysis and the decision making processes…

Food for thought!