You can't even make a Doomsday cult these days without it turning against you.
Or just my inane babbling about religious cults and massive tangents on the subject.
Get a load of this. It seems that a small 'cult' in Russia has holed themselves up in a cave and are threatening to kill themselves via ignited gasoline if anyone attempts to come in after them. The 'Doomsday cult' believes that the world will end next May.
If only we were so lucky.
Anyway, they refuse to come out... even at the beckoning of their own leader, who they believe has been pressured by the government.
My first response to this is "Who cares?". Its every person's right to kill themselves for whatever reason they desire. The only thing that makes me care is that some of them are children who are likely not making the decision for themselves, nor can they be expected to be able to even if asked. That is a problem...
Anyway, on to my view of 'cults':
1) The word 'cult' is overused by mainstream religions, as many brand any odd ball or different religion as a cult. They give loose definitions of what one is, but these fall short since many of these things in their definition applies to normal religions too. For instance, a cult goes to great lengths to keep members or not allow them to leave, and I have talked to people who have had that problem with 'legit' mainstream religions.
2) About 'suicide' or 'doomsday' religions, I think they are counterproductive. Religion should be something that gives you peace and sets your mind at ease. Any religion that orders you to kill (others or yourself) counters the main tenant that any religion should keep sacred. That is why even if the leader of my religion, or someone I believed to be the creators themselves told me to harm others or myself, I would refuse.
This itself should be an teaching of any religion; if my religion asks me to do something that I consciously consider wrong, then I am free to disregard the order without fear of reprisal. This is, of course, somewhat of a tangent.
3) On suicide itself, its a sad thing when someone feels that their only outlet is suicide. At the same time, however, it is every consenting adult's right to do it. What makes 'mass' suicides horribly wrong is that you have people influencing other people to do it as well.
If someone is ready to not be alive, they should do it for themselves and not involve others. They should not blame others. They should not encourage others to join them or to feel guilty that they are gone.
4) One thing I have to mention is that the article doesn't make clear why the government cares that the people are in the cave. If they are not harming anyone, they should just be allowed to wait until next May to find out the world isn't ending, then most of them will go home, disappointed but alive. Its like having a bear at your camp site. Are you going to walk out and poke it with a stick to try to get it to go away? No, if it isn't after you then you're going to quietly wait for it to leave. Why make an awkward situation into a bad situation?
Get a load of this. It seems that a small 'cult' in Russia has holed themselves up in a cave and are threatening to kill themselves via ignited gasoline if anyone attempts to come in after them. The 'Doomsday cult' believes that the world will end next May.
If only we were so lucky.
Anyway, they refuse to come out... even at the beckoning of their own leader, who they believe has been pressured by the government.
My first response to this is "Who cares?". Its every person's right to kill themselves for whatever reason they desire. The only thing that makes me care is that some of them are children who are likely not making the decision for themselves, nor can they be expected to be able to even if asked. That is a problem...
Anyway, on to my view of 'cults':
1) The word 'cult' is overused by mainstream religions, as many brand any odd ball or different religion as a cult. They give loose definitions of what one is, but these fall short since many of these things in their definition applies to normal religions too. For instance, a cult goes to great lengths to keep members or not allow them to leave, and I have talked to people who have had that problem with 'legit' mainstream religions.
2) About 'suicide' or 'doomsday' religions, I think they are counterproductive. Religion should be something that gives you peace and sets your mind at ease. Any religion that orders you to kill (others or yourself) counters the main tenant that any religion should keep sacred. That is why even if the leader of my religion, or someone I believed to be the creators themselves told me to harm others or myself, I would refuse.
This itself should be an teaching of any religion; if my religion asks me to do something that I consciously consider wrong, then I am free to disregard the order without fear of reprisal. This is, of course, somewhat of a tangent.
3) On suicide itself, its a sad thing when someone feels that their only outlet is suicide. At the same time, however, it is every consenting adult's right to do it. What makes 'mass' suicides horribly wrong is that you have people influencing other people to do it as well.
If someone is ready to not be alive, they should do it for themselves and not involve others. They should not blame others. They should not encourage others to join them or to feel guilty that they are gone.
4) One thing I have to mention is that the article doesn't make clear why the government cares that the people are in the cave. If they are not harming anyone, they should just be allowed to wait until next May to find out the world isn't ending, then most of them will go home, disappointed but alive. Its like having a bear at your camp site. Are you going to walk out and poke it with a stick to try to get it to go away? No, if it isn't after you then you're going to quietly wait for it to leave. Why make an awkward situation into a bad situation?
Labels: caves, cults, doomsday, doomsday cult, religion, russia, suicide, suicide cults
posted by Blayze Kohime at
11:07:00 AM
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