How To Disguise Your Cult #1

Some of you (thousands of readers!) may remember back when I wrote a few articles trying to inform the public about the Church of Scientology-

well I received some angry messages claiming that I was bashing a religion out of ignorance and now I'm afraid that someone is going to proclaim me a 'suppressive person' (an "antisocial" whose behaviour is "disastrous") and destroy me. Lucky that my bank balance is at $-5, so they can't get me there!

Anyways, I've thought a lot about what exactly terrifies me about this new movement of some (supposed) million people. At first I thought it was the use of non-professional psychological methods as 'religious ritual.' But I wouldn't want to claim that (potential) alternative healing methods (whether accepted by the APA or not) should never be considered a spiritual exercise. Mind you, no one should be misled into paying thousands of dollars for these methods.

No- It's the fact that they're not even TRYING to hide!

TOP 3 WAYS TO DISGUISE YOUR CULT

1. Try not to be responsible for mysterious and avoidable deaths.

2. Maybe don't market your 'religious' services at the carnival-
it will only make me associate your cult with the absurd EVEN MORE.

(I had some dianetics done on me last summer right after the tilt-a-whirl when I was hangin with my homegirls at the Toronto Exhibition. This guy who looked like a robot fiddled around with his alarm clock and told me I was completely stressed out and I needed to purchase Hubbard's book on dianetics. But I was clearly having a blast. FAIL for dianetics.

3. You probably should not sue into bankruptcy and then monopolize the only active cult watch group in the country. It makes you look creepy.

...MORE TIPS TO COME

Life in the abstract

During the last few years of my relentless struggle to finish a philosophy degree, I've had the unexpected pleasure of knowing and arguing with so many thoughtful characters who are, for the most part, excited to be philosophers.

But at the same time, there's no denying the nagging of skeptics who say philosophy is too abstract...too spacey-the ones who keep warning me to give business school a chance- Because after all, let's face it- I'm never going to find a respectable career or make any money as a philosopher (what am I going to do with my degree?...maybe try to understand the universe OK..!??).

As draining as this has been, I still believe there is something fundamental happening in the world of the abstract...something beyond science...a new consciousness that will save us all (even you). And this is where the mystery comes in- How can we define knowledge and belief against one another? It seems presumptuous even to define the 'natural' and 'supernatural.' How do narratives of the supernatural or paranormal type penetrate everyday storytelling? The more we know- the more we know we don't know. There doesn't really seem to be a place for hardcore skepticism anymore- and like many others...

I WANT to believe.