Just like Camp Meeting! and other historic mistakes...

[defacto7]

I was driving along, listening to part of the GOP convention on the radio this evening and I heard something strikingly familiar. I have this thing called absolute pitch. It means I can remember sounds and tones is a peculiar way, at least it's peculiar to those that don't have it. What I heard this evening was a certain raising and lowering of the speaker's voices that is specifically attributed to religious speakers and preachers. I can't put it into words, but you've all heard that kind of tone that religious speakers have when manoeuvring on stage. There is a relative relationship between the tones and inflection that can give away where you've grown up, where you've learned your speaking skills or what group you have spent time with and it's much more subtle than just an accent. It's learned subliminally by the speaker from actually hearing these vocal attributes for years, but I have also known that some actually teach one style or another. To me, it's more than a style. There are relationships that match certain patterns very consistently when you were brought up with it. I've heard actors mimic these styles but if you haven't learned it by hearing it repetitively and without thinking about it, there are inconsistencies, give-aways. The speakers I heard this evening were definitely mimicking that style without a doubt in my mind. They were mimicking the sound that is particular to many Southern Baptists. Not just any Baptists or other types of the same speech pattern like "Charismatics" but Southern Baptists in particular. The kicker for me though was that the specific tone relationships did not exactly match the tried and true sound. I really think in this case they were doing their damnedest to copy that sway sound that people of fundamental background are accustomed to hearing and are "moved" by in fanatical religious meetings. It's unbelievable to me. What I was hearing was "Camp Meeting" so to speak.

People who confine their emotions and belief sources to certain groups will notoriously be drawn in by those subliminal vocal characteristics. Their emotions will be stirred, they will feel a oneness with.. whatever it is they feel oneness with.. and they will be connecting to a sound, not the information. Hold on to your seats... What I think is, that it's a kind of hypnosis or hypnotic effect. I don't really know. I just know it's a way of connecting your audience to a spiritual experience that may have nothing to do with reality.

Here's a gross example that comes to mind: There was an article recently where a child preacher was considered a wonder of God, a blessing, maybe some kind of profit, I don't know. Anyway, He comes to the microphone and says, "Are you ready" everyone repeats we're ready. He says this 5 times getting louder each time, and the last time he screams, "Are you ready for the resurrection of Jesus Christ?" Everyone screams.... and that's the whole sermon. That's it.. and everybody is doing spiritual stuff and there's music, and their all having a spiritual ball. Like I said, this is a gross example, but there are much more subtle ways of doing the same thing whether picked up naturally or blatantly learned... THIS is what I heard this evening.. it was a mimic of Southern Baptist preacher speak.

Anyway, to me, this is just another way I try to understand why people follow these guys. It's hard to believe that some people are so incapable of discerning the basic facts from the outright lies... But it's like a habit, one that is implanted from childhood in our psyche. It's emotional security, like a mantra or even basic instincts that are ingrained in our memories. We must never underestimate the power of suggestion, especially when that suggestion is connected to life long experience that brings solace, pacifies our pain, or brings out passion for a cause. If we aren't tuned to reality or reason, we may find ourselves, like the gawking masses, hearing and believing whatever we are fed whether real or fabricated. I think many have fallen for this manoeuvre over the centuries, and in the 20th century, we all know what it has led to.

Seek the facts by trial, and separate the method of delivery from the information. Otherwise you may find yourself lead to believe anything... anything "the spirit" leads you to believe...

Just my 2 cents.

[Suich]

1. Interesting, defacto7!

Look forward to hearing more!

Welcome to DU!

[jberryhill]

2. Preach it, brother

[gateley]

3. Hmmmm. Really interesting and food for thought.

And welcome to DU!

[defacto7]

4. Thank you! If it's usefull, I'm happy

[factsarenotfair]

5. Fascinating. I think I heard the sounds and tones of sporting events as well.

Did Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan sound to anyone else like mothers reading a bedtime story to a child? I found it disturbing.

[magical thyme]

6. I was working, so didn't have the joy of listening to them...but

I do remember seeing a thread here in DU about them talking as if we're a bunch of 10 year olds or something to that effect. Sounds offensive to me...talking down to us. But I guess that's how they view "the help," right?

And welcome to DU factsarenotfair!

[factsarenotfair]

8. Thank you!

[defacto7]

10. Talking down or what I call the "Mormon speak" like a bedtime story...

Another interesting one to listen to I think was coined specifically by Mormons. You can hear it if you listen to their Sunday broadcast... listen to the announcer. it's a perfect example of it. The artificial lowering and broadening of the voice and a slow sing singsong'y sound. There are a some less Charismatic TV evangelists who have picked this one up. They probably didn't know they were emulating "Mormon speak".

[knitter4democracy]

7. I grew up Nazarene. I hear that tone in their stuff, too.

It gives me the willies, and so I can't listen to it anymore. After years in the church and going to the church's college, I've hit my lifetime limit for camp meetings, revivals, and preachers using that style. *shudders*

Republicans all use it, though. I will admit to switching into that style when talking with one, though. I know it's their style, so I use it when talking with them about education or Gov. Snyder and the MI GOP's fight to destroy Michigan.

[defacto7]

9. Nazarene... yeah they have their own style for sure...

Nazarene's have a style similar to Charismatics though a little different. Both have that double consonant added to the last word of a phrase plus the extra vowel. Nazarene's ending vowel is more of an "uh" where the Charismatics (Pentecostals) is more of an "ah"

i.e. - "Thank you Jeeesuss'ah", or "Hell fire is commingg'ah". Nazarenes are more likely to say "Thank you Jeesuss'uh". "and he saidd'uh" It's subtle.

When combined with the relative pitch intervals, it's really amazing what you can pinpoint.

Not ALL preachers fit this track, it's just common, and common among many different denominations.

[knitter4democracy]

11. The "uh" is more northern, I think, and that's why.

You get the "Thank you, Jeesuss'uh," form as well as the "Think yew, Jeeeeesus" with the emphasis on the "think" and the first syllable of "Jeeeeeesus" with a very short second syllable.

At my college, we had required chapel three days a week with preachers who came from all over to preach, not all of whom were Nazarene. I got more than a little burned out but know their style down pat. You can also tell which Nazarene college they studied in, as the religion profs are all a little different at each. Olivet grads have a different style than Tribecca grads, and Point Loma people are entirely different again.

[defacto7]

12. Nice info...

I'd wouldn't mind observing these effects as they relate to relative intervals in their speech. It can be an interesting tell. That's where subliminal effects seem to thrive at least in my experience. Now, do I really want to listen to it to find out? I'm not that devoted to the study! I'm more concerned with subliminal effects that control actions and decisions. That's the dangerous part.