Rotterdam – You’re riding the metro to Zuidplein. Your headphones are in, your feed is buzzing. Gaza. Extinction Rebellion. Woke. Climate collapse. Political slogans. Everyone’s angry. Everyone’s convinced. And you? You feel something’s off. Not just in the world — but in your head. Like we’re all caught in a mental war, and no one really knows what we’re fighting for.
Welcome to 2025. Where religion, politics, and activism are starting to look eerily similar. Where education teaches you how to pass, not how to think. And where the system doesn’t just confuse us — it might be preparing us.
🔍 Religion, Politics, Activism: Same Psychology, Different Branding
Media scholar Cees Hamelink once said, “A political party is like a church congregation.” And if you zoom out, it’s hard to disagree.
- There’s a truth.
- There’s a group that holds that truth.
- And there’s an outsider — who’s wrong.
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In religion, that outsider is a sinner. In Islam, a kafir. In history, an Untermensch. In politics, a climate denier, a fascist, a wappie. The labels change, but the pattern stays the same: we’re right, they’re wrong.
This isn’t just belief. It’s group psychology. And it’s dangerous.
đź“š Education: From Thinking to Obeying
We grew up with Cito scores, standardized tests, and PowerPoint slides that made you want to sleep. Philosophy? One hour a week. Critical thinking? Only if it fits the curriculum. School didn’t teach us to doubt — it taught us to perform.
And when people aren’t taught to think, they start to feel. And what fills that rational vacuum? Belief. Ideology. Spirituality. Or just plain rage.
It’s no coincidence that Gen Z is turning to TikTok for meaning. Or that young people are converting to Christianity, Islam, or astrology. We’re searching. Not for facts — but for purpose.
đź“ş Media: Repetition Becomes Truth
We live in a time where truth isn’t what makes sense — it’s what gets repeated. That’s called the illusory truth effect. Hear something a hundred times, and your brain starts to believe it.
The media plays along. Slogans like “Build Back Better,” “Own People First,” “You Are What You Eat” — they sound catchy, but they don’t think with you. They think for you. And that’s dangerous.
Because when you stop thinking for yourself, you’re ready to follow. And followers can be mobilized. For a protest. For a cause. For a war.
🔥 XR, Gaza, Zionism, Woke: Emotion as Fuel
Look at the big issues today. They’re not rational. They’re emotional.
- XR blocks roads because the planet is dying.
- Gaza triggers grief, rage, guilt.
- Zionism is defended with trauma and identity.
- Woke is a fight for recognition — and power.
These movements aren’t inherently bad. They’re human. But they’re often used. By media. By politics. By algorithms. To activate you. Not to understand — but to fight.
đź’° The Economy: Grow or Die
Now let’s talk economics. Our global system is built on growth. More people, more homes, more stuff. But what happens when everything’s full? When markets are saturated? When we can’t build anymore?
Then the economy stalls. And that’s unacceptable. So what happens?
- Depopulation becomes a topic.
- Conflict is normalized — even welcomed.
- Space is created — not physically, but economically.
It sounds dystopian, but it’s logical. If you can’t change the system, you change the people. Fewer people = less pressure = more control.
🧨 Are We Radicalizing?
Yes. But not with bombs or guns. We’re radicalizing mentally.
- We think in tribes.
- We speak in slogans.
- We feel in extremes.
And that’s exactly what it takes to make a society war-ready. Not necessarily for military combat — but for cultural, ideological, and economic warfare.
🏛️ The System’s Role
Some thinkers argue this isn’t random. That the system — through education, media, and politics — is conditioning us:
- To follow instead of think.
- To feel instead of understand.
- To fight instead of connect.
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Not as a conspiracy. But as a systemic dynamic. Because a divided society is easier to steer. And an angry citizen is easier to mobilize.
🧠The Psychology Behind It All
This isn’t just sociology — it’s neurology. When rational thought is suppressed, the brain seeks emotional certainty. That’s why slogans work. That’s why group identity feels safe. That’s why “us vs. them” is so addictive.
Whether it’s religion, politics, or activism — the brain responds the same way:
- Dopamine from belonging.
- Cortisol from threat.
- Oxytocin from shared values.
It’s not just belief. It’s biochemistry.
🧠What Now?
We have two choices:
1. Join the game.
Cling to your truth. Demonize the other. Fight. And hope you win.
2. Zoom out.
See that we’re all in the same system. That we’re all searching. That we’re all human. And that doubt isn’t weakness — it’s strength.
đź“Ł Final Call: From Rotterdam to the World
To you. To me. To everyone in this city, this country, this planet.
Let’s stop thinking in “us” and “them.” Let’s start thinking. Real thinking. Doubting. Asking. Seeing each other. Not as sinners, kafirs, or Untermenschen — but as people.
Because if we don’t, we won’t be woke. We’ll be lost.
Dutch Echo 
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