[R] All x-is-y and trollnaming "Cults"

[The Free Joy State]

Saying (and doubling down on, repeatedly) "all religions are cults" seems like an attempt to get a reaction (it's clear from the second and last posts that the poster seems to think other posters are religious believers); as does calling a long-term poster a "troll" (emphases mine; except in the second -- that's as per the original)

all religions are cults. Its just a matter of its convenient for you to see them as a cult or as a religion.

No theyre both the same. Just because its more convenient for you to believe Lutherans are different from Heaven's Gate, a tumor is still a tumor even if its benign. See what i mean by convenience in deciding if something is a cult or not? Both are cults.

You can say the same with cultists. The distinction between cult and religion is arbitrary and purely subjective experience. A cultist can behave like a more established "religion" and vice-versa accordingly. At its core, religions and cults have the same "intent", and thats spiritual liberation. The methods used are simply an arbitration of what society subjectively sees a acceptable outside of the confines of those beliefs. Whether is poisoning all your followers or intentionally isolating yourself for a lifetime on a hill somewhere its all for the sake of spirituality. Ergo all religions are cults, you just like the "nice" ones.

then the basis of religion is dubious and they can only ever be categorized as a cult.

Exactly! The distinction between religion and cult is subjective! This is it! They'll rationalize any harmful behavior as long as its towards some sort of spiritual enlightenment and those methods run the gambit of harmless to the most extreme. The main point is the intent. The intent is OBJECTIVELY the same. If we judge cults and religions by their OBJECTIVE intention then theyre the same thing. All religions are cults.

plz dont troll. Step out of your religious point of view and step into someone who doesnt believe in any of it. What is religion to a non-believer? A cult.

[Fulgornia]

These are my honest answers to the thread in question. You may not like it but playing the victim is not the answer. Ive explained in my posts why I see religions and cults as one and the same. You can debate me, you can disagree with me, but responding to me in a flippant manner and crying to the mods doesn't add anything to the discussion. Please take a minute to calm down, this is clearly a hard topic to discuss but you answered the invitation to discuss it the same I was.

You can say the same with cultists. The distinction between cult and religion is arbitrary and purely subjective experience. A cultist can behave like a more established "religion" and vice-versa accordingly. At its core, religions and cults have the same "intent", and thats spiritual liberation. The methods used are simply an arbitration of what society subjectively sees a acceptable outside of the confines of those beliefs. Whether is poisoning all your followers or intentionally isolating yourself for a lifetime on a hill somewhere its all for the sake of spirituality. Ergo all religions are cults, you just like the "nice" ones.

[The Free Joy State]

These are my honest answers to the thread in question. You may not like it but playing the victim is not the answer. Ive explained in my posts why I see religions and cults as one and the same. You can debate me, you can disagree with me, but responding to me in a flippant manner and crying to the mods doesn't add anything to the discussion. Please take a minute to calm down, this is clearly a hard topic to discuss but you answered the invitation to discuss it the same I was.

Mods, I do not wish to spam moderation, or argue, but I wish to clarify that I have never responded to this poster.

[Fulgornia]

As a show of good faith Ive summarized my thoughts on the thread and left it at that. Please dont assume someone is antagonistic on the basis that they disagree with you.

[New Bremerton]

I literally began my own response to the OP using exactly the same "all religions are cults" wording. Is my post actionable too? Is it against site rules to criticize religions now? I thought "all X are Y" trolling only applies to people, not ideologies.

Apologies if this is considered spamming Moderation.

[The Free Joy State]

I literally began my own response to the OP using exactly the same "all religions are cults" wording. Is my post actionable too? Is it against site rules to criticize religions now? I thought "all X are Y" trolling only applies to people, not ideologies.

Apologies if this is considered spamming Moderation.

To explain why I reported Fulgornia and not you, you said "it's all a matter of degree", did not make several slightly baity posts to other posters (I only reported after the "don't troll" remark) and the tone was considerably different. I have no problem debating people with considerably different opinions, but context matters.

(I hope this is not considered arguing in moderation. I do not wish to discuss or debate here, merely explain the report).

[Fulgornia]

I literally began my own response to the OP using exactly the same "all religions are cults" wording. Is my post actionable too? Is it against site rules to criticize religions now? I thought "all X are Y" trolling only applies to people, not ideologies.

Apologies if this is considered spamming Moderation.

To explain why I reported Fulgornia and not you, you said "it's all a matter of degree", did not make several slightly baity posts to other posters (I only reported after the "don't troll" remark) and the tone was considerably different. I have no problem debating people with considerably different opinions, but context matters.

(I hope this is not considered arguing in moderation. I do not wish to discuss or debate here, merely explain the report).

Interesting how you dont mention the comment I was replying to. The person I was referring to was dismissive of my stance on the matter and I called him out on it. Heres the FULL context of what you're reporting me for.

You can say the same with cultists. The distinction between cult and religion is arbitrary and purely subjective experience. A cultist can behave like a more established "religion" and vice-versa accordingly. At its core, religions and cults have the same "intent", and thats spiritual liberation. The methods used are simply an arbitration of what society subjectively sees a acceptable outside of the confines of those beliefs. Whether is poisoning all your followers or intentionally isolating yourself for a lifetime on a hill somewhere its all for the sake of spirituality. Ergo all religions are cults, you just like the "nice" ones.

You're trying too hard darling.

[New Bremerton]

I literally began my own response to the OP using exactly the same "all religions are cults" wording. Is my post actionable too? Is it against site rules to criticize religions now? I thought "all X are Y" trolling only applies to people, not ideologies.

Apologies if this is considered spamming Moderation.

To explain why I reported Fulgornia and not you, you said "it's all a matter of degree", did not make several slightly baity posts to other posters (I only reported after the "don't troll" remark) and the tone was considerably different. I have no problem debating people with considerably different opinions, but context matters.

(I hope this is not considered arguing in moderation. I do not wish to discuss or debate here, merely explain the report).

I see. Thanks for the clarification.

[Farnhamia]

Right.

Saying "all religions are cults" isn't really "all X are Y" trolling. The whole point of that thread is to discuss the definition of "cult." I'll grant you that Fulgornia's harping on that phrase is, perhaps, annoying, it's not really trolling because it's being used to further an argument and not as a bumper-sticker.

We don't usually warn people for troll-naming based on a single post but rather a pattern of behavior. And anyway, Neanderthaland's, if it were actionable, post wouldn't be trolling but flaming.

So, nothing actionable though I would admonish Fulgornia to tone down the attitude a bit. Honey, not vinegar, and all that.

[The Free Joy State]

I see. Worth saying that, had it not been for the combative approach, I wouldn't have thought to look into it.

Thank you, Farn.

[New Bremerton]

Right.

Saying "all religions are cults" isn't really "all X are Y" trolling. The whole point of that thread is to discuss the definition of "cult." I'll grant you that Fulgornia's harping on that phrase is, perhaps, annoying, it's not really trolling because it's being used to further an argument and not as a bumper-sticker.

We don't usually warn people for troll-naming based on a single post but rather a pattern of behavior. And anyway, Neanderthaland's, if it were actionable, post wouldn't be trolling but flaming.

So, nothing actionable though I would admonish Fulgornia to tone down the attitude a bit. Honey, not vinegar, and all that.

Thanks Farn!