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YakiUdon's avatar

The more I learn of these movements and their worldview, the more I’m reminded of the Heavens Gate cult, with many little Marshall Applewhites urging on the great recycling. I wonder if any have the self awareness that they are in a quasi-religious cult?

Émile P. Torres's avatar

Oh yes, some do! Lol: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/7zg6pkrL6nQDLHPmk/ea-may-look-like-a-cult-and-it-s-not-just-optics

I had plenty of discussions when I was in the community about whether it was a cult!

YakiUdon's avatar

Calvinism and capitalism, absent parents who spawned pathological belief systems, which spread like viruses of the mind.

Jesse Roche's avatar

Reading this and other pieces about some folks' giddy exuberance at the prospect of ceding the earth to the master ASI race reminds me of the madman, Renfield, in Dracula. How, crouched in his cell eating flies and spiders for life force he was ecstatic with the idea of being in psychic communion with his dark lord, who would soon arrive. If I remember correctly, I think you had asked in comments to a previous post what a more colloquial version of TESCREAL, which i like, might be. Perhaps an allusion to Renfield is appropriate? Something along the lines of Renfielders maybe?

Anyway, thank you for what you do, Emile! Your work is important.

Émile P. Torres's avatar

Thanks for reading! Really appreciate it. :-)