Eco Cultists Blowing Up Kids in a "Good Cause"

YouTube - Leaked Eco-Terror Commercial (No Pressure):

I am definitely an ecologist at heart - been helping the ecology movement at its outset 30 years ago, always vote for the green list, etc - but I am truly worried by people who claim to be sensible to nature and find it "extremely funny" to blow up dissenting kids in a gory video to promote their views. Has the green movement turned into a fanatical cult? At least some green activists certainly did turn into cultists of sort, as they have all the sign of it - fanatical to the point of losing any sensitivity and finding "funny" to blow up kids for a "good cause".

I am sorry but this is absolutely wrong and I am deeply offended by what I consider a treason of my own ideals. If anything, that video makes me want to start my own oil factory just in reaction.

Nor do these activists seem to get "why" so many people find that video totally repulsive. As an "apology" on their web site they write: "Many people found the resulting film extremely funny, but unfortunately some didn't" - proving that they themselves are in the mentality I wrote above ("many... extremely funny... some... not"). Incredible, they just don't seem to get it (another sign of true cultism) - plus they end up as if all of the fuss was just a non-important mistake, dealt with just by "moving out".Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Anyway... Hopefully they'll make a deeper realization, because the cause they are defending is of course well worth it - one more reason to avoid this kind of super foot bullet.

According to Law, What Is a Religion ?

An interesting, food for thought article, but one that of course is not going to resolve the question. As it rightly wrote: "It turns out the debate over the definition of religion is as old as history itself and the debate has gone on for ages." As for me, I kind of like the Leo Pfeffer's definition: "...if you believe in it, it is a religion or perhaps 'the' religion; and if you do not care one way or another about it, it is a sect; but if you fear and hate it, it is a cult."

In full:

According to Law, What Is a Religion ? - Digital Journal: Your News Network:

In preparing a story about the religions of Natchitoches, Louisiana several days ago, I checked out a book on Mormons. I told the clerk I was writing about religions. “That’s not one,” she said, “It’s a cult. They don’t believe like us."

Well, first of all the word “us” I thought interesting since the young woman neither knows me or my beliefs. But no matter, I smiled and said, “What makes you think so?” The sweet-faced femme with Southern drawl said simply, “I just know, don’t you.” “Actually,” I said, “I don’t.”

So what makes a cult these days, I wondered and decided to find out. Besides it wasn’t long ago that Mitt Romney, a Mormon who ran in the Presidential primaries, went on television to defend his faith as a viable religion.

Just about every major religion has been a cult at one time or another. Christianity was considered different enough to cause consternation to Romans and Jews alike. The divisions of Christianity have called one another cults as well, but what makes a religion legal?

The Church of Scientology is recognized over most of the world as a religion, although some may define it as cult. Believers use this fact to recruit. Others consider it a cult with a nefarious character. That’s true of other groups as well. For example, the Branch Davidians were controversial both before and after David Koresh.

The Internal Revenue Service gives this as definition :

a distinct legal existence,
a recognized creed and form of worship,
a definite and distinct ecclesiastical government,
a formal code of doctrine and discipline
a distinct religious history,
a membership not associated with any other church or denomination,
an organization of ordained ministers,
ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed studies,
a literature of its own,
established places of worship,
regular congregations,
regular religious services,
Sunday schools for religious instruction of the young,
school for the preparation of its ministers.

But some wonder if this set of criteria of the IRS is accurate and if it might just be biased and flawed. One writer observes that it distinctly favors high or formal churches with large congregations. Unitarians and Quakers often meet informally in homes or small places. Some groups use a selection from different religious literature. Some have history that is aligned with other groups, but hve such different characters that they couldn’t be associated with the same group, such as the Quakers and Baptists who left the Church of England at the same time and have a shared history in some respects and unshared in others. Lots of groups don’t have Sunday school for the young. So if it isn’t the IRS standard that is reasonable, what should be used?

It turns out the debate over the definition of religion is as old as history itself and the debate has gone on for ages. Even lawyers and nations have had trouble sorting it out. The problems involve the imposition of societal standards and judgments that can make a difference. So when it comes to protecting religion the application of the law requires a definition, but that definition brings debate. Then there is identity religion where folks subscribe to a community but not necessarily to a specific set of religious beliefs. That would include many Jews, for example.

In most places the laws that regulate religion are usually oriented towards majority practices and the promotion of specific groups to the community to be recognized. So the actual practice of faith means that in countries with large Christian populations Christmas is a holiday and in Islamic countries laws that permit the ritual slaughter of animals.

So what is a religion? The answer is really who applies and over time who is accepted after enough fuss is made and enough adherents develop to make that fuss heard by those in control and power, according to those who have reviewed this question.

I guess that means we can include Mormons as a religion. They have had two well-known Governors and a host of other people in political offices and a little over 12 million members worldwide. That’s certainly enough to make a fuss and a religion.

Truth Cultists

Theory cults, left and right

"The plain truth will never mollify a Truther. There's always a convoluted excuse - some inconsequential discrepancy to seize on, some photographic "evidence" to magnify into a blur of meaningless pixels - that will rationalize irrationality. Mrs. Palin could produce Trig's umbilical cord and it still wouldn't be enough. "

Michelle Malkin, the author of an excellent article in the Washington Times, refers to the myth of Sarah Palin not giving birth to her youngest son, Trig.

Malkin states above that "Truth cultists", which she calls "Truther", will never give in. They will find a way to rationalize the irrational, even when presented with incontrovertible evidences.

