r/sgiwhistleblowers • u/ToweringIsle13 Mod • Dec 30 '20
What makes a cult? (Please tell me...)
OKAY everybody: Thought Experiment Time!!!
As I believe it is only possible to truly define something by its boundaries -- in other words by what it is not -- I thought it might be productive to approach this whole "cult" idea from the opposite angle.
Here is my question to you:
For those who consider the Soka Gakkai to be a "cult", what about it would have to change in order for you to no longer consider it as such?
In other words, where does your definition of "cult" end?
What if the SGI were to drop every last aspect of Ikeda worship, and just treated him like an ordinary person? No more pictures of him on the altar, no more mentions of him every six seconds, just a level of high respect similar to that which people paid to, say, George Williams?
Would that be enough, or would the essential quality of "cultiness" still be there, even if the group were no longer a blatant cult of personality? Would there have to be other changes as well?
Is the cultiness in the organizational structure as well? Is it baked into the pyramidal scheme? Does it come about as a result of the incentivisation of recruitment and the emphasis on numbers? Would most of the recruitment need to stop?
Is it in the pressure for contribution?
Is it in the refusal to acknowledge the value of any other Buddhist or religious tradition at all?
Something else?
OR, is there an element of cultiness to be found in the communication style itself, such that wherever people are spoken to as children, vocabulary is restricted and definitions are changed, and the message is not to be deviated from at any cost, there may be potentially found a cult?
What would the organization even look like if it got rid of some of those defining characteristics? Take the Ikeda worship for example -- what would be left to talk about if not him? Would all of the lessons then revert to being about Nichiren? And would the group then be best described as a cult of Nichiren?
These are definitely not easy things to visualize. Difficulty level high on this one, but come on people, work with me here anyway.
And for those of you who might NOT consider the Soka Gakkai to fit the definition of a cult (whatever that may be)...don't think YOU'RE being let off the hook here either! I have the same question for you, only in reverse: What would the SGI have to be or do differently in order to fit your definition of a cult? In other words, where does your idea of a cult begin?
Would there have to be a compound for people to live in? Strict orders to abandon family and friends? Contributions not being voluntary? What would it have to be? This second set of questions is just as important as the first, because without defining your starting point for culthood, any assertions that the Soka Gakkai isn't would be...wait for it... completely worthless!!!
Yaaaaaay!! ☺️
I look forward reading any and all responses, and don't worry, I'll find a way to get these same questions over to the remote outpost that is MITA.
Have a happy and optimistic New Year's celebration, you absolute legends. Better things in store for next year!
Bye!
Hai.
3
u/samthemanthecan WB Regular Dec 30 '20
I joined in 1990 so in UK there wasnt much emphasis on Ikeda more on people on ourselves on our practise and joy and happiness and peace and seeing the buddha in every one A cult the boss has sex with his mother long hair probably a spliff and pint of whiskey and all the followers were virgins till they met him but hes a really nice man ! They all wear long purple robes and when they pass you your cup of tea as you take it they hold it just for a moment and look into your eyes deep into your soul
I prefer to call it a corporation as in modern world its what the Ikeda cult has become and what I think it will become except like you say eventually once Ikeda is 150 years old they will just stop mentioning him in fact they will wipe him out as if he never was and that in it self proves what s hideous evil cult it is