Today's Oy

Because god is an asshole cult leader who will passive-aggressively fuck up every relationship you're in just so he can claim you for his own.

That's not a god - that's a psycho boyfriend.

Posted At Reddit

Most of this is reiteration, so there's not much that's new here. Still, it's worth review, and worth the assessment that AI could be quite a useful research tool.

From r/QAnonCasualties:

I have been playing around with ChatGPT and asked it about the overlap between cults and conspiracy theorists

Thought you all would appreciate this...

Cults and conspiracy theories can sometimes overlap in several ways, although they are distinct phenomena. Here are some of the common points of intersection:

**Belief Systems**: Both cults and conspiracy theories often revolve around belief systems that challenge mainstream or conventional perspectives. Cult members and conspiracy theory adherents may be drawn to alternative explanations and interpretations of reality.

**Us vs. Them Mentality**: Cults and conspiracy theories frequently foster an "us vs. them" mentality. They create a sense of belonging to a select group that possesses special knowledge or insights, while portraying outsiders or skeptics as ignorant or part of the conspiracy.

⬇︎ One of my favorites ⬇︎

**Secrecy and Hidden Knowledge**: Both cults and conspiracy theories often emphasize the possession of secret or hidden knowledge. Cult leaders and conspiracy theory promoters claim access to exclusive truths that are deliberately concealed from the general public.

**Recruitment and Indoctrination**: Cults and promoters of conspiracy theories employ recruitment and indoctrination techniques to attract new members or followers. They may use persuasive tactics to engage individuals and convince them of the validity of their beliefs.

**Isolation**: Cults may isolate their members from the outside world to maintain control and prevent exposure to conflicting information. Similarly, conspiracy theory adherents may avoid mainstream sources of information and socialize primarily with like-minded individuals in online echo chambers.

**Deceptive Manipulation**: Both cults and conspiracy theories can involve deceptive manipulation. Cult leaders may exploit the vulnerability of their followers, while conspiracy theories often rely on misleading or fabricated evidence to support their claims.

**Resistance to Rational Arguments**: Cult members and conspiracy theory adherents may be resistant to rational arguments or evidence that contradicts their beliefs. They tend to dismiss opposing viewpoints as part of the alleged conspiracy.

**Strong Emotional Attachment**: People involved in cults and those immersed in conspiracy theories often develop strong emotional attachments to their respective belief systems. These attachments can make it challenging for them to disengage from these ideologies.

It's important to note that while there are these points of overlap, cults and conspiracy theories are distinct in many ways. Cults typically involve a charismatic leader and a tightly controlled organization, while conspiracy theories are often more decentralized and widespread. Cults may have physical communities, while conspiracy theories often exist in the digital realm. Understanding the differences between the two is important for addressing the unique challenges and risks associated with each phenomenon.

I would add: A conspiracy fantasy (it's not a theory, BTW - it's not even a hypothesis) can easily be considered some asshole's stupid little joke - they just wanna see who's gullible enough to swallow it, and how viral it gets - but it's more than likely a tool to manipulate the devotees, further cementing them in place within the cult.

DIY Cult

There's one question that gets us out of the trap that religions and other cults set for us:

ie: What does god want?

• If the answer is "nothing", then both of us - that god and I - can just go about our business, each requiring nothing from the other.
• If the answer is anything but "nothing", then that god wants for something, which means that god is not complete, which means that god is not god.

And we have to keep in mind that every cult will set itself up so that something or someone is the "god" - the object of all the devotion and sacrifice and effort. It can be a person, or an ideology, or a business plan, or whatever. But it's always going to end up being sold to the devotees as "The Perfect [INSERT ENTITY/CONCEPT HERE]".

And no matter what else, when the inevitable collapse of the fantasy comes, the cult leaders will always always always try to fall back and regroup with:

• Communism didn't fail, we failed communism
• The plan didn't fail, we failed at executing the plan
• The policy didn't fail, we failed to fully implement the policy
• Conservatism didn't fail we failed to be sufficiently conservative

BTW, all that stuff about "it didn't fail, we did" is co-opted and adulterated and perverted, but it rings true because there's actually a small kernel of truth in it, having been derived from a universal truth:

Democracy fails

when we fail democracy

So we have to crank up the critical thinking, and make some decisions.

• What do we want to devote ourselves to?
• How do we differentiate between something decent and equitable vs something perverse and uncivilized?

From 23 years ago, Carey Burtt Films: