Who does this sound like?

I made a startling connection this morning. I realized that the practice of the religion of my youth was a lot like a pyramid scheme business. There are many companies that work this way, and they strongly encourage a lifestyle shift if you want to be successful with them. This type of business includes cleaning products, personal hygiene and cosmetics, and even some forms of insurance.

The way these businesses work is that you sign on as a distributor. It reduces the amount you pay for product, so there is some motivation to sign. You then start consuming the product in your daily life. You swap products you would have purchased in the store with the ones from your company.

At the same time you attend meetings where you hear success stories and motivational speeches that fire you up to go into the world and make distributors. You start associating with people who like you are distributors and your life becomes increasingly consumed with the company and the products. You change your friends to be those who are part of the company as well.

When you speak to those who are not in the company, it seems that the only real value in the time spent with them is whether you are able to sign them up as a distributor who will work under you.

As your distributors purchase products they increase your profits. The higher up you go in the company, as reflected by sales, the more you are able to make. The pinnacle of success in these companies is becoming the motivating icon that everyone aspires to be.

Maybe a SLIGHT loss of perspective.

I'm sure this doesn't sound at all like the practices of some forms of modern American fundamentalist evangelicalism.