this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2025
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Scientology somehow managed to reach cult "escape velocity" and survive the death of its leader.
and mormonism
And Christianity.
Christianity as a religion generally started after the death and ascension of Christ.
So you're saying it reached escape velocity and survived the death of its leader?
I agree with the other person that the JC fan club-cum-cult only became a real cult heading to religion after it had the sacrificial death to lean on.
The escape velocity was achieved not from the leader dying, as the martyrdom was the key factor long-term, but more so that it survived the core group of founders by being pliable. It wasn't the "message" per se, but the decentralized and un-professionalizing of the religion that made it so that anyone could practice it, and for less hassle and cost than existing religions. It reached escape velocity because the barrier to entry for outsiders to practice and become leaders was lower.
Almost like a small cult or something you'd say?
The only difference between a "religion" and any other cult is its popularity.
That's why people that study cults prefer to call them 'new religious movements'
Atheists are quite culty... So are leftists
Still a cult (or several) or why shouldn't it be? I don't know the exact definitions.
Cults generally are very centrally controlled and also demand people shun outsiders and/or apoststes
Interesting. I feel like this theory can be expanded to not just cult but also organizations in general like a start up or a hobby club. What are the defining characteristics of a group getting to escape velocity I wonder
Own a fuck load of property, don't pay taxes, keep attracting new people to pay into the group, convince existing members to pay more, maybe scare the feds a little so theyre forced to try cooptation rather than direct suppression