Is society a cult?

[gib_0101]

Is society just one gargantuan cult?

I was thinking that cults start with a charismatic speaker who seeks out suggestable people who can be easily brainwashed and controlled. Well, aren't political leaders like this? Aren't the masses of comforming sheep-like people easily brainwashed and controlled? Isn't this why nations are always warring with each other? Because they have to prove that their religion/ideology/beliefs are the right ones and all those other leaders are leading their people astray? How else would you keep your flock from switching to the "other side"?

[ESRUOS ENO]

Welcome to the club what took you so long....

[gib_0101]

Welcome to the club what took you so long....
I don't know - I guess I must have been "brainwashed" too long. ;)

[Reefer Rogue]

I don't believe in one single society, i believe in seperate societies. Societies need the collection of individuals. Since individuals are different, so are societies.

[majikstranger]

You know what that is a great question. To a certain extent id say yes society is a cult. How much crap do we believe in society purely based on faith of the all mighty ancestors

[dd3stp233]

Cult is the root of culture which would be part of society.

[sunyatasamsara]

i totally agree society is a cult.

[sunyatasamsara]

i just thought about this the word cult is in the word culture.

[themnax]

people do make a cult out of it. especially those who insist upon imagining the universe, or anything other then itself, begins and ends with it.

there IS a BIG universe out there, that does NOT begin and end with what ANYone thinks they know about it. and especially not with their imagining that they do. or even that somehow we might all do collectively, which we don't either.

=^^=
.../\...

[shaky jake]

i just though about this the word cult is in the word culture.
i doubt thats a coincidence

[woodsman]

Is society just one gargantuan cult?
Yes.

[Indica.Skye]

^ HELL YES. people sure follow it like people in a cult. they preach just like them, too. "why dont you dress/act like everyone else?"

creepy, innit?

[woodsman]

Well said, Indica. If people had less of the 'why aren't you like us' mentality, society would be a lot less cult-like.

[BlazingDervish]

Quote:
Originally Posted by sunyatasamsara http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/../forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?p=4311880#post4311880)
i just though about this the word cult is in the word culture.

i doubt thats a coincidence

No coincidence. It's latin. Cultus meaning anywhere from 'care to whorship'. Uras meaning 'the result of'. Like yogurt.

Society and humans go hand in hand. You can't get rid of it, it's a natural function. As soon as you group humans together, they need to figure out a way to coexist without putting their survival at risk. Rules are usually the easiest and most basic form of it and things roll from there. If you don't like the society, change it or find one that suits you better 'cause the one great thing about society is that it is always changing.

[Moony]

Anarchy all the way. Screw American society. You can never truly be free and there will always be someone around the corner to judge you. Is there escape? I personally don't know, I haven't found it yet but I am seeking. My best guess is to get out of the cities and head into hills less laden with humans. The more rural the area the more diversity you will have. There are strange and mysterious things out there but you have to leave society in order to find them. However, most people today couldn't live without their materialism. The human race has gotten extremely lazy with the advancement of technology and I strongly believe that the more technical we get, the closer we are to extinction. Just think about it right now, first one to set the nuke off begins the end of it all. I think I would much rather live in an earlier time period.

[Indica.Skye]

Anarchy all the way. Screw American society. You can never truly be free and there will always be someone around the corner to judge you. Is there escape? I personally don't know, I haven't found it yet but I am seeking. My best guess is to get out of the cities and head into hills less laden with humans. The more rural the area the more diversity you will have. There are strange and mysterious things out there but you have to leave society in order to find them. However, most people today couldn't live without their materialism. The human race has gotten extremely lazy with the advancement of technology and I strongly believe that the more technical we get, the closer we are to extinction. Just think about it right now, first one to set the nuke off begins the end of it all. I think I would much rather live in an earlier time period.

same here. who wants to move out to the country with me? everyone thinks im crazy, but i tell my mother she is lucky to have lived in a time before the technology craze began. she wishes they had cell phones, i wish we didnt. i think the government bugs all of our phones, its just a way to track us. they made it so we could use these to our benefit so we would want them on us at all times, then they could use their gps devices to know where we are and what were doing. they track trigger words like "government", "terrorism", and the like. well i dont know if this is true, but it could very well be. they are much sneakier than they let on and they are less out for our benefit than we think. and with doctors too. they literally think that everyone should examine every inch of skin on their body on a regular basis to check for cancer, and that every year we need a check-up, gynocological visit (women), mammograms, etc. who the fuck goes to the doctor that often besides hypochondriacs? plenty of people lived a long time fine without this shit. i hate this generation.

[snake_grass]

lol a bunch of people all over the place

running around jerking then it will happen again

someone will want to have power

like in a gang someone has to control the gang or it will be people running around breaking all the rules that we didnt put there because there is no leader

no body whouldnt be going to prison because there whouldnt be a prison there to put people in there

people whould just be learning there own way instead of in a class with a bunch of kids beside you to back you up

almost seems like a leader is just put there to make sure there is some sort of order


lol

fallow the leader

see it all over the place especially if you think something is cool because a bunch of people over there think its cool

[soaringeagle]

lets examine just 1 idealogy..democrocy like every good cult the udealogy must have its enemies to make the cult members feel persecuted so all non Democratic societies become the enemy of democracy out to destrot us how else do the leaders get the masses to take theyre suicide koolaide (join three military to fight and die for the salke of an idea)
do upi ever wonder why everytime a leader gets in trouble they send people off to war ro distract the masses ignore the crimes of the cult leader because theres a greater evil an enemy to our way of life .. and follow lour ideals and your sure to be blessed when the ufo comes to take us to Sirius 9

[Moony]

same here. who wants to move out to the country with me? everyone thinks im crazy, but i tell my mother she is lucky to have lived in a time before the technology craze began. she wishes they had cell phones, i wish we didnt. i think the government bugs all of our phones, its just a way to track us. they made it so we could use these to our benefit so we would want them on us at all times, then they could use their gps devices to know where we are and what were doing. they track trigger words like "government", "terrorism", and the like. well i dont know if this is true, but it could very well be. they are much sneakier than they let on and they are less out for our benefit than we think. and with doctors too. they literally think that everyone should examine every inch of skin on their body on a regular basis to check for cancer, and that every year we need a check-up, gynocological visit (women), mammograms, etc. who the fuck goes to the doctor that often besides hypochondriacs? plenty of people lived a long time fine without this shit. i hate this generation.

Hey I am down to move to Canada! As long as we can take that bus in your sig pic Indica.Skye:p

[Indica.Skye]

Hey I am down to move to Canada! As long as we can take that bus in your sig pic Indica.Skye:p

of course! i wouldnt go any other way! :D

[Moony]

Is that really your bus? lol

[Solid Ghost]

I think society's are basically protection rackets.

[Indica.Skye]

Is that really your bus? lol

I wish! I want to get a VW bus and get it painted similar to the sig one.

[Moony]

Oh man I was gonna say you were so lucky already havin a sweet ride like that. What are you going to name it once you get one?

[Indica.Skye]

yeah man i would be damn proud of that shit! lol hmm idk, should i name it? Psychedelic Sugar. idk something cool like that. got any suggestions?

[Moony]

no suggestions at the moment. I think i would probably give it a name when i was high or trippin' :)

[Hoatzin]

We pretty much define something as a cult or a religion by virtue of its relationship to society, so I don't think society can be a cult (or a religion).

Also, which society?

[Indica.Skye]

no suggestions at the moment. I think i would probably give it a name when i was high or trippin' :)

thats a better idea :cool:

[Moony]

thats a better idea :cool:
Lets do it :cheers2:

[Indica.Skye]

Lets do it :cheers2:

i wish. got lsd? ;)

[Moony]

i wish. got lsd? ;)
Dancing in my mind all the time:p

[Hoatzin]

You know what that is a great question. To a certain extent id say yes society is a cult. How much crap do we believe in society purely based on faith of the all mighty ancestors

I'd say that there's a difference between claiming values to be positive and claiming assertions to be true. Society may teach us the value of things which do not exist - justice, mercy, etc. - in order that we'll create them, but to compare that to cults that simply lie to people seems a little unfair. If society's a cult then being a cult is nowhere near as bad as we're led to believe.

[BlazingDervish]

I'd say that there's a difference between claiming values to be positive and claiming assertions to be true. Society may teach us the value of things which do not exist - justice, mercy, etc. - in order that we'll create them, but to compare that to cults that simply lie to people seems a little unfair. If society's a cult then being a cult is nowhere near as bad as we're led to believe.


Nicely said.

The sound bite is catchy and trendily cynical but hardly accurate or useful social analysis.

[Indica.Skye]

Dancing in my mind all the time:p

what i wouldnt give for telekinesis right now...

[Moony]

what i wouldnt give for telekinesis right now...
I'll come dance in that sunny field of flowers of yours:)

[Indica.Skye]

I'll come dance in that sunny field of flowers of yours:)

oh good, someone to accompany me. its no fun dancing in a field by yourself :p

[Moony]

oh good, someone to accompany me. its no fun dancing in a field by yourself :p

No fun at all. So are you a fan of Ken kesey? Ever read the electric kool aid acid test?

[Indica.Skye]

No fun at all. So are you a fan of Ken kesey? Ever read the electric kool aid acid test?

Haha, yes, and im actually reading it right now! have you read it?

[Moony]

Haha, yes, and im actually reading it right now! have you read it?
That is awesome! Yeah I have read it, it's a very good book. I also enjoyed One flew over the cuckoos nest :)

[Hoatzin]

Nicely said.

The sound bite is catchy and trendily cynical but hardly accurate or useful social analysis.

I find that a lot, to be honest. People prefer stuff that sounds like it should be right (everything is one thing, open-mindedness is awesome, science doesn't know everything and that's why I own 97 dream catchers, etc.) than the hard work, which involves distinguishing right from wrong, lies from truth and so on. It's easier to find catch-all maxims that don't require any unpleasant judgment on our part.

