Cults are represented by communities of people who fervently worship an object, person or concept above all else. While in the wrong hands it can become a tool of manipulation, a cult is essentially a way to better organize and transform people's lives. If you want to create a community of faithful around an idea, find the right one, then learn to organize yourself and maintain the well-being and health of the group.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing a Cult Item
Step 1. Find a topic or activity that makes your life better
There are dozens of things to form a cult around, but they have to be positive activities, concepts or ideas, something worth investing time in and inspiring goodness in people. You have to choose something that has the potential to improve the lives of others.
- If you believe in the beneficial potential of an idea or topic, you can create a sect around French cheese, Star Wars or string theory. It doesn't have to be weird or particularly complicated, on the contrary: the best thing is that it is quite normal.
- Cults are often religious in nature, but they don't have to be. Following a cult involves fervent devotion to a particular person, thing, or idea. Groups can form around virtually any subject. If you want, you can form a sect of followers of canasta or World of Warcraft. Just make sure it's something positive, good, and not dangerous.
Step 2. Choose a topic or activity that you are passionate about
You say you adore eggplant parmigiana, but is it worth turning this passion into a cult? The transition is only possible for something that you are truly passionate about, something that you can dedicate yourself deeply to and with which you find connections with different parts of your life.
- When we talk about "cult film", we often mean something very specific, bizarre, which presents a unique point of view, designed for a small niche of people and which confuses most of the others.
- Star Wars, Star Trek and many other science fiction films have complex mythologies and deep universes, capable of engaging viewers: this is why it is often said that followers are like followers of a sect and that is why they have pages on Wikipedia that are longer than those. of many politicians or writers. The Kardashian sisters? Not so much.
Step 3. Choose something you think would be good for others
The first question you should ask yourself, before starting a cult, should be: If other people were as enthusiastic about this as I am, would the world be a better or worse place? If the answer is "better", if people lived better by worshiping Francesco Totti's "spoon", then you are on the right path.
Often the sects are tools of psychological manipulation, set up by a single charismatic person. They are organized in such a way that the purpose of the cult appears to be the good of the group, when in reality everything is done to benefit the cult leader. The Manson family, Heaven's Gate and Aum Shinrikio are tragic examples of this
Step 4. Learn as much as possible about your cult object
If you intend to use the words "worship" and "devotion", it is best that you know everything about the subject you will be promoting to the group, so as not to sound like a fake guru or a smoke salesman.
If you intend to create a sect dedicated to Star Trek, you will need to know a lot more than the color of Spock's blood. You'll need to know exactly which episode he first bled, what that color means within the great color scheme of the series, and how it affects your interpretation of Star Trek's utopian worldview. Search for information on blogs from fans of the saga
Part 2 of 3: Form a Group
Step 1. Identify a leader
Many cults have individual leaders or are usually called "collectives". If you are creating the sect, it is likely that you will be the leader, but you need to make sure that your cult has a beneficial purpose and is not aimed at your personal gain or the conquest of some form of power.
A cult leader is usually a charismatic and manipulative person, but if you are forming a collective it is good to choose someone who cares about the good of the group. You shouldn't opt for someone who wants to be the leader at all costs
Step 2. Establish the rules of worship
With what rules, concepts and moral code will your sect organize itself? What is its purpose? How will you use Star Trek to improve your own lives and eventually those of others? What is the message you want to communicate to the world?
- Focus on how you will use the new creed to improve your lives. The difference between a Star Trek cult and a fan club is not necessarily in the fervor of its followers, but in the way that fervor is used to change one's own lives.
- It is useful to put all this in writing, but perhaps it is better to avoid writing the word "sect" so as not to give people the wrong idea.
Step 3. Write the statute
All cults have a text that describes their functioning and administration: obviously it will be mysteriously vague, pseudo-profound and easy to understand for many people. If you want your cult to grow and gain legitimacy, it is a good idea to self-publish your cult guidelines or group teachings.
