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.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
And Christianity.
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 4 weeks ago
Christianity as a religion generally started after the death and ascension of Christ.
JackbyDev@programming.dev 4 weeks ago
So you’re saying it reached escape velocity and survived the death of its leader?
hansolo@lemmy.today 4 weeks ago
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.
mobotsar@sh.itjust.works 4 weeks ago
Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 4 weeks ago
The only difference between a “religion” and any other cult is its popularity.
bigfondue@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
That’s why people that study cults prefer to call them ‘new religious movements’
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 4 weeks ago
Atheists are quite culty… So are leftists
Valmond@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Still a cult (or several) or why shouldn’t it be? I don’t know the exact definitions.
Flax_vert@feddit.uk 4 weeks ago
Cults generally are very centrally controlled and also demand people shun outsiders and/or apoststes