Cults, communes, isolated sects, independent communities

[B.]

*can’t see it any other way now

[Tony]

Professor James Tabor has some interesting things to say about Waco. I think the critical signs of a 'messiah'. is the suspension of natural law; ie miracles and a direct line to God. I don't think either is possible, so for me any self proclaimed messiah is either a con man or deludedly insane. It is not certain if Jesus actually called himself one. Maybe all we have is this world and each other. Sometimes I feel like Captain Cook searching for a promised land but finding nothing. But I think that's ok. : )

[B.]

Tony, excellent points! I thought the same thing about Jesus-people today widely call him Messiah, but he himself may not have...so in 2000 years it’s possible that some large group of people could believe Koresh or some other person like him was messiah(though Koresh said he was a messiah, not Jesus or the messiah from what I understand ). I think most people believe in something because that’s how they have been brought up-it’s not real faith, but brain washing. Many people never stop to think how strange it is that they eat flesh and blood that’s been magically transformed by a berobed man or that Jesus was literally a god....those same people scoff at magic and make believe. Many would say mainstream religion is not a cult because you can leave of your own free will-while I will agree to that point, they leave out though that you will suffer eternal damnation and fire if you do! That’s dangerous rhetoric that puts people in states of despair and/or frenzy....if people come to their beliefs of their own struggle and searching I applaud them-I just don’t believe in blind faith anymore(and I was raised Catholic).

[Tony]

Agree B. Lets assume that the church hierarchy are not stupid men; especially Francis and Ratzinger. They know transubstantiation is bullshit. Ratzinger even believes that prayer for personal wish fulfilment is bullshit. God will not answer your personal wishes. I also think that they are not so called evil men. They play the game for the benefit of those followers who need to believe in supernatural intervention.

My personal views on the hierarchy of structured religion changed when I was seated next to one of the evangelical leaders of Billy Graham's church on a plane. I told him that I didn't believe in a personal God and that any spiritual beliefs I had were basically pantheist in nature. Guess what, he agreed ! He then went on and described in detail his real faith paradigm; basically there is no personal incarnation of God and that Jesus' miracles were metaphors.

I really admired Christopher Hitchens. He was prepared to stand bravely at the empty abyss and still find happiness and meaning right up to the end of his life. Personally, I cling on to the hope that there is some kind of plan (code) that ensures our collective struggles are not in vain.

Any way, as James would say... 'Just saying'...

[James, Group Founder]

Gentlemen, I wonder if instead of legit Mesiahs, it's usually more a case of "He's not the Mesiah, but a very naughty boy"?

[Tony]

Ha ! Mr Python...

[Jim]

That's why I follow the gourd.

[B.]

Lol

[James, Group Founder]

Another Jesus is "crucified"...

Cult leader who claims to be reincarnation of Jesus arrested in Russia https://www.theguardian.com/world/202...
Former traffic officer Sergei Torop, AKA Vissarion, arrested in special operation in Siberia

Russian authorities mounted a special operation to arrest a former traffic police officer who claims to be the reincarnation of Jesus and has run a cult based in the depths of Siberia for the past three decades.

Helicopters and armed officers stormed communities run by Sergei Torop, known to his followers as Vissarion, and arrested him and two of his aides. Russia’s investigative committee said it would charge him with organising an illegal religious organisation, alleging that the cult extorted money from followers and subjected them to emotional abuse.

[Oliver]

My book, Letters to the Editor of Cthulhu Sex Magazine, is an epistolary novel about the sacrifices needed to create a cult following. It is a compilation of the forewords, afterwords and letters to the editor from the aforementioned magazine. The magazine started as an underground zine then got national and international distribution. It was published from 1998-2008. It is available on Amazon in both ebook and print format. Some say it is a good way to understand what is happening during these difficult times. Convince others of the reality of your fears. Buy the book. Join the cult.

[James, Group Founder]

The Characteristics of Cults https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVZKD...