Oddbean new post about | logout
 @SJ-co6nk
0 seconds ago
Rage Against the Machine cucked hard (maybe they always were), but they had some good lines in their music.

Mic Check asks: "Who has the power, that be my question; the priest, the book, or the congregation?"

People seeking power think if only they can get the book and become the priest they'll have power over the congregation. They don't realize that the congregation choose to follow the book, listen to the priest, and that can go away at any time -- then they're angry that the book and their collar means nothing as people turn away. 
 The priest holds sway over the congregation more so than any other individual member and so objectively is the most powerful element of the three. Atleast in the short term. 

The book being the longest living member is arguably more powerful in respect to all of time. 

The congregation is the expression of his power and the book is the loose contract between him and the congregation. 

How he is allowed to guide that expression of power. 

Just like a countrie's constitution and it's leaders.