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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   3186 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for October 15, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Does anyone see red flags or signs of a cult?

I feel like determining "what make's something a cult" is very much in the same realm of the classic "I know it when I see it" porn vibe-check. Personally, the rule of thumb I've picked up on is this: if building a defense, in the minds of it's members, against outside accusations of "being a cult" is baked into the introductory/fundamental teachings, then it's a cult.

Though this place doesn't seem that "off", the fact that the website almost immediately starts talking about its legal bona fides, reassuring readers that it's beliefs are, in fact, "sincere" and "non-dogmatic", is actually a little bit of a red flag to me.

Red flag of what? Not of being a cult, I’d think- those guys are obviously sincere. Maybe of being a hippie-dippie loophole abusing scam, but those are a dime a dozen.

Agreed: I certainly get the sense whoever wrote that description would get along well with a friend in California who knows what to say to get a medical weed card, and can refer you to physicians to whom to say it.

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