How Persuasive Was Judas?

No matter what direction my perspective has taken me in life, I have always had an interest in how The Greatest Story Ever Told is presented in literature, visual arts, and drama.

Recently, I started thinking about how Judas has been referred to as the worst instrument of betrayal ever in history, vilified such that, no matter what your upbringing, when someone calls someone else a “Judas,” most of us recognize the intensity of that accusation and you will see people take sides on the issue at hand.

A case in point: In the tenth season of Big Brother, an American television reality show, two cast members who are both Christians have a conflict in which one calls the other “a Judas.”

Not “Judas.” “A Judas.” It was a very dramatic period that was totally sensationalized by editing, but brought my attention to how pervasive this view of Judas is, and how different my perception has been from what I’ve seen others to believe.

My mother and I had a discussion about it and we found out we agreed with each other, which piqued my curiosity more as to why our perspective is different from the mainstream.

I stumbled on the answer accidentally. Or, perhaps not so.

I have been keeping my Principles of Ethical Influence Pocket Guide handy. Not just handy. Handy as in, in my hand practically all the time. I’m such an Influence Geek. Now, every time I say “YES” to something, anything, breakfast, whatever, I go to my Pocket Guide and in 20/20 hindsight, look at what principles are operative to what degree and in what form.

I get all excited when I get a “YES” to something that I really want, and know that is to benefit both parties, so I it passes the ethical test and I get to use Cialdini’s Principles and ACTivators and AMPlifiers. Then I get the “YES” and I feel it is so deserved, and I get to keep feeding it ethically. I get to say how much I like the way they said, “YES” and “how enjoyable the experience was for both of us to get to the ‘yes,’ wouldn’t you agree?” and they say, “YES” that and to “Wasn’t that fun? Let’s do it again, shall we?”

Hardly a moment of leisure time these days goes by without me holding up my Influence Pocket Guide to events and circumstances in my past. Questions about “how do people…?” and “why do people…?” that led me from studies in psychology to an undergraduate degree in marketing with a career a focus on contemporary American consumer behavior have kept my attention in this direction all my life.

It began with my curiosity about the argument I heard regarding the danger of those “plastic fantastic Madison Avenue” folk whom I saw as the heroes of the American post-war, post-depression economy at the time. Is it any surprise I end up here? In my 40s, with my education, training and perspective, presented with six convenient principles, valid to me because the results can be replicated across cultures and is based on science, that answer definitely a myriad of the “how’s” and “why’s” of the choices of American consumers, but now, most importantly, my own choices in my own life.

So I’m sitting and pondering life, Influence Pocket Guide at hand, and I’m listening to music I put in a playlist on iTunes. I’ve downloaded some songs from the mid- and late-60s of my very early youth, wondering what kind of influences the music that I sang over and over (like any child does) might have had on me.

Up comes a song from the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, which was one of my mother’s favorite record albums to play for awhile, so I know all the words and can sing every song. I have been discovering that my hobby of singing to improve my vocal quality for professional voice-over work has, naturally, improved my ability to hit notes I couldn’t when I was six years old.

I’ve been having fun singing the song “Heaven on Their Minds” because there is so much passion behind the performance by Carl Anderson who plays Judas Iscariot in the movie from 1973. The way he wails on those notes, it sounds like he is screaming in agony to be heard. And he hits such beautiful tones, thanks to the musical stylings of everyone involved in this production of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s rock opera. Today’s Emo Kids should take a lesson from musical theatre and add some dimension to their musical agonizations.

When the song “Heaven On Their Minds” comes up in my playlist, I sometimes stop and sing for a bit, maybe think about the drama of the perspective and interpretation of Judas presented in this song. Today, I pick up my card as the lyrics go by, and with each phrase, I start trying to identify the influence principles used in the lyrics.

I would like to share with you where that got me. I’m sure it’s not static. If I go back to this again later, I may see it differently. I will suggest to you that you place your critical eye, along with standard practices of logic, if not on this song, on any persuasive piece in contemporary entertainment and art. Look, subjectively, objectively. What, where, when, why, how? Then talk amongst your friends and show your work

My mind is clearer now.

(AUTHORITY)

At last all too well

I can see where we all soon will be.

(AMPlified by credibility)

If you strip away the myth from the man,

(CONSISTENCY – ACTivated by commitments)

You will see where we all soon will be. Jesus!

(SCARCITY – AMPlified by loss language)

You’ve started to believe

(CONSISTENCY)

The things they say of you.

(CONSENSUS)

You really do believe

(CONSISTENCY)

This talk of God is true.

(AUTHORITY)

And all the good you’ve done

(CONSISTENCY)

Will soon get swept away.

(loss language)

You’ve begun to matter more

(CONSISTENCY)

Than the things you say.

(AUTHORITY)

Listen Jesus I don’t like what I see.

(AUTHORITY)

All I ask is that you listen to me.

(RECIPROCATION – ACTivated by concessions)

And remember, I’ve been your right hand man all along.

(LIKING)

You have set them all on fire.

(CONSENSUS)

They think they’ve found the new Messiah.

(CONSENSUS)

And they’ll hurt you when they find they’re wrong.

(loss language)

I remember when this whole thing began.

(AUTHORITY)

No talk of God then, we called you a man.

(CONSENSUS)

And believe me, my admiration for you hasn’t died.

(LIKING)

But every word you say today

(CONSISTENCY)

Gets twisted ’round some other way.

(CONSENSUS)

And they’ll hurt you if they think you’ve lied.

(loss language)

Nazareth, your famous son should have stayed a great unknown

(AUTHORITY)

Like his father carving wood He’d have made good.

(LIKING)

Tables, chairs, and oaken chests would have suited Jesus best.

(AUTHORITY)

He’d have caused nobody harm; no one alarm.

(loss language)

Listen, Jesus, do you care for your race?

(LIKING)

Don’t you see we must keep in our place?

(CONSENSUS)

We are occupied; have you forgotten how put down we are?

(loss language)

I am frightened by the crowd.

(CONSENSUS)

For we are getting much too loud.

(AUTHORITY)

And they’ll crush us if we go too far.

(loss language)

If they go too far….

Listen, Jesus, to the warning I give.

(AUTHORITY)

Please remember that I want us to live.

(LIKING)

But it’s sad to see our chances weakening with every hour.

(loss language)

All your followers are blind.

(CONSENSUS)

Too much heaven on their minds.

(AUTHORITY)

It was beautiful, but now it’s sour.

(CONSISTENCY)

Yes it’s all gone sour.

(loss language)

Listen, Jesus, to the warning I give.

(AUTHORTY)

Please remember that I want us to live.

(LIKING)

C’mon, c’mon

(BEGGING)

He won’t listen to me …

(DESPARATION)

C’mon, c’mon

(BARGAINING)

He won’t listen to me …

(BUNGLING)

–”Heaven On Their Minds” from Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Weber

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