Oh, cults…you all so wacky! With your indoctrinating and control and all those other culty things. Which makes one wonder…where is the line drawn when it comes to cults?
Cults are probably much more common than many of us like to consider. So…it seemed a worthy topic for the week.
We begin by talking about the first time we ever heard of a cult, and then move on to why humans seem so fascinated by cults. After that, we discuss the most disturbing cult story we remember hearing or seeing. But it’s not all doomsday and craziness — we also talk about the silliest cults we’ve heard about.
But it’s mostly doomsday and craziness because cults are dangerous things. We chat about the most dangerous cults we know of, and then talk about groups that aren’t technically cults, but that we’d consider very cult-like. (If not full-blown cults in their own rights.)
The big question is what makes someone join a cult? We talk about that before talking about if we’ve ever known anyone who’s actually been in a cult.
Is there a cult either of us even partially kind of agree with? And if we had to join a cult, find out which one we’d join.
We close out this episode talking about what kind of cult we’d start (what we’d call it, what the basic tenets would be…all kinds of nifty things like that) if we had to form a cult of our own devising.
If you’re so inclined, join the Cult of a Divine Gorilla Suit by leaving a comment about this episode. We promise a ride on a comet, or something as equally far-fetched. (Although humans have landed a spacecraft on a comet, so maybe one day we can all don Nike space boots and one-up the Heaven’s Gate cult with a groovy comet ride that doesn’t kill us. Unless, you know…space mishap!)
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Yesterday I was in Manchester to consult with a nephrologist. Walking to the medical center, I passed a woman on the sidewalk handing out “Is the End Near?” literature. I gave her credit for presenting the end of days as a question rather than a statement.
If I had no ethics I would SO TOTALLY start my own cult.
Having said that… I would like to take this opportunity to announce the start of my new cult: “Cult of a Space Mishap Avoidance” (meant to be a supplementary cult to “Cult of a Divine Gorilla Suit”). Of course, this is a non-exclusive cult, all are welcome. 🙂 Donations are also welcome in the form of cash, food, or completion of household chores. Or members can simply opt to spread the Good News.
Oh, they were at the airport in Albany on Monday, too. I just looked at them, smiled, and said “Probably.”
As a fiction writer, cults are my favorite backdrops. I think I mentioned on another post that I frequented the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple while I was in Hawaii (free food). A few times I saw the devotees dancing in the streets in the evening in Honolulu. Orange robes, shaved heads, forehead paint, tambourines. At the temple, at night, the devotees would put a sweater on the statue of their swami if it was chilly. I was also stalked my a couple Moonies I met at a bus station. I honestly don’t recall how I happened to give them my cell phone number. More recently, I did some research on Heaven’s Gate. The “exit statements” of the students are chilling. https://www.youtube.com/user/HeavensGateDatabase
Church of Gail is my most recent cult of choice. Here’s a taste: https://youtu.be/9NRkUNeVwi8
Wow, they’re coming at me from all sides. I just now was approached by two Jehovah Witnesses in my yard. Robert was dressed like a typical JW – white short-sleeved button-down shirt, dress pants, and tie. Tatiana may have been a new recruit, as she was wearing a sleeveless floral print dress, open toed sandals, and green nail polish. They were both very nice, of course, and told me poor people should focus on God. Tatiana, under the instruction of Robert, read a couple Bible verses and gave me an “Awake” booklet entitled “HOPE for the Homeless and the Poor.” I wonder if the booklet they hand out in affluent neighborhoods are entitled “SECURITY for the Entitled and the Privileged.” XD