Why does one get trapped in false spirituality? || Acharya Prashant, on 'The Fountainhead' (2019)

Question: Acharya Ji, Pranaam! People’s faces and vocal tonality show what they mean in actuality. But people like Toohey (one of the principal characters in Ayn Rand’s novel ‘The Fountainhead’) have control on their emotions like an actor. They dumb down our intellect using emotions.

How to recognise such people and their intentions? They make my logic feel so low with their wordplay that sometimes even I start doubting my logic. I may be able to counter them sitting at home, but in social situations it gets much more difficult.

In groups they will turn everyone against me if I speak against them. They are not saints, so there has to be some fundamental defects in their ways.

Acharya Prashant Ji: Ankit(the questioner), it surprises me as to how most of you are unable to see through Toohey’s mischief and all the adulterations in his sentences. In fact it would be a good exercise. Pick up anything from Toohey, and you should be able to clearly underscore those parts of his speech where he has played the trick, where he has performed the sleight of hand.

Your inability to call him out, or spot the exact trick is coming from your lack of familiarity with the Scriptures.

What Toohey is using is scriptural language to justify his petty ends, but if you are conversant really with the Scriptures, then you will see where he is deviating from the Scriptures.