Chumrology

The statement was made decrying the tendency of some people to "look for chumras", meaning that they try to find stringencies to observe. He even quoted a conservative "rabbi" who was such a genius that he was able to coin the term "chumrology" to describe a phenomenon that everyone knows about anyway. The real problem is, that since actual halacha is never discussed from the pulpit, and much of the congregation knows relatively little about actual halacha, how could anyone be expected to know what's basic halacha and what's chumra?

For example, many people don't know that tying many types of knots is prohibited on shabbat. Double knots, single knots in one string or similar entity like the end of a garbage bag, or any knot whose duration is expected to be greater than 24 hours are prohibited. Now, if someone doesn't know this, he'll think that anyone who doesn't tie these types of knots on shabbat is a "chumrologist," whereas, in fact, that person is merely following basic halacha. So, in essence, the congregation is, for lack of a better term, being manipulated into mistrusting and blowing off anyone who follows halacha. As we've discussed many times in the past, this is part of a desire to cultivate as unobservant and Torah-ignorant a membership as possible. The preceived benefit is that no one will question far-left positions or someone's rabbinic credentials, and that no one will trust any source of Torah other than that which comes from one particular speaker.