If you were gonna join a cult...

[Valka D'Ur]

http://awfullibrarybooks.net/friday-fiction-rise-of-the-cat-overlords/

Ah, I thought it must be Breed to Come. It's actually not a bad book. I've read it more than once, and still have a copy in my personal library.

 

[EgonSpengler]

For that matter quite a few fringe political groups have had cult like elements to them from using methods like flirty fishing to recruit, expecting income and work from members, discouraging family and other outside social ties, excessive veneration of the leader, and even in the case of the WRP accusations that female members were expected to provide for the leader's sexual wants.

Yeah, I was thinking about whether a group that isn't focused on religion could be considered a cult. I was thinking about groups like NXIVM and The Proud Boys, just because I've read about them lately.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The Charles Manson group was a cult.

 

[Commodore]

... what attributes would you look for (in the philosophy, leadership, membership, etc)? Which would you avoid?

It would have to be a cult similar to the Imperial Cult from 40k.

 

[Zardnaar]

Join my cult. Tea and biscuits.....

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I was thinking about whether a group that isn't focused on religion could be considered a cult.

There were plenty of people (still are, actually) who consider Star Trek fandom to be a cult, or science fiction in general. I've been accused of joining a cult because I was active in the Society for Creative Anachronism. Apparently wearing a long dress and medieval-style accessories in public means "cult" to some people (funny how me dressing that way once prompted a Hutterite woman who spoke no English to trust me more than any of the other women around who could have helped her make a phone call).

Oh, and to all the D&D players here: Did you know we're in a cult? Wow.

It's annoying to hear some of my favorite books and movies described as "cult classics." No, Dune is not a "cult" classic. It's a science fiction classic, and plenty of readers consider it a classic, period.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

There were plenty of people (still are, actually) who consider Star Trek fandom to be a cult

More like a religion that sparked a major intergalactic conflict that led its total banishment:

 

[Valka D'Ur]

More like a religion that sparked a major intergalactic conflict that led its total banishment:

I wonder what the young David Gerrold would have thought in 1967 if someone had come to him from the future and told him what a lasting international phenomenon his Tribbles would become!

I met him at a convention in Calgary a long time ago - the same convention where I met Frederik Pohl. I wish I'd attended the panel where the two of them shared their views of science fiction in the '30s and '40s as opposed to the '60s and beyond. It would have been fascinating. But at least I did get to chat with both of them for a few minutes each, in separate autograph sessions.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Join my cult. Tea and biscuits.....

Do you deliver?

 

[Zardnaar]

Do you deliver?

Maybe just sign on the dotted line......