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fandomhigh2006-11-29 04:39 pm
preacher-custer.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-11-29 04:39 pm
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World Religions, Wednesday, 2nd Period [11/29]
Jesse looks smug. He's sitting at his desk, feet up, coffee mug in hand, and a grin on his face that says he knows something you don't know.
At every desk is a handout, and a cup of kool aid.
Jesse waits for everyone to sign in before lazily beginning his lecture from his comfortable, but not particularly formal, position.
"Cults. If you ain't heard of them, you've been livin' under a rock your whole life. Christianity, Hare Krishnas, Scientology, the People's Temple, the Branch Davidians, and whatever group you want to name from your owncanon home. Every religion starts as a cult in the eyes of outsiders. Catholicism still has the term built into its structure for veneration of their various saints.
"In Germany, Scientology is regarded as a dangerous cult and suppressed. Most Christians would be pissed at you for telling them they're part of a cult.
"The dictionary defines 'cult' without much emotional bias: 'Formal religious veneration' and 'A system of religious beliefs and ritual; also: its body of adherents,' but also 'A religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also: its body of adherents.'
"When does a religion pass out of 'cult' and into accepted practice? When there's a big enough percentage of the population who believes the same way? There's a helluva lotta Mormons, but that don't help many people's opinion of them. Same goes for Scientologists.
"Go ahead and give those handouts a good read, then I want y'all to get together and talk about what makes a cult. Do you know something from home that you think fits the definition? What about the coffee worshippers we got around here? Or me? How about I start a group followin' me? I can tell y'all I've met God and I know what he wants. I'm also gonna tell ya that my cult ain't doin' shit that he wants, will you follow me now?
"Why do you think people choose cults over the traditions they grew up with?
"Last thing I want from you is to choose a cult and give me a briefand entirely handwavable essay about what makes them a cult and what you think attracts people to it."
He waved a hand at them. "Enjoy the kool aid."
At every desk is a handout, and a cup of kool aid.
Jesse waits for everyone to sign in before lazily beginning his lecture from his comfortable, but not particularly formal, position.
"Cults. If you ain't heard of them, you've been livin' under a rock your whole life. Christianity, Hare Krishnas, Scientology, the People's Temple, the Branch Davidians, and whatever group you want to name from your own
"In Germany, Scientology is regarded as a dangerous cult and suppressed. Most Christians would be pissed at you for telling them they're part of a cult.
"The dictionary defines 'cult' without much emotional bias: 'Formal religious veneration' and 'A system of religious beliefs and ritual; also: its body of adherents,' but also 'A religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also: its body of adherents.'
"When does a religion pass out of 'cult' and into accepted practice? When there's a big enough percentage of the population who believes the same way? There's a helluva lotta Mormons, but that don't help many people's opinion of them. Same goes for Scientologists.
"Go ahead and give those handouts a good read, then I want y'all to get together and talk about what makes a cult. Do you know something from home that you think fits the definition? What about the coffee worshippers we got around here? Or me? How about I start a group followin' me? I can tell y'all I've met God and I know what he wants. I'm also gonna tell ya that my cult ain't doin' shit that he wants, will you follow me now?
"Why do you think people choose cults over the traditions they grew up with?
"Last thing I want from you is to choose a cult and give me a brief
He waved a hand at them. "Enjoy the kool aid."
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