Essay:The Cult of Conservapedia

Just for the heck of it, let's see how Andyland matches up with the Advanced Bonewits' Cult Danger Evaluation Frame.

1. INTERNAL CONTROL: Amount of internal political power exercised by leader(s) over members.


 * Inside CP: 10. In real life, 1.

2. WISDOM CLAIMED by leader(s); amount of infallibility declared or implied about decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations.


 * 9. Andy is an expert on all topics from ancient history to math to microbiology.  (It's not a 10 because I think Andy _did_ actually admit to being wrong about something, once...)

3. WISDOM CREDITED to leader(s) by members; amount of trust in decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations made by leader(s).


 * CP members act like it's 9, except the soon-to-be-banned and occasionally PJR.

4. DOGMA: Rigidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexibility or "fundamentalism."


 * 10. Andy's about as flexible as a ceramic teacup.

5. RECRUITING: Emphasis put on attracting new members; amount of proselytizing.


 * 0, as far as I can tell. Their active hostility towards would-be contributors is part of the reason CP's in such sorry shape.

6. FRONT GROUPS: Number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group.


 * 0. Possibly one, if CP is seen as a front group for the Eagle Forum. (Which doesn't seem to be the case.)

7. WEALTH: Amount of money and/or property desired or obtained by group; emphasis on members' donations; economic lifestyle of leader(s) compared to ordinary members.


 * I get the impression Andy's not exactly leading the high life off of his homskolling fees, so I'll say 2.

8. POLITICAL POWER: Amount of external political influence desired or obtained; emphasis on directing members' secular votes.


 * Desired: 10. Obtained: 2.  (And only that due to Phyllis back in the day.) Most of the CPers are too young to vote, thankfully.

9. SEXUAL MANIPULATION: of members by leader(s); amount of control exercised over sexuality of members; advancement dependent upon sexual favors or specific lifestyle.


 * Well, aside from the Schlafly-Spawn, I don't THINK Andypants has any control over his students. (I hope not.)  That said, CP's pretty strict on abstinence and gay-hatin' as the One True Path, so I'll give this a 6.

10. CENSORSHIP: Amount of control over members' access to outside opinions on group, its doctrines or leader(s).


 * Again, Andy can't do squat about what his students do outside of lessons (I hope), but inside of CP, things are as locked down like a Soviet history class. Just try mentioning RationalWiki and see how long you last. 7

11. DROPOUT CONTROL: Intensity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts.


 * No idea what his actual homeschollering classes are like, but at CP proper it's 0. "The less, the merrier" seems to be his motto.

12. VIOLENCE: amount of approval when used by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s).


 * Hopefully, 0.

13. PARANOIA: amount of fear concerning real or imagined enemies; perceived power of opponents; prevalence of conspiