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I have no sympathy for group bullying, hazing, or manipulation, but the concept of a cult seems to only be possible post-enlightenment. We say there is a secula
by groundzeros2015 2mo ago
I have no sympathy for group bullying, hazing, or manipulation, but the concept of a cult seems to only be possible post-enlightenment. We say there is a secular society outside that we always need to preserve and that sets limits on the level of fanaticism of our private group memberships.
But the unanswered philosophical problem is if you actually believe in those things doesn’t some level of fanaticism make sense?
In 2026 so we are so divorced from organizations and non-secular sources of information that I don’t think we can even talk about the subject. A 1950s neighborhood bowling club looks like a jihadist training camp from our completely detached ways of living.
- paulryanrogers 2mo ago> A 1950s neighborhood bowling club looks like a jihadist training camp from our completely detached ways of living. Why? There are still bowling clubs? People just organize themselves into more hobbies and sometimes even virtual communities than before.
- groundzeros2015 2mo agoBecause of the level of commitment, loyalty, and group sacrifice expected. The article isn’t about subject matter. Virtual communities require no group sacrifice. You join the lobby and you leave. Maybe there are some niche WOW guilds out there.
- paulryanrogers 2mo agoPeople still commit to clubs, sports, and other hobbies. I enjoy an online DOS gaming club (IRC, video calls, forums, and podcast). Time is still a sacrifice in any group activity.
- groundzeros2015 2mo agoThat’s great. They still don’t have 1950s ethics around organizational membership. To give one example. The Boy Scouts is a relatively tame org. It has different offices, voting, treasury, awards, oaths, meeting notes. All of that is basically dead, but was in full swing at that time.