waybread
Well-known member
The word "cult" typically has religious meanings, but it is also used to describe political groups that exhibit some of the same behaviors, notably:
1. Unswerving zealous loyalty to a charismatic, strong leader.
2. Strong opposition to critical thinking, especially of the leader.
3. Belief in truth of leader's statements, even when disproved by facts.
4. Belief that leader and his movement are ordained by God.
5. Promotion of "us vs. them" tribalism, cutting off non-cult social relations.
6. Belief that larger society persecutes them.
7. Nostalgia for a past that probably did not exist in the form they believe.
8. Participation in gatherings that encourage an irrational frenzy.
9. If the cult leader is a political figure, the trend is towards authoritarianism, not democracy.
Please note that I am not talking about ordinary conservative vs. liberal politics, but rather, a cult of personality.
I am not talking about ideological conservatives: people who support the primacy of economics in political decision-making, smaller government, and traditional social hierarchies. These are the people who voted Republican in the past. This is different than adherence to a particular charismatic leader.
Today Trumpism is further motivated by disinformation campaigns, conspiracy theories (such as QAnon,) and plans to win a second term even at the expense of democracy, public health, and national security.
I do not include as cult members those conservatives who held their noses and voted for Trump anyway out of concern for a couple of particular issues . Rather, it's the fans who show up screaming "Lock her up!" or some such at Trump rallies, and who are apparently fine with overturning a free and fair election if it keeps Trump in the White House: which meets the definitions of a political coup and fascism.
So this thread is not intended to degenerate into an argument of staunch ideological conservatives vs liberals, but to look at Trump as a cult leader.
Please share your moderate thoughts on this matter. No conspiracy theory hijacks, please. Most of the charges of a "stolen election" have been discredited-- or will be. Please start your own thread if that's what you want to talk about.
And do you see Neptune at work? Neptune may be the astrological sleeper here, given all of the recent focus on planets in Capricorn.
1. Unswerving zealous loyalty to a charismatic, strong leader.
2. Strong opposition to critical thinking, especially of the leader.
3. Belief in truth of leader's statements, even when disproved by facts.
4. Belief that leader and his movement are ordained by God.
5. Promotion of "us vs. them" tribalism, cutting off non-cult social relations.
6. Belief that larger society persecutes them.
7. Nostalgia for a past that probably did not exist in the form they believe.
8. Participation in gatherings that encourage an irrational frenzy.
9. If the cult leader is a political figure, the trend is towards authoritarianism, not democracy.
Please note that I am not talking about ordinary conservative vs. liberal politics, but rather, a cult of personality.
I am not talking about ideological conservatives: people who support the primacy of economics in political decision-making, smaller government, and traditional social hierarchies. These are the people who voted Republican in the past. This is different than adherence to a particular charismatic leader.
Today Trumpism is further motivated by disinformation campaigns, conspiracy theories (such as QAnon,) and plans to win a second term even at the expense of democracy, public health, and national security.
I do not include as cult members those conservatives who held their noses and voted for Trump anyway out of concern for a couple of particular issues . Rather, it's the fans who show up screaming "Lock her up!" or some such at Trump rallies, and who are apparently fine with overturning a free and fair election if it keeps Trump in the White House: which meets the definitions of a political coup and fascism.
So this thread is not intended to degenerate into an argument of staunch ideological conservatives vs liberals, but to look at Trump as a cult leader.
Please share your moderate thoughts on this matter. No conspiracy theory hijacks, please. Most of the charges of a "stolen election" have been discredited-- or will be. Please start your own thread if that's what you want to talk about.
And do you see Neptune at work? Neptune may be the astrological sleeper here, given all of the recent focus on planets in Capricorn.