In the previous thread below, I gave a brief introduction to the New World Order ideas. But I realized that, before I could continue, I needed a good working definition of the term "cult" -- especially given that, in another thread a while back, Flint indicated that I might should consider "deprogramming." :)

Not surprisingly, the most restrictive definition comes from mainline conservative Christian groups, who use the word "cult" to describe any fellowship that denies the fundamentals of the faith (ex., the Deity of Christ). By this definition, groups such as the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are "cults."

While that works in the context of traditional Christian theology, I need a better working definition. (Many of my readers are anything but Chrisitans, to whom a discussion of the Trinity is almost as interesting as reading a phone book.)

A Web search found several useful sites, including Florida International's page for international students and the British-based Cult Information Center. Have a look; I'll just reproduce the CIC's 5 basic "things to look for:"

1. (a cult) uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members
2. (a cult) forms an elitist totalitarian society.
3. (a cult's) founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma.
4. (a cult) believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds and recruit people.
5. (a cult's) wealth does not benefit its members or society.

That raises the question: "can there be Web-based cults?"

I think that this is quite possible. What do YOU think?

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Answers

And our extra-credit question is: which groups would you consider to be "cults," if any?

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

"can there be Web-based cults?"

Go see for yourself

Or alternately www.garynorth.conjob

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Are all cults bad? Was early Christianity a cult?

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Lars,

Absolutely not. A face-value reading of the Gospels indicates that only #3 from the list was evidenced by Jesus (who, if you BELIEVE those Gospels, had the right; he was God[g]).

The key to true Christianity is that it's voluntary and it is NOT totalitarian; it doesn't believe that the end justifies the means, either. There's no coercion. (A fact missed by a few odd-thousand soldiers during the "Crusades," but hey.)

Now, by this 5-point definition, do some *modern* Christian fellowships resemble cults? Absolutely.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

And then there are HATE CULTS (first lines of this article too disgusting to reprint :

LINK
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/20/opinion/20HERB.html?todaysheadlines

The hatemongers have gone global, aided by the Internet and the unmistakable drawing power of white power music. The music is mostly an amateurish mix of punk and heavy metal, with "vocalists" screaming and screeching lyrics like those above (from a song called "Third Reich," recorded by the Canadian band Rahowa, which is short for Racial Holy War).

White power music is a growing phenomenon. Hammerfest 2000 didn't get a lot of news coverage, but it was the most successful white power concert in the U.S. last year. It was held in October and drew racist skinheads galore to the town of Bremen, Ga., which has a population of 4,500 and is about 50 miles west of Atlanta.

Local officials are still embarrassed and reluctant to talk about the event.

The two-day concert was a raging success for hard-core fans of Hitler and lynching and the developing ideology of "pan-Aryanism." A group called the Bully Boys drove the Nazi-saluting crowd into a frenzy with a song called "Six Million More." And all other references to the extermination of Jews and gays and the mass killing of blacks were warmly received.

The Intelligence Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks the activities of hate groups, reported that "Hammerfest 2000 drew fans from Austria, Canada, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as from across the United States. The concert culminated months of worldwide networking by sponsors Panzerfaust Records and Resistance Records, the premier neo-Nazi music labels in the U.S."

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Bremen! That is where old git said she was vacationing! That, and something about "hammerfest" or "hempfest"....not sure which.

Hope she didn't forget her brownshirt with the slogan "HOT for pollies" (with a pic of the blast furnace)....

