Tommy, you need to provide a link when you speak about these things, and this is something that we need to discuss on FR...only problem is that the majour religious people who DO talk about it aren't welcome on FR for some reason (now i wonder what that reason might be).
For the rest of you. The Delphi Technique was a tool developed by the Rand Corporation to determine important topics in the Factual domain. Social Scientists have began to use the technique in the affective domain in order to get the majourity of people to accept a Pre-determined outcome. It is an evil tool of manipulation when used in such a manner. This particular site describes how Warren et. al. use the technique to manipulate the congregation.
There is another term that has come into use recently for the same technique, it's founder, Dean Gotcher calls the method Diaprax.
While Diaprax/Delphi is usually found manifested in secular applications, it has fast spread to the churches as a tool of manipulation.
There were two points in the text at the link:
"For Delphi to work, it is critical that the targeted group be kept away from knowledgeable people who could lead them away from the Delphier's pre-determined outcome."
And,
"It requires well-trained professionals, known as "facilitators" or "change agents," who deliberately escalate tension among group members, pitting one faction against another to make a preordained viewpoint appear "sensible," while making opposing views appear ridiculous."
It sounds to me like US journalism schools have been educating our journalists on how to be good practictioners of The Delphi Technique.
A writeup of the "good" Delphi technique is here
A writeup of the "dark side" Delphi Technique is here.
The latter technique is a way to bring a group into acceptance of a pre-determined idea, by identifying, isolating, and ridiculing any potential leaders for other points of view