[Indica.Skye]

That is awesome! Yeah I have read it, it's a very good book. I also enjoyed One flew over the cuckoos nest :)

ooh i loved that one too! same author if im not mistaken?

[Holy Ancient Megumi]

yes it is , but an indivudal can also change the socity it is in , thus , we are the cult , but we are also not part of , those that live outside its laws are not part of we are the the ones that want a new way . so modern day yes it is no room for ppl to be free

[Moony]

ooh i loved that one too! same author if im not mistaken?
Yep same author, he was inspired to write it when he signed up to do those CIA experiments with LSD, Mescaline, Psylocibin, and DMT.

[Lady of the Freaks]

the cult of the braindead poison eaters.

[Indica.Skye]

Yep same author, he was inspired to write it when he signed up to do those CIA experiments with LSD, Mescaline, Psylocibin, and DMT.

ah, i see. you know your stuff! :D

[Moony]

ah, i see. you know your stuff! :D
Yeah I'm pretty much all about the counter culture. I'm not a huge fan of the society we live in today :cool:

[Indica.Skye]

Yeah I'm pretty much all about the counter culture. I'm not a huge fan of the society we live in today :cool:

same here. you know, i must say i adore you, new friend :)

[Moony]

same here. you know, i must say i adore you, new friend :)
And I must admit, I greatly enjoy being your new friend :D What else do you read? As of right now I'm reading the Carlos Castaneda series. Great author who describes his use of peyote and other psychedelics:p

[Indica.Skye]

And I must admit, I greatly enjoy being your new friend :D What else do you read? As of right now I'm reading the Carlos Castaneda series. Great author who describes his use of peyote and other psychedelics:p

:)
Hmm, right now I'm also reading What Really Happened to the Class of '65. its really good, just talks about the life of the students at a high school in California and the society at the time. anything to do with the counterculture, ill read it. any suggestions? ill def. look into carlos castaneda!

[Moony]

:)
Hmm, right now I'm also reading What Really Happened to the Class of '65. its really good, just talks about the life of the students at a high school in California and the society at the time. anything to do with the counterculture, ill read it. any suggestions? ill def. look into carlos castaneda!

Wow that sounds good! I wanna read that right now haha. Lets see, my favorite author of all time is Hunter S. Thompson. He has some excellent books out there, my favorite being The Rum Diary which their gonna make a movie out of in 2009:D

[Indica.Skye]

Wow that sounds good! I wanna read that right now haha. Lets see, my favorite author of all time is Hunter S. Thompson. He has some excellent books out there, my favorite being The Rum Diary which their gonna make a movie out of in 2009:D

if you lived down here, i'd lend it you. I think I've heard of The Rum Diary, what is it about? it's great to talk about books, i know so few guys that like to read.

[Moony]

if you lived down here, i'd lend it you. I think I've heard of The Rum Diary, what is it about? it's great to talk about books, i know so few guys that like to read.
Where do you live? The Rum Diary is about a fictional Hunter S. Thompson going down to San Juan, Puerto Rico. He describes how it is down there and the different things he does, mostly drunk on rum :cheers2: Yeah I miss talking about books, I used to read every chance I got but I've kinda slowed down over the years:o

[Nikalaus]

Absolutly a Cult ran by complete lunatics.

[Hoatzin]

Nicely said.

The sound bite is catchy and trendily cynical but hardly accurate or useful social analysis.

Looks like society disagrees. Ah well.

[Indica.Skye]

Where do you live? The Rum Diary is about a fictional Hunter S. Thompson going down to San Juan, Puerto Rico. He describes how it is down there and the different things he does, mostly drunk on rum :cheers2: Yeah I miss talking about books, I used to read every chance I got but I've kinda slowed down over the years:o

I'm in south florida. haha that book sounds fun. I was also an avid reader at one point but now with school i'm so bogged down i have no time for books that i like. surely i wont get assigned to read the electric kool aid acid test. haha

[peaceman7000]

But is it human nature to band together into tribes or groups and say that ours is better than theirs. That's how cave families worked, then it grew to tribes then villages and eventually nations. But I like to think as humans evolve we will all come together.

So ok, I just smoked but try this food for thought. What if the entire population of earth becomes a single society one day and we make contact with other life. It would be like the Europeans and Native Americans meeting all over again. We as earthlings would discriminate agaisnt the "strange creatures" who are different from us until we learn that we all share the universe.

[Hoatzin]

Then again, what if we didn't become a single culture before making first contact? Would the aliens prefer one culture over another? Could they avoid having a preference, even if they were diplomatic about it?

[BlazingDervish]

It's beautiful to see two new people become friends but I almost flamed someone I completely agree with 'cause I lost one of their posts in the myriad of the meet-n-greet!

Please don't think me an ass for mentioning that PMs or RT are the perfect places and great tools for that sort of communication, I'm really not trying to be. You two sound like great folk. I'm just having a hard time following (which is my problem, not yours) and want to request other tools. :)

[all hallows]

the biggest of all.