Skeptic Project

Discuss.

They have apocolyptic beliefs about society collapsing, people being microchiped and so on.

When people don't agree with them they say the person "just doesn't understand what we're about"

Older doctrines that are embarrassing (like 9/11 and tax denialism) are ignored.

They have there own vocabulary with terms like "ad hominem" (a real term that they've redefined to mean a crime against their gods) and "Type 1 Troll".

People who become dissastisfied and turn against it are said to have never been true believers in the first place. (see Type 3 Troll)

re·li·gion   [ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2.
a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3.
the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4.
the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5.
the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6.
something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7.
religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8.
Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

#2, #3, #6, and maybe #7 fit.

source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

when Melora decides to go Jim Jones on his followers i wonder how many will take the poisoned kool aid?

The answer is no. If anything it's anti-religion.

A lot of interesting conspiracy theories about it being exchanged here though.

We are not anti-scientific method Matt. That's just ridiculous. Go change your diaper.

I do not believe the ZM is a religion or a cult. It's a good old fashioned conspiracy movement, like 9/11 Truth.

One of my friends named Lukas defined them as a Sect which is...

Sect:

1. a body of persons adhering to a particular religious faith; a religious denomination.

4.any group, party, or faction united by a specific doctrine or under a doctrinal leader.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sect</p>

In that I think zeitgeist can be summed up by a term called oebiedoebie, which means...

oebiedoebie: An oebiedoebie is someone/something that doesn't fit into the society and in consequence tries to make an own sect, so it wouldn't feel so miserable.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=oebiedoebie&defid=3609519

so yes in my opinion and experience with the movement it's more Cultish than religion but yes it's definitely a bad mixture of the two. It just has people on the top that are in the wrong places of power, these people in power claim to work on behalf of the community but without telling the community the situation or what happen until after the fact and at they that lie about it and build evidence against the individual they just banned so they can justify the bann even though that wasn't the original justification for the bann in the first place. Whoever they want out basically they will find or make up evidence to get them out basically... they simply want nice obedient people that will not question their action or have opinions. hrrmmmm

VTV said "The answer is no. If anything it's anti-religion.

A lot of interesting conspiracy theories about it being exchanged here though. "

Check yourself and your forum before you start throwing stones, you have a movement based on conspiray theories, you have a forum promoting conspiracy theories and you yourself even support conspiracy theories.
For you to make this claim above is absolute hypocrisy and manipulative, but I would expect nothing short of that from you, you're history proves you do this in this and your own forum.

But they are anti-reiligon and anti-government. So by definition they are in fact, dangerous. Don't let the left fool you.

"But they are anti-reiligon and anti-government. So by definition they are in fact, dangerous."

I don't think that's the definition of "dangerous."

>> "But they are anti-reiligon and anti-government. So by definition they are in fact, dangerous"

So, it's okay to be anti-government, as long as you're not anti-religion?

katastron said:

"TZM is actually quite unfriendly and dark-minded so far, so few people feel okay to join, even when they agree with almost everything. Then, the few who join, are quickly discouraged to stay, if not even outright banned.

So... this was the central definition of cult, according to this web page, and TZM doesn't fit it, at all. Currently new members even have to pass a test, they aren't easily welcome or attracted at all cost, and then are confronted asap, if their beliefs are in total contradiction with the movement's research data.

The absurd situation here is indeed that most people have no idea what The Venus Project is, and yet, support it, or criticize it. But this is not a cult situation (so far). In fact, some of the strong opposition to TZM, including anticultist self-proclaimed folk, seem closer to having a cult of their own, projecting cult ideology into TZM which doesn't exist outside of their own heads."

Now I love this post for a few reasons, firstly his assumption by the definition of having a test prevents them from becoming a cult is false. Not only does it impact further on them becoming a cult, due to the strict rhetoric they must indulge in before admittance. But this then creates an illusion that only those who are knowledgable are true members, this re inforces an air of superiority as well as a strict kinship and set belief structure as a requisite to being a member.

Then he used this

""In other words cults trick people into joining and coerce them into staying.""

as a means to assess what a cult is. This is a strictly minimal attempt at categorising what the definition for a cult is. So his conclusions clearly being 'no they are not' is derived from a simple one lined statement pulled from a webpage.

Is this how their scientific method works in general ?

They take a single piece of data, and ignore all others to arrive at a pre concieved notion.

What a shameful piece of justification.

His final remarks are more than likely not directed at me since I am not even 'officially' a part of any anti cultist membership ranks, and he probably is not even aware of me as I am strictly small potatoes. But for anyone interested I just chose this name because it would piss them off and make a strong statement about my opinions on what they are becoming. But I will analyse his statement about anti cultists because it is worthy.

There are varying types of anti cultists:
The anti-cult movement (ACM) is a term used by academics and others to refer to groups and individuals who oppose cults and new religious movements.

Notice that it is not always a strictly group orientated matter, often the ACM combined label is constructed from ex members of cults seeking solace in other ex members to help ease transition away from the cult.
This is usually individuals who make webpages available with information or provide information to other members to help them gain a foothold on normalcy.

If this is his term he is actually using to describe ACM being a cult themselves then personally I think he has overshot his target and missed.

oh and finally he stated that ACM folks dont even bother to address or understand their information, it again is false since a high percentage of ACM folk are or have been directly involved in the cults they are then pitted against.

Take me for example katastron has zero clue who I even am, yet he is unaware I have been a member of TZM longer than he has, and I was a much more active and pro venus project member of the group than he ever was or is even now.
So if he ever implies I or my friends who post on my blog dont understand or haven't taken the time to understand and just pin unknown opinions onto them, then actually he is utterly blinkered to the truth of the matter.

That is such an opinion based statement from VTV that its ridiculous.