Step 4. Find a place to worship
Be careful: people will find the idea of a sect dedicated to anything strange, so if you make your cult public, you may encounter a lot of hostility and negative reactions. It is advisable to have a quiet and private place to do what you want as you want.
- If you intend to found a cult dedicated to Star Trek, it is likely that, especially at the beginning, you do not want to do much more than watch episodes, discuss them in depth and maybe reinterpret some scenes: these are things that you can easily do even in your living room..
- If you are brave, you might want to schedule meetings in a public park or other place where you would get attention. However, it may not be the kind of attention you want.
Step 5. Come up with a slogan
All clubs, organizations and groups need a compelling slogan, and cults are no exception. It is a great way to give an idea of what you do, to organize yourself based on a single idea and keep everyone focused on the topic. The slogan should be easy to remember, simple yet multifaceted, in order to be mysterious and vague in equal measure.
"Everything Flies into Space" could work for the Star Trek sect. Or opt for a quote from the saga: "I'm from Iowa, I only work in space". Make it structured and easy to remember
Step 6. A little at a time, involve other people
As you meet other people, gradually begin introducing the concepts and subject of your cult to begin growing the group. Become an evangelist of what you have chosen to worship.
It is better to reiterate that at first you may encounter hostility and a lot of resistance, so you will have to advertise only the less extreme aspects of your ideas. The funny utopia told in Star Trek? Great topic. Your plan to build a Galaxy-class spaceship in a warehouse in Milan? Better to reveal it later
Part 3 of 3: Becoming an Adept
Step 1. Make sure the attitudes are in line with the rules of the group
The sects are singular. If you're planning on being a full member (or even leader) of a sect dedicated to Star Trek, you can't waste time watching other science fiction series or doing things that are not in line with Trek's noble occupants. Make sure both you and the other group members review your priorities so that they align with the concepts of the cult.
Sect members often live together. Consider moving all of you to a place you will call, for example, "Enterprise". This will allow us to grow and develop the common idea together
Step 2. Talk about your concept as if it were the only truth
One way to make people plunge headlong into your idea is to make it seem like the only answer to the world's problems. You're not just asking for enthusiasm for Star Trek: this is about a total devotion to the transcendent power of James Kirk & company. This means that you will have to present it as the only truth.
This is often the time when a cult becomes manipulative. Try to have proper discussions and debates, be good at presenting your idea to the group. If others believe Star Wars has that much merit, you'll need to be versatile against the anarchy associated with a Star Wars-influenced worldview. Preach it and believe it
Step 3. Cultivate your fixation
Keep doing what you do. How your idea will improve your life and that of other people depends mostly on the concept. At what point does the cult become more serious than watching reruns of Star Trek and eating potato chips? When do the positive changes begin?
You could start writing to group members to take Star Trek characters more seriously, devoting time and resources to science and exploration, taking gender equality, race and social status seriously, and abandoning the ancient earth concept. of "greed"
Step 4. Make the community known about worship
Let the group shape positive changes within your community. Host free weekly breakfasts accompanied by Star Trek viewing, or equality workshops with talks with the full Starfleet Federation. Let people know what you are doing.
Step 5. Find ways to grow the group
What are the criteria and the selection process for admitting new members? How will the group grow and expand without losing its identity and its values? What will the new members add? The fact that the sect is known what will it take away? What are the aims of the group? It is important to agree and take these ideas seriously.
Keep one foot firmly planted in the real world and the other in your creed. It is necessary to ensure that cults of this type do not turn into something disturbing and destructive. Are all your behaviors in line with the original idea of the organization? How is it possible to recover that original idea?
Advice
- If you start small, you can become very popular.
- If your cult has rituals, make sure they don't include illegal activities (violence, drug use, etc.).
- Try to be honest in your cult practices so that people are more inclined to follow you. If you keep what's going on within the group, everyone would think it's illegal and no one would decide to join your cult anymore.
Warnings
- A religion is not like a gang, you can not go around shooting people, otherwise you will be arrested.
- Don't do anything illegal. No sacrifices. No "punishments". Don't hurt anyone, not even yourself.
