20 Aug 2009
Richard Dawkins of 'The God Delusion' on the evolution of religion, using the apocalyptic Cargo Cults of the Pacific Ocean as an example. The Cargo Cults have been widely studied by anthropologists and sociologists.
He notes the speed at which cults spring up ... the speed at which the cults cover their tracks and re-write themselves ... human susceptibility to religion ... and so on. See also Part II.
Many of the themes are really not that far from the Brahma Kumaris of 1930s Sind, e.g. the time of upheaval, the imbalances caused by the whiteman, an eruption of primitive spiritualism. In a way, the BKWSU would be a study of the next stage of evolution ... as the cult becomes a religion by seeking association with the establishment, hiding or jettisoning those parts of the cultic faith that are contradictory to its acceptance by the status quo of society, finding its place amongst other religions and establishing its 'real estate; within society.
He notes the speed at which cults spring up ... the speed at which the cults cover their tracks and re-write themselves ... human susceptibility to religion ... and so on. See also Part II.
Many of the themes are really not that far from the Brahma Kumaris of 1930s Sind, e.g. the time of upheaval, the imbalances caused by the whiteman, an eruption of primitive spiritualism. In a way, the BKWSU would be a study of the next stage of evolution ... as the cult becomes a religion by seeking association with the establishment, hiding or jettisoning those parts of the cultic faith that are contradictory to its acceptance by the status quo of society, finding its place amongst other religions and establishing its 'real estate; within society.