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Eliza Mann's avatar

I can understand why several people have responded to this article by defending Catholicism or Judaism, but the author wasn't attacking those religions or religion in general. The author was pointing out how gender ideology has become an unofficial state religion in the U.S., so that those who don't practice it are on the outside. Meanwhile, the author's son has become an adherent and participant in some of the cult-like aspects of this new state religion, and the author compares the son's zeal to that of Catholic pilgrims engaging in self-flagellation as an act of devotion. I find the comparison apt and powerful. As a religious person, I can still admit that in my own tradition there are fervent believers who look crazy and cult-like from the outside, and they may actually be psychologically unbalanced people. That does not mean that my whole tradition is a cult, and I absolute do not think that this author was calling Catholicism or other major religions cults.

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Delightful Oddling's avatar

Brilliant and searing.

I'm so sorry your son is caught up.

We need insights like this from people like you who have witnessed or experienced other cultish structures, societies, behaviors, etc. You see the similarities so clearly.

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