04/28/03: The Cult-like Mindset

[Griff]

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.

     Is this accurate then? Does everyone agree on these? Can anyone think of any more?

Just to prove I'm a multiple cult daliant-

Are (is for cultists) the United States a cult? Try suggesting to a public school teacher that education may not be a necessary function of the State. Try telling one of the converted that our constant use of force overseas could be detrimental to our security. Those groups have all the answers.

We often hear Greens, Libertarians, or (your party here) described as cult like, effectively labeling them "The Other" because they doubt the righteousness of our society. We have the conveniently rotating other overseas. We label them by race or nation emphasizing how different they are from right thinkers like us.

School kids are still saluting the flag each morning and studying state approved civics much like their counterparts in Hitlers Germany. We fly flags from and apply patriotic stickers to our cars signaling group connection. We believe supporting our troops means keeping them in places where people want to kill them. Yep we are a family and the President is our father.

So at what point does the cult end and normal human social units begin? I've seen families who were different enough that someone somewhere would call them a cult. Any human interaction involves the ideas we're talking about to a lesser or greater degree.