Samson Society, The Anti-Cult

Okay, I realize the word cult is too strong here, but if you'll humor me, I'd at least like to utilize it as a point of reference.  Cult is such a great word because it's short for occult which is one of the headiest words in the English language.

Cults are closed societies / organizations.  Zero outside influence is the end goal.  These closed communities are typically lead by a figurehead who manages the perimeter - so to speak - in order to keep threats (to his / her influence) out.  

Think of a cult as homeschooling for adults, and of course, this is its paradox.  Adults and homeschool makes no sense from the standpoint of adults needing to be able to think for / educate themselves, and this is what makes these closed societies / organizations dangerous as a mixture.

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Parachurch organizations can be like some churches in that they're extremely top heavy.  Strong, strong influence via the pastor, director, leader, minister and this influence is what draws individuals to those organizations - like a moth to a flame.  Some would argue - on both sides - that it's either gullible / vulnerable patrons who flock to these or intensely capable leaders who spearhead these - or some combination of both.  Again, it's a distinctive mixture.

But what of those parachurch organizations that don't have that heavily influential head man whom its members hang on every word from?  Too, what of those parachurch organizations that draw men in who're highly intelligent / discerning, most of which hold fast to humility / servitude and aren't necessarily looking for an end-all / be-all solution provider?

I would argue these orgs are the ones who're less at risk for toppling over upon themselves and far less at risk for hurting / disappointing / confusing its "members".  Not to beat a dead horse, but again, mixture speaks volumes here relative to maintaining this particular healthy / (long-term) helpful status quo.

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As a child, I had the experience of attending religious / pyramid scheme meetings with family / friends of family that represented organizations like these.  Even then, I knew something was awry.  And frankly, I have to say whilst looking back that it was the gullible / vulnerable attendees who were they themselves primarily to blame. 

Early on in my now new career (summer of 2015), coming alongside my 'rents, a savvy client of my dads convinced me to join in my one and only foray into the world of pyramid schemes.  Therefore, having paid our +/-$1,000, Angie and I then gained access and from there, I began my own investigative work as to what this thing truly was.

And it turned out to be a sorta, kinda cult thing with people at the top of pyramid jumping up and down acting like Rainbow vacuum cleaner salesmen.  So, that was it for me.  See ya.

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Sorta, kinda cult things make me feel like an idiot, and what I mean by idiot is one whom can't think for himself.  An idiot has little to any higher brain function either via genetics or trauma or some combination of both.

I know as I age that my mental skillset declines, but to counter that comes wisdom from a life lived and subsequently analyzed.  Therefore, I'm hoping the idiot category is one I successfully avoid altogether.  

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The world we live in today contains men from all manner of walks of life.  Their educational background, economic status, and so forth play into where they're conceivably going to land on either side of these extremes.  And I would argue one is far more sustainable long-term both overall as an org in and of itself combined with the notion of being an asset to its "members".