… Do you know the definition of cult? It sounds like you don’t.
“The cult is authoritarian in its power structure.
The leader is regarded as the supreme authority. He or she may delegate certain power to a few subordinates for the purpose of seeing that members adhere to the leader’s wishes and roles. There is no appeal outside of his or her system to greater systems of justice. For example, if a school teacher feels unjustly treated by a principal, appeals can be made. In a cult, the leader claims to have the only and final ruling on all matters.
(Otherkin have no leaders, and no “power” over anything. We’re also not above the law in any way. We have “elders” and “greymuzzles”, who are simply long-time members of the communities, who are considered by others to be able to guide newcomers wisely.)
The cult’s leaders tend to be charismatic, determined, and domineering.
They persuade followers to drop their families, jobs, careers, and friends to follow them. They (not the individual) then take over control of their followers’ possessions, money, lives. The cult’s leaders are self-appointed, messianic persons who claim to have a special mission in life. For example, the flying saucer cult leaders claim that people from outer space have commissioned them to lead people to special places to await a space ship.
(Again, we have no leaders. And this is exactly the kind of behavior that any legitimate group of nonhumans will warn others against. Because individually? There are absolutely people who, in the name of otherkin, will be manipulative. If you think being an otherkin means controlling others, stealing from them, and forcing them into a certain lifestyle, you’ve been getting some really fucked up information. I’m sure as hell not giving up my job and my relationships to go follow some mysterious figure who thinks the world is ending.)
The cult’s leaders center the veneration of members upon themselves.
Priests, rabbis, ministers, democratic leaders, and leaders of genuinely altruistic movements keep the veneration of adherents focused on God, abstract principles, and group purposes. Cult leaders, in contrast, keep the focus of love, devotion, and allegiance on themselves.
(Nonhuman communities in general are very abstract indeed, and they uphold the individual. Any nonhuman worth their salt will always emphasize the importance of self introspection, and NEVER taking your identity from what someone else says you should be. That defeats the point of it entirely. This is why no two otherkin believe the exact same thing. Even two people who believe in reincarnation will have different reasons why, and their identities will never be identical. The few radicals who think they can tell people what they are and how they should believe are generally laughed out. We don’t have time for that bullshit. Again, we have no communal “goals” that we strive towards.)
The cult tends to be totalitarian in its control of the behavior of its members.
Cults are likely to dictate in great detail what members wear, eat, when and where they work, sleep, and bathe-as well as what to believe, think, and say. The cult tends to have a double set of ethics. Members are urged to be open and honest within the group, and confess all to the leaders. On the other hand, they are encouraged to deceive and manipulate outsiders or nonmembers. Established religions teach members to be honest and truthful to all, and to abide by one set of ethics.
(The majority of the otherkin and therian subcultures are internet-based, so telling each other what to wear and eat and when to sleep and bathe would be pretty fucking difficult, if that’s what we even wanted to do.)
The cult has basically only two purposes, recruiting new members and fund-raising.
Established religions and altruistic movements may also recruit and raise funds. However, their sole purpose is not to grow larger; such groups have the goals to better the lives of their members and mankind in general. The cults may claim to make social contributions, but in actuality these remain mere claims, or gestures. Their focus is always dominated by recruiting new members and fund-raising.
(I shouldn’t even have to say anything here. No one gives us money for being otherkin. Like other altruistic groups, what matters in our communities is personal growth. That’s why any of us are even here, asking the questions about ourselves that we do. To grow and improve as people.)
The cult appears to be innovative and exclusive.
The leader claims to be breaking with tradition, offering something novel, and instituting the only viable system for change that will solve life’s problems or the world’s ills. While claiming this, the cult then surreptitiously uses systems of psychological coercion on its members to inhibit their ability to examine the actual validity of the claims of the leader and the cult.
(Yeah, being otherkin isn’t gonna fix the world. The only thing that makes a difference in this world is individual action, not an internal identity expressed on the internet on a blogging website. Again, you’re gonna get radicals with a Messiah complex who think they’re dragon jesus and sent here to “bring magic back” or whatever, but they’re up there with p-shifters in Shit We Don’t Take Seriously, And Neither Should You.)
The third set of criteria has to do with defining other common elements of coercive psychological systems. If most of Robert Jay Lifton’s eight point model of thought reform is being used in a cultic organization, it is most likely a dangerous and destructive cult. These eight points are:
1. ENVIRONMENT CONTROL. Limitation of many/all forms of communication with those outside the group. Books, magazines, letters and visits with friends and family are taboo. “Come out and be separate!”
2. MYSTICAL MANIPULATION. The potential convert to the group becomes convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the group through a profound encounter/experience, for example, through an alleged miracle or prophetic word of those in the group.
3. DEMAND FOR PURITY. An explicit goal of the group is to bring about some kind of change, whether it be on a global, social, or personal level. “Perfection is possible if one stays with the group and is committed.”
4. CULT OF CONFESSION. The unhealthy practice of self disclosure to members in the group. Often in the context of a public gathering in the group, admitting past sins and imperfections, even doubts about the group and critical thoughts about the integrity of the leaders.
5. SACRED SCIENCE. The group’s perspective is absolutely true and completely adequate to explain EVERYTHING. The doctrine is not subject to amendments or question. ABSOLUTE conformity to the doctrine is required.
(Nope! No science to explain our beliefs. There is none, and probably never will be in our lifetimes, if ever. The theories that we come up with are simply that, theories, and personal beliefs that will vary from person to person. Which is very un-cultish, because cults don’t exactly approve of opposing ideas.)
6. LOADED LANGUAGE. A new vocabulary emerges within the context of the group. Group members “think” within the very abstract and narrow parameters of the group’s doctrine. The terminology sufficiently stops members from thinking critically by reinforcing a “black and white” mentality. Loaded terms and clich_s prejudice thinking.
7. DOCTRINE OVER PERSON. Pre-group experience and group experience are narrowly and decisively interpreted through the absolute doctrine, even when experience contradicts the doctrine.
8. DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE. Salvation is possible only in the group. Those who leave the group are doomed.
(Doomed. Come on. You can’t be this stupid to think this is what otherkin actually think and do. If you are, I can’t even understand how to talk to you.)
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So… I know what a cult is. Do YOU?