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Interesting because if there was one person after diane who was responsible for the Propaganda Department at TB2000 it was Old Shit. Sort of a Goebels who appointed herself in charge of "outing" all the pollies who would pick on the Poor Doom Zombies. She must have been thinking she would be the 21st Century re-incarnation of the Minister of Propaganda after the collapse. Another seriously demented and most nasty person on a par with Herr Doctor Gary Duct Tape, stoner of Sinners.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

CEEP, occasionally you show what a miserable little shit you are and so again you have today. Once again running Git and Diane up your flagpole only shows how badly you needed the sideshow these forums created. They're not here. You are. Really think you could run off Git? That lady was runnin a REACT before you got famous. She still is and the same people in her area are still grateful. You're stuck with we dwindling few.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

READ THIS CARLOS JERKOFF:

Bremen! That is where old git said she was vacationing! That, and something about "hammerfest" or "hempfest"....not sure which. Hope she didn't forget her brownshirt with the slogan "HOT for pollies" (with a pic of the blast furnace).... -- (sacredspacesfs@earthlink.net), August 20, 2001. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Forgot,

sacredspacesfs: You, my hopefully misinformed friend, must have missed how Git relished GI chocolate as a child. Your comparison shudders faced with Git's life experience.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

I read it. You speak whereof you know not! Common charge on your part but tough to take on the other side eh?

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Back to the cult thing.

One just got bruised.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

"sacredspacesfs: You, my hopefully misinformed friend, must have missed how Git relished GI chocolate as a child. Your comparison shudders faced with Git's life experience.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), August 21, 2001"

Never missed it. If y2k was a cyber-war, OldShit was fighting for the wrong side. If NOT for her life experience, it might have been forgivable.

Especially in the light that a few "doomers" actually apologized after treating "pollies" (or realists, if you prefer) so poorly on Stinkbomb.

OS' life experience makes her behavior INEXCUSABLE...she should have been "working behind the scenes" to STOP the nazi-style censorship that was occuring...instead, she not only cheer-led, she became like those she hated. She acted NO DIFFERENT from those in pre-nazi Germany....and in fact, acted even worse later on....doing EXCATLY those things that Hilter himself would have praised her for.

She was on the wrong side, and it has damaged her for the rest of her life. She is on record as saying (to the cascadian death lovers) that she wouldn't even take part in a bboard where she did have the ability to limit what others said.

WHO....does THAT sound like, Karlos?

I know you have some fascination/edipus complex with the old gal, but you are seriously mixed up if you think she did ANYTHING good in re: y2k.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

What was her life experience? I remember "something" but am not sure what.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Why did someone post that Carlos was "drunk again, Carlos?" Now it makes sense. The lack of logic and the feeble attempts at humor. Carlos must idolize Old SHIT/Sheet because "she was nice to me and thats all I, Carlos the Dense, care about because the De-bunkers were so nasty and the Doomzies were so NICE." Another ESAD ASSHOLE of the First Order.

RE:.......Life experience for Old SHEET?

Probably understudy for the witch in Hansel and Gretel. Or Sleeping Beauty. Or Swan Lake or any fantasy that turns out well. A wannabee Goebels in a skirt who is probably a MALE posing on the Net. But an UNDERSTUDY who is never in the play. MOCK EVIL WHO COULDN"T HARM A FLY BUT THOUGHT SHE/IT COULD. You must view her/it as partial choreographer for the dark and doom colorations that lead to the Heart of Evil. With her Buddy List Buddy Diane the Ultra Densest aka: *Sigh*.
What she/it did was give false courage and encouragement to the NUTS and even the semi-committed to push the envelope. Just as *Sigh* would call the ABOMINATION "INVAR" her "Christan Warrior" after one of his vulgar posts trying to outdo Gary and The Doomers playing the Last Tango in Arkansas.

That lead to both the "committement" then the continuation of the BULLSHIT LONG AFTER EVEN GARY NORTH"s Forum had been returned to the 10-20 people who posted there just as Gary was starting on y2k.

She/It was one of the prime instigators vs. DB and his De-bunkers forum. She/IT was "outing" the de-bunkers (AS IF WE CARED) to all the anons and freaking weirdos with the screen names while we were posting our real email addresses or like me even putting my phone number on posts to LEGITIMATE list serves.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2001

The cult still whimpers.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

You just don't get it. Stephen started this thread to talk about cults. You guys jump in w/ your micro-cult slammers. I jump back w/ my micro-cult reposite.

Sorry Stephen. Restart the thread and I promise to not be too tempted.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001