A cult has a very specific meaning in everyday life. Yet, here we want to generalize it and include I do not know what else. Let’s take this definition:
What do you mean by “absolutely everything“? So, if someone says that I am a human being, should I question this?
If one tells me that in order to be in a group I have to follow certain rules, what is the point of questioning? If I do not agree with the rules I will not be a part of this group. But, according to the above definition, this group is a cult. Thus, a chess club is a cult, since it tells me that the rules of chess are these and I need to follow them to be a member of this club.
The use of cult and culture in the same sentence I guess is also an attempt to expand the former term. Ok then, now we have a new word (cult) which seems practically useless, as it includes every type of social interaction.
Now, can you give me a group of people that in your opinion is not a cult, so as to prove that it is indeed a cult?
Absolutely. You most certainly should question this. See, if ‘I’ am a human being, then the answer to the age-old question, “Who am ‘I’?'“ is - a human being.
If that is the answer to that question, then why are some of you still seeking the answer to that question? Why has it taken millennia to arrive at that answer?
Now, you made the claim that a cult has a very specific meaning in everyday life. So, what is that very specific meaning in everyday life?
If you want to be that weak and be led around, following others’ rules, and doing what they tell you to do, then go right on ahead. But, the point of questioning is to learn and discover. Did you really need to be told this?
Once more, another one who has missed the point entirely.
You are a part of the group and of the cult. But, again, you do not recognise this. For the reasons I have provided so far.
But I never made the claim, which you are trying to make here. I suggest you read the actual words that I used.
Again, the claim you are trying to make here, I never did. Again, introducing red herrings and straw men is only deflecting completely away from what I have said and meant.
But you are free to assume whatever you like.
I have used the words “all of you here are in a cult”. Which means there are no groups of people who are not in a cult.
Why would you make this claim and statement and put a question mark at the end of it? Are you not sure yourself?
if people are telling you how and what to think, at the behest of varied threats and consequences, then, by your own claim, you are in a cult. Which was exactly why I said you are in a cult, but you do not even realise it.
It was absolutely obvious that you really don’t understand my point. That is why I said you are missing my point entirely.
The cult you are in has gotten you to look at and see things, and to think in a particular way. Which is why you are not understanding what I am pointing out to you.
Now, you want to claim that there are these so-called “objective descriptors” for “being in a cult”. So, feel absolutely free to point out to the readers here these “objective descriptors”.
If you don’t, then here is more evidence of one who is in a cult, but which they are not yet aware of.
Everyone is in a cult according to him. Certainly everyone here since he has already made that clear.
Anew1 is someone who has come back from the future to visit us ‘at the time this was written’ as he used to say as Age over at Philosophy Now Forum. He uses words idiosyncratically. He expects others to provide evidence in ways he does not think he needs to provide. He claims to have one belief, though at other times he said he has none. Pretty much every single post he writes is condescending. He seems unaware of this. After great efforts by mainly Atla, but also others, Age finally gave up his bizarre way of communicating. Here’s an example:
In case you FORGOT, YOU asked ME a question, of which I answered. The question, in question, that YOU, your self, WROTE is: CAN this question be answered with a “YES” or “NO” and the obviously RIGHT answer is a resounding YES. THAT question, in question, CAN BE answered with a YES.
If, THAT question, COULD BE answered with a ‘I don’t know’ was NEVER asked for (nor even, literally, in question). The ONLY THING that was asked for was If THAT question CAN BE answered with a YES or NO. And, AGAIN, YES it can be answered with a YES. This is a True, Right, and Correct ANSWER, and therefore NOT a WRONG answer, as you SAY and WRITE it IS.
Sometimes nearly every word was either in caps or citation marks.
If at some point it seems like you are not really getting anywhere while at the same time being subtly or more openly talked down to, Bingo, that is very likely the case. If you don’t agree with him, you are part of a past where humans were in cults and were not open minded - read: agree with him.
I keep telling you greenfuse,mainstream pseudoscience is a religious cult which worships the god Shiva which is proudly displayed outside its pseudoscientific HQ at CERN near Geneva.The whole of its pseudoscience is founded on a philosophical lie.This pseudoscientific religious cult is focussed on cosmology and particle physics particularly because it’s trying to prove that the science behind these two disciplines confirms that God doesn’t exist.It’s totally failed to confirm this as we all know.In fact all of its pseudoscience is now confirmed to be a total farce.How many individuals are in this religious cult do you think even if they are not actively participating in the experiments?
The foundational claim for this religious cult is that attractive and repulsive electromagnetic force absolutes cancel out.
No they don’t..that is a total LIE!!!…we need to stop listening to these religious cranks/crack pots.
Cults are social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is another characteristic often ascribed to cults.
As an example, Charles Manson had a cult.
Concerning your claim that I miss your point: your own words lead to the conclusion that chess club is a cult. Your statement that we are all in a cult confirms my last point that your definition of cult becomes useless. Being a human = being in a cult.
Generalistic definitions give akward results when scrutinized.
Postscript 1: The question “Am I a human being?” has already been asked by myself long time ago, so if someone else ask it again there is no point to re-address it.
Postscript 2: When you are asked by a group of people to join them, you ask what are their rules. What rules they have is their problem, my problem is if I agree with those or not. A group of vegans do not eat meat, so if I disagree I will not participate in their group. I hope this clarifies my phrase “… what is the point of questioning?”
Because what you asked is so nonesically obvious that i am confused whether or not i am understanding it right?
Correct. And if i am not OR if i realize it, then i am not in a cult and/or i am not unaware of it.
No. This logic might work with a certain set of people (who then ironically would be in a cult because they believed you), but i just happen to be very antisocial, cynical and individual. I have and do always follow the path of logic and nobody gets to tell me what or how to think.
I have gotten myself into hot water for this very reason all the time, every time. Whether it was the pandemic, the russia war, 9/11, or any other “QUICK! HAVE EMOTIONS! DONT THINK!” topics.
If i am in a cult, then i will know, because there will be instantly friction between me and those who need me to adhere to a dogma.
Examples have already been provided, which come from the behavior and nature of a cult.
Demand of adherence to “dogma”
Being antithetical to criticism
Discouraging free thought
Isolation
Responding to non-conformism with authority instead of argument
Im pretty sure i could name a few more if i put my mind to it, but the point is that a cult is a cult because it behaves and functions like a cult.
It has an objective definition it adheres to.
If it didnt, then the concept would have no meaning in the first place.
Considering a political party as a cult is distortion of the term cult.
People that vote for a party do not agree with every position of the party, it is just the better option compared to others. Even active members of a party do not agree with everything that the hierarchy states. Criticism exists inside the parties for a reason. In my country, governments have fallen and prime ministers have resigned, when parliament members disagreed and removed themselves from the leading party. A leader of a cult is permanent, no disagreements, even minor, are allowed.
I am satisfied with the way the word cult works in everyday usage. If you have specific examples of democratic political parties (no generalities, please), we can see if they belong to a cult or not.
Are you even remotely aware that what you call, “The usual definition” is different in other cult/ures?
Or, do you seriously believe that your chosen “usual definition” is the actual one and only usual definition?
If this is really the definition that you want to use and provide here, then this just reinforces my claim that you are in a cult.
Why you still believe that you are not in a cult I have already expressed and explained.
What you assume and infer I am saying is never necessarily what I have said and meant.
Do you comprehend and understand this fact?
If you believe that a chess club can be a cult, then that is on you. I obviously have not written those words, and absolutely nothing I have said implies that a chess club is a cult. Once again, you are inferring something that I obviously did not say.
I am now using your now provided definition to reaffirm that you are in a cult. This claim is based on your definition. So, any talk of generalistic definitions is on you only. Your “usual definition” reinforces what I have claimed here.
Your claim that the one and only answer to, “Who am I?” is “I am a human being”, means you are not questioning. Which, again, confirms that you are in a cult. And, in a cult of your unknowing.
How often are people, when asked by a group to join them, are asked what are their rules?
You appear to be so confused and baffled by the cult you are in, you end up not speaking logically.
If you want to agree with any and every rule, then you are just confirming what makes people in a cult not realise that they are in a cult.
Do you believe that “being vegan” is a cult?
Is being a “meat eater” a cult?
Are you aware that you believe you are not in a cult, but if others are in a group that you do not agree with, then it is them who is in a cult?
Δει δη χρημάτων, ω άνδρες Αθηναίοι, και άνευ τούτων ουδέν εστί γενέσθαι των δεόντων.
This was said by a famous orator (Demosthenes) in ancient Athens, 2400 years ago. What it means is that we need money in order to do what is necessary to be done (protect the city against king Phillip of Macedonia).
I do not belong in those that collect money for the sake of money. I need money to survive and have good quality life. Does this make me a member of a cult?
If you do not want to use money, we can return back to antiquity where people exchanged products and/or services. Money is just the means to declare the relative value of a product or service over another.