Groups...

[negono]

...the difference between the way men and women act as individuals
compared to the way they act as part of a group is like the difference
between the way a sportsman acts as an individual compared to his
behaviour as a part of his team...Christians can be like that...as
individual men and women they can be pretty good on most subjects, but
when it comes to church and religion and spirituality, the culture
takes over and you're likely to get formulae...the difference between
people as individuals compared to being part of a social group...with
an individual you're dealing with personal psychology, but as members
of a group you're likely to be dealing with culture, which is the
psychology of the group, which often motivates people to think and act
differently to the way they might as individuals...and everyone wants
the benefits of belonging...they want access to the resources and
opportunities in the social network, they want to feel safe and
accepted and valued...and they'll judge, criticise and reject anyone
who threatens the group or their place in it, if they can't silence or
correct them, often instinctively, without thinking about what they're
doing and saying, let alone thinking about whether or not any
challenges, questions or criticisms have any genuine, objectively real
basis...as individuals operate in denial and project their weaknesses
and failings onto others, so do groups, even if this behaviour
contradicts the beliefs, values and ideals of the group...anything to
protect the group and their place in it...and many people invest so
much of their lives and sense of wellbeing into the culture, they're
pretty much captive to it, unless and until it fails them at a time of
personal need...then the questions begin to arise...