Thought Terminating Cliches 4/3/10 Revision

This space is dedicated to the exploration of the concept of the Thought Terminating Cliche.

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From a recent thread:

John Calvin (A.D. 1509 - 1654) "In considering the hidden mysteries of Scripture, we should speculate soberly and with great moderation, cautiously guarding against allowing either our mind or our tongue to go a step beyond the confines of God's Word."

http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com/board/showthread.php?threadid=123131

The term [thought terminating cliche] was popularized by Robert Jay Lifton in his book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism. Lifton said, “The language of the totalist environment is characterized by the thought-terminating cliché. The most far-reaching and complex of human problems are compressed into brief, highly reductive, definitive-sounding phrases, easily memorized and easily expressed. These become the start and finish of any ideological analysis.” ...Thought-terminating clichés are also present in religious discourse in order to define a clear border between good and evil, holiness and sacrilege, and other polar opposites. Examples: "God has a plan and a purpose." "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away." Job 1:21 "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" (opposing same-sex marriage) "God works in mysterious ways." "Forgive and forget." "That's not Biblical." "Jesus loves you." (ignoratio elenchi) "I'll pray for you."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought-terminating_clich%C3%A9

Is Calvin's statement an encouragement to use thought terminating cliches to keep oneself from thinking?

EDIT - also from Wiki The religious or semi-religious ideas of cults, heretics, and infidels are also often used as thought-terminating clichés, e.g. "Do not listen to him, he is an infidel"

http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com/board/showthread.php?threadid=123226

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EDIT 4/3/10 See also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_words