Religion and Rigor

“… people who are open spiritually are open to being manipulated more easily, are very vulnerable. The religious instinct is a very pure one in my opinion. But unless it’s met with a lot of rigor, it’s very hard to control” (Bono, in Bono in Conversation with Michka Assayas, p. 221).

May I suggest what might be meant by “rigor”? In my case: critical self-awareness; critical search for the revelation of God (truth); and these two tested against how well I love others unconditionally. Am I free? Do I free others? Or am I manipulated and manipulate others?