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MartyrdomPersonality&Spirituality

Martyrdom

MARTYRDOMisoneofsevenbasiccharacter
flawsordarkpersonalitytraits.Weallhave
thepotentialforfeelingvictimised,butin
peoplewithastrongfearofworthlessness,
Martyrdomcanbecomeadominantpattern.

MartyrdominHistory
Martyrdomtraditionallyreferstoanexperienceofsuffering
persecution,tortureanddeathonaccountofonesfaith.
Beforeexploringmartyrdomasapsychologicalmechanism,itis
worthunderstandingmartyrdominthismoretraditionalsense
thoughitturnsoutthatthetwoarentreallythatdifferent.

http://personalityspirituality.net/articles/themichaelteachings/chieffeatures/martyrdom/

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TheMartyrdomofSt.Euphemia

Martyrdomisafamiliarconceptinthehistoryofreligion.Inthe
ancientworld,forexample,manyChristianswerehunteddown
andcruellytorturedtodeathbytheirRomanrulers,simplyfor
beingChristians.Faithfulsurvivorswouldthenrefertotheir
executedcomradesasmartyrs(fromtheGreekmrtys,
meaningwitness).Andiftheircomradeshadstayedtrueto
thefaithdespiteallthesuffering,thentheymightalsobe
referredtoassaints,meaningoutstandinglyholyindividuals.
RecentresearchsuggeststhataccountsoftheRoman
persecutionofearlyChristiansmayhavebeenexaggeratedfor
variousreasonstomarginalizeheretics,inspirethefaithful,
andfundchurches.*Todaywemightrefertothisasperception
managementorspindoctoring.Thecarefuluseofwordscan
putaspecificslantonasituation,shapinghowitisrepresented
inthemindsofothers,aswellasinourownminds.
Awordlikemartyrdom,forexample,helpstoseparateus
fromthemintermsofmorality.Havingmartyrsinourranks
impliesthatwearefundamentallyinnocentvictimswhilethey
arefundamentallyeviloppressors.Itletstheoppressorsknow
thattheyarecommittinganoffenseagainstGod.Italsoserves
asaninspirationtothefaithful,contrastingthegoodnessand
righteousnessoftheinnocentunderdogwiththeunholy
injusticeofanevilempire.
*seeTheMythofPersecutionbyCandidaMoss,HarperOne,2014.

MartyrdomasaDeliberateStunt
Traditionally,martyrdomwasalwaysaboutkeepingthefaith
whilefacinganunwantedearlydeath:
You may kill my body, but my faith will never die.
http://personalityspirituality.net/articles/themichaelteachings/chieffeatures/martyrdom/

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Todaythereisanewbrandofmartyrdomsuicidebombing:

Behold how I deliberately blow

myself up in your face. That
means my faith is better than
yours, right?

Itiseasytoseehow,forsome,aspectacularsuicideinthe
nameofreligioncanseemlikeaworthwhileambition.Forsome
individualswithnostrongattachmenttolife,choosingto
becomeamartyr(inthenameofIslam,say)andtakingouta
fewnonbelieversatthesametimecanseemanextremely
nobleandattractivewaytogo.Notonlydoesyourwillingnessto
dieforyourbeliefscreateshockandaweintheoppressors,
butyoualsogettobefetedinyourowncommunity(albeit
posthumously)andyourfamilywillbewellhonouredandyou
arepromisedspecialtreatmentbytheAlmightyintheafterlife.
DespitethefactthatmostMuslimsdonotconsidersuchactsof
terrortobevalidcasesofmartyrdom,thetermisusedroutinely
bythosewhodeliberatelytaketheirownlives(aswellasthe
livesofinnocentbystanders)asaformofprotestorresistance.
The Koran prohibits suicide, religious scholars say. But some Muslim
groups insist that by classifying the bombers as martyrs, their self
destruction becomes permissible because it is a form of self
sacrifice, and because it is honorable to die in battle against infidels.
New York Times, 9 Jan 2010

Asuicidebombercallinghimselfamartyrwantstoimplythat
heisaninnocentherovictim,forcedtodieforhisreligionbythe
infideloppressors.
Thissuicideasmediastuntactingouttheroleofoutraged
innocentvictimasaformofnarrativeattackonothersminds
isafarcryfromtheideaofkeepingthefaithdespitetorture
andexecution.
Butitistheveryessence ofmartyrdomasapsychological
syndromeorcharacterflaw:themartyrcomplex.

TheMartyrComplex
Inthepsychologicalsense,apersonwithamartyrcomplexis
onewhoroutinelytalksabout,emphasises,exaggeratesand
evencreateshisownsufferinginanattempttomakesomeone
elseappearguiltyandtaketheblame.
http://personalityspirituality.net/articles/themichaelteachings/chieffeatures/martyrdom/

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Martyrdomisasortofimplosionofthewill.Thesubconscious
messagethatmartyrdomputsoutissomethinglike:
Those people are constantly oppressing me, denying me my
freedom. All problems in my life are caused by their mistreatment.
Insteadofexercisingtheirpersonalpower,anindividualwith
overwhelmingmartyrdomwillpersistentlyactasthoughtheir
powerhadbeendeliberatelytakenawayfromthem.

PositiveandNegativePoles
Inthecaseofmartyrdom,thepositivepoleistermed
SELFLESSNESSandthenegativepoleistermed
MORTIFICATION.
+selflessness+

|
MARTYRDOM

|
mortification

Mortification,whichliterallymeansputtingtodeath,refers
toselfinflictedsufferingandtorment.Inthisnegativepole,
thereisadistorted(subconscious)beliefthattremendous
sufferingisnecessary,whetherprivatelytoatoneforonessins
orpubliclytoattractsympathyandpintheblameonothers.The
individualwillbeunconsciouslycompelledtoexperience
situationsinwhichtheyareapparentlyvictimised,mistreated
andpersecuted.Somewillevengosofarastodietoprovetheir
point(Beholdmyterriblefate,whichissomebodyelsesfault).
Famousexamplesinclude:
JoanofArc
JimmySwaggart
Selflessnessreferstoaconsciouswillingnesstoputothers
needsandwantsfirst.Ideally,thisisoutofchoiceratherthan
justaperformance,whichismoreoftenthecasewith
martyrdom.
Ifanindividualwithastreakofmartyrdomisrelativelyself
awareandincontroloftheirfears,theirmartyrdomcan
manifestinamorerelaxedwayasselflesscommitment(orover
commitment)towhattheyseeasagoodcause.Famous
examplesinclude:
YokoOno
NelsonMandela

http://personalityspirituality.net/articles/themichaelteachings/chieffeatures/martyrdom/

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ComponentsofMartyrdom
Likeallpatternsoffalsepersonality,martyrdominvolvesthe
followingcomponents:
1. Earlynegativeexperiences
2. Misconceptionsaboutthenatureofself,lifeorothers
3. Aconstantfearandsenseofinsecurity
4. Amaladaptivestrategytoprotecttheself
5. Apersonatohidealloftheaboveinadulthood

EarlyNegativeExperiences
Inthecaseofmartyrdom,thekeynegativeexperiencesin
childhoodrevolvearoundblame,victimisation,andbeingunable
todoanythingrightintheeyesoftheparents.Typically,the
childisconstantlypunishedforgettingitwrong,andconstantly
blamedforwhatevergoeswrong.Hemightevenbeportrayed,
unfairly,asthesourceofalloftheparentsproblems.
Forexample,thechildsparentsmightblamethechildfor
gettingsickwhentimesarealreadyhardenough.Orthe
parentsmightbeintolerantofdisplaysofanger,andregularly
punishthechildforshowingtheslightesthintofitallofwhich
merelybreedsmoreoutrageandresentment.
Thisconstantblamingandunreasonablypunitivetreatment
mightalsocontrastsharplywith,say,howanoldersiblingis
treated,orhowotherkidsatschoolaretreatedbytheirown
parents.Forexample,thechildmighthaveanolderbrother
whocangetawaywithanything,whileshegetsblamedeven
forthebrothersbadbehaviour.

Misconceptions
Gettingthelove,careandattentionwhichallchildrennaturally
craveseemstobeanimpossibletaskinthiskindofsetup.
If I just do as I please, I get punished.
If anything goes wrong, anywhere, I get blamed for it.
Whenever I express myself or assert myself I am rejected.
Whateverisgoingwrong,itisallsupposedlythechildsfault.It
isasifthechildhasnoplaceinthefamilyinfact,noplacein
theworld.
Overtime,ifsuchexperiencesofunfairdisapprovaland
oppressionarefailyconstant,thechildcomestoperceivelifeas
fundamentallycruelandunfair.
http://personalityspirituality.net/articles/themichaelteachings/chieffeatures/martyrdom/

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Fear
Basedonthesemisconceptionsandbadexperiences,thechild
becomesgrippedbyaspecifickindoffear.Inthiscase,thefear
isofworthlessnessbeingofnovaluetoanyone,being
nothingbuttrouble,beingaterriblemistake.
Thechildexperiencesatensionbetweenbelievingthatheis
fundamentallyworthlessandfeelingthatheisalwaysbeing
unfairlyblamedandpunished.Hisworstfearisthatallthe
blamehereceivesisvalidhereallyistoblameforeverything
(afterall,likeallnormalkids,heknowheistoblameforsome
things).
What if its truethat it is all my fault? That everything I do is bad,
know matter how hard I try to be good? Then my life serves no
purpose. I am worse than useless.

Strategy
Thebasicstrategyforcopingwiththisconstantfearof
unbearableworthlessnessistotwofold:
1.Seekjusticeandvengeanceagainstwrongdoers.
2.Seekreassuringconfirmationsofonesinnocenceandworth
onceandforall.
Todothis,themartyrsubconsciouslyattractsandsetsupnasty
problemsforhimselfforwhichotherscantaketheblame.He
lurchesfromonehorriblesituationtothenext.Withinthese
situations,notonlycanheattractsympathyasaninnocent
victim,butalsohecanfinally,indirectly,expresstheangerfor
hisoriginalmistreatment.

Persona
Theoutermaskofmartyrdomisallaboutbeingtheinnocent
victim.Typicallythisinvolves:
constantlymoaning,griping,complaining,talkingabout
onesproblems
exaggeratingoneslevelofsuffering,hardship,etc.
avoidinganyformofrelief,includingtherapy,lestitendthe
allimportantsuffering.
Apersonwithachieffeatureofmartyrdomhasahabitof
complainingaboutendlessproblemsandblamingthose
problemsonanyoneoranythingbuthimself.Itsallthefaultof
hismother,hisboss,hissocalledfriends,thissociety,the
government,peopleingeneral,lifeitself.
Blamingothersortheworldatlargeisawayofsoliciting
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sympathyandavoidingthedreadfulinnerfeelingof
worthlessness.Itisasifthemartyrissayingtotheworld,Look
howmuchIamsuffering,andthroughnofaultofmyown!
Pleasesympathisewithmeandtellmeitsnotmyfault!
Formartyrs,theideaoftakingresponsibilityforimprovingor
correctingtheirownlivesisanathema.Allnegativepersonality
patternsarelikestuckrecords,andthisoneisstuckina
perpetualstateofvicitmisation.Toendthesufferingwould
scupperanychanceofhavingthemistreatmentacknowledged
andallwrongdoersfinallyexposed.
Itisimportant,though,thatthesufferingbeseenasanything
butselfinflictedorexaggerated.Hence,themartyrwill
outwardlydenyanyresponsibilityforhisownsuffering,and
alwaysexaggeratetheroleplayedbyothers.Themartyrwill
alsooverstressthathisownmotivesareentirelypureIwas
onlytryingtohelpwhensuddenlyhehadagoatmeforno
reason!

HandlingMartyrdom
Likeallnegativetraits,martyrdomisaviciouscircle.Itsimply
createstheveryexperienceswhichtheindividualwantsto
avoid.
Those with martyrdom will find myriad ways to tempt fate in
order to do something that will establish their worth once and for all.
Martyrdom can attract thankless families, wasting diseases,
sabotaged careers, destructive personal relationships, in an almost
constant search for the elusive grail of worthiness.
MICHAEL

Allpeoplearecapableofthiskindofbehaviour.Itiswhenit
subconsciouslydominatessomeonespersonality,however,that
theyaresaidtohaveachieffeatureofmartyrdom.
Thesolutiontomartyrdomliesin:
beinghonestwithoneselfaboutusingmartyrdom
givingupcomplaining,blamingandtheattachmentto
beingright
givinguptheattachmenttovictimisationandsuffering
allowingmorepleasure,andbeingwillingtobeseen
enjoyinglife
takingresponsibilityforoneschoices
learningtosaynotoothers
Inshort,itmeansswingingtothepositivepoleofimpatience,
http://personalityspirituality.net/articles/themichaelteachings/chieffeatures/martyrdom/

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whichisaudacity.

FurtherReading
Foranexcellentbookabutthechieffeatures
(ourinnerdemonsordragons),andhow
tohandlethem,seeTransformingYour
DragonsbyJosStevens.

10ratings

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02092009

36ResponsestoMartyrdom
Steven
17Jan2013at7:45pm

Thearticlestatesthatmartyrdomisanegativepersonalitytrait,which
causespeopletounconsciouslyattractandexaggeratesituationsin
whichtheyareapparentlyvictimized,mistreatedandpersecuted.
TheCatholicChurchisresponsibleforteachingmetolivethisway.
Selfsacrificeisharmagainstme.Iwasgivingtofindasenseofworth.
Iam57andoftenputothersneedsbeforemyown.Ihavetochange
myviewofmytrueself.Thisarticlehitmyheart.Everyperson
involvedwithanalcoholicoraddictneedstoread,specifically,those
whoattendAlAnon.
Tomygirlfriends,Igaveandgaveandgave.Toagroup,Igaveand
gaveandgave.ThetruthisIhaveworthwithoutneedingtosacrifice
myselfincludingmymoney,timeorknowledge.Iwantedtohelp,but
fewreciprocated.Ibelieve,withthehelpofGod,Icouldridmyselfof
thisunhealthyattitudeandturnmylifearound.Thisunderstandingmay
alsobeananswertouselessguilt.
IgrewtohatethenonsensetheCatholicChurchtaughtthatsufferingis
thewaytoheaven,thatselfsacrificeisawayoflife.Whatbunk.

http://personalityspirituality.net/articles/themichaelteachings/chieffeatures/martyrdom/

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