(We pointed out something similar just a few days ago, when we stated that contrary to more rigorous environment where the burden of proof is considerable, Internet myths can have a long live.)

"It's only a matter of time before someone accuses Mrs. Palin of planting fake breast milk on her pump," Malkin writes.

To balance things out, she uses the "Obama is not a natural born citiizen" myth to give an account of same but from the Republican side.

This reminds me of the more than tasteless "Scientology Murdered Moxon's Daughter" myth, where anti-cultists tried to turn in a somber conspiracy theory what is in fact a horrendous tragedy of a sensitive girl wanting to save squirrels from a transformer vault.

I remember reading fantastic tales from anti-Scientologists in order to make this tragic death fit in the "Scientology deaths" page (where it still is), even though there is really no causality.

It was one of the myths in which Keith Henson believed, even though there was not a shred of evidence, and with which he harassed Scientologists for months until he was convicted and jailed for hate crime.

Not to forget of course our loving and tender Anonymous friend, who blantly claims that "Moxon's daughter Stacy got fried in some electric wires, and he didn't give a shit".

Truth cultists indeed...

DOs and DON'Ts on How to Help Cult Members

I have plenty of disagreement with the Anti-Cult Movement, as is visible from my web page and through my rants in this blog.

However, surprisingly, when it comes to practical advices anti-cultists provide to parents who have offspring in a cult, these are almost identical to those I would myself give (though some of the definitions I use may be somewhat different).

The question is: if these are valid for parents on how to deal with their Scientology son or daughter, why would it not be valid for anti-Scientologists when they address Scientologists who happen to come in their forum? Or otherwise wherever they meet them? Anonymous, take note...

Here they are:

• DO try to keep in regular contact via mail or telephone even if thereis little response.
• DO express sincere love for the cult member at every availableopportunity.
• DO keep a diary of comments, attitudes and events associated with his/her life in the cult.
• DO always welcome the cult member back into the family home no matter what is said.
• DO keep copies of all written correspondence from you and the individual.
• DO record all the names, addresses and phone numbers of people linked with the cult.
• DO try to bite your tongue if the cult member makes unkind comments.
• DO read all of the recommended books relating to cults and mind control, as well as reading other information on the cult in question.
• DO seek help and information from organisations specialising in counter-cult work. We care about you and your individual situation

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• DO NOT rush into adopting a potential solution before carefully researching the cult problem.
• DO NOT say:"You are in a cult; you are brainwashed".
• DO NOT give money to the member of the group.
• DO NOT feel guilty. This is not a problem caused by families.
• DO NOT act in an angry or hostile manner towards the cult member.
• DO NOT feel alone. It happens to thousands of families every year.
• DO NOT underestimate the control the cult has over a member.
• DO NOT antagonise the cult member by ridiculing his/her beliefs.
• DO NOT be judgemental or confrontational towards the cult member.
• DO NOT antagonise any of the cult's leadership or members.
• DO NOT be persuaded by a cult 'specialist' to pay large sums of money without verifying his/her qualifications.
• DO NOT give up hope of success in helping your family member to leave the group no matter how long the involvement has already been
• DO NOT neglect yourself or other family members.

Perks of penance for Saudi jihadis

Having for a long time studied deprogramming and forcible deprogramming in depth, I have fairly advanced notions on the subject. Those who know me know that I have always taken a strong stand against forcible deprogramming, viewing it as a serious and gross abuse of basic human rights.

However, at the same time, I always thought that, if applied in a non-forcible manner, it could be a good "solution" for the extremists such as Jihad fanatics ready to blow themselves together with countless innocents.

Indeed, the thought process that leads to such extreme is cultic par excellence. If only these people could be made aware of the particular illusion they are into, the problem would be resolved by itself.

Force ala Bush is only going to reinforce fanatics in their conviction and motivation and is not a solution in the long term.

Interestingly, this concept is now put forward by unlikely candidates. Indeed, Abdul-Rahman Hadlaq, Director of the "Ideological Security Unit" in Saudi Arabia, is quoted as saying

"You cannot defeat an ideology by force. You have to fight ideas with ideas"

and to put this concept in practice - with relaxed prison settings in exchange of prisoners having to attend religious education classes where Islamic scholars challenge their views.

What is important to me in this setup is that it all be voluntary and that due process be respected. Prisoners should not be detained for their opinion but for actual crimes they committed, and the program should remain strictly voluntary, which seems to be the case.

This s a promising venue and I am curious to see where it will eventually lead.

Criticism of Abrahamic Religions

Slightly off topic but not that much - this video is a five stars humorous but true criticism of Abrahamic religions.

Groupthink

Groupthink - a phenomenon that fit to a tee to both cults and rabid critics alike.

Eiser's Cultic Characteristics

Social Psychologist J. R. Eiser, has a good description of cultic characteristics that can be applied to many groups, including Scientology and Anonymous.

FLDS Backfires

FLDS raid appears to have backfired

Texas court made brave ruling on FLDS kids

Legal analyst Susan Filan agrees with the Court that taking the children away from the Yearning For Zion Ranch on spurious anti-cult claims was wrong. She writes:

"Without proving immediate harm, the seizure of virtually all the children is merely a condemnation of this religious sect for their beliefs ... Religious beliefs cannot be the basis for governmental child snatching. Rather, that is a prescription for religious persecution."

Court: Texas had no right to take polygamists' children.

Court: Texas had no right to take polygamists' children. "The existence of the FLDS belief system as described by the department's witnesses, by itself, does not put children of FLDS parents in physical danger," the judges said.