Difference between revisions of "Selah"

From XFamily - Children of God
(removed content already found in Secrecy article.)
(Usage examples and Hebrew meaning)
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"'''Selah'''" describes secrecy, or the practice of being secretive. Taken from the Bible - selah meant "silence".  
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"'''Selah'''" describes secrecy, or the practice of being secretive. Selah is a Hebrew word of disputed meaning that appears in the book of Psalms in the Bible. A common theory regarding the word's meaning is that it denotes a silent pause before or during the sung portion of a psalm(hymn). From this understood meaning of "silence", the Family's use of "selah" as a code word for something "secret" or "classified" developed.
  
 
There are many layers of secrecy wrapping and protecting the core [[:Category:Leaders|leadership]]. Some examples of "selah" practice:  
 
There are many layers of secrecy wrapping and protecting the core [[:Category:Leaders|leadership]]. Some examples of "selah" practice:  
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*The group's policy of not disclosing what their true beliefs were, in order to avoid "[[persecution]]". Members show outsiders a facade, while leading very different lives and adhering to radically different beliefs on the inside.  
 
*The group's policy of not disclosing what their true beliefs were, in order to avoid "[[persecution]]". Members show outsiders a facade, while leading very different lives and adhering to radically different beliefs on the inside.  
 
*WS ([[World Services]]) units which handle publications and finances and operate in secrecy, even from most other members of the group.  
 
*WS ([[World Services]]) units which handle publications and finances and operate in secrecy, even from most other members of the group.  
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Usage examples:
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"Don't tell anyone at the other home our address.  It's selah"
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"Every night, someone should burn the selah trash[any sensitive communications or publications]"
  
  
 
''See also:'' '''[[Secrecy]]'''.
 
''See also:'' '''[[Secrecy]]'''.

Revision as of 23:57, 12 April 2005

"Selah" describes secrecy, or the practice of being secretive. Selah is a Hebrew word of disputed meaning that appears in the book of Psalms in the Bible. A common theory regarding the word's meaning is that it denotes a silent pause before or during the sung portion of a psalm(hymn). From this understood meaning of "silence", the Family's use of "selah" as a code word for something "secret" or "classified" developed.

There are many layers of secrecy wrapping and protecting the core leadership. Some examples of "selah" practice:

  • Disciples were given "Bible names" and were not allowed to know each other's "system name", so as to be able to answer authorities and accusers in honest ignorance.
  • The group's policy of not disclosing what their true beliefs were, in order to avoid "persecution". Members show outsiders a facade, while leading very different lives and adhering to radically different beliefs on the inside.
  • WS (World Services) units which handle publications and finances and operate in secrecy, even from most other members of the group.

Usage examples:

"Don't tell anyone at the other home our address. It's selah" "Every night, someone should burn the selah trash[any sensitive communications or publications]"


See also: Secrecy.