04/28/03: The Cult-like Mindset

[juju]

Originally posted by Whit
     So, where do things stand on this thread?
1. You have the answers
2. Opposition aka "The Other"
3. Family or group togetherness, making followers feel a part of something.
4. The freedom to not think or make your own decisions.
5. Norah Jones is no Ella Fitzgerald.
     I guess that sums it up then.

I thought about the "every cult has it's devil" thing, and I don't think it's necessarily true. When I was into witchcraft, we did "battle demons", but that was more for fun. The real driving force of the whole thing was discovering the unknown. I think the cultishness of it could have existed without having any enemy at all.

The reason this comes up in some cults, I think, is that fear is often used to manipulate people., It's a powerful tool, even when used unwittingly. In order for cults to convert people to their views and keep them there, they can use a whole range of techniques, and fear is just one of them. So of course, since fear is such an effective tool, it is often used. But I really don't think it's necessary for something to qualify as a cult. It's also true that cults are in no way alone in using this tool. I think it's used a whole lot throughout our society. Especially America.

I think Wolf and Smoothmoniker nailed it on #4. I totally agree. Although really, #4 seems to me to just be #1 re-worded.

I agree with Bruce that being part of a group is something that's seen throughout all of society. Perhaps the reason you often see groups of nuts together is that a group reinforces its members' beliefs. It's as if each person is a mirror that reflects and magnifies the validity of everyones' views and self-confidence. The giant network makes each individual node stronger. This is otherwise known as Group-think. And when a bunch of nuts get together and agree on something.. whoo-boy. You're not changing their mind this century, let me tell you.

Is a group a prerequisite to cult-like thinking, though? I'm not sure. You'd think that such a person would eventually realize the error of their ways after being constantly told they're a nut by everyone they meet, and never having anyone reinforce their beliefs. Who knows, though?

As to #5, I have no idea who either of those people are. But I do like Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr. Does that make me uncool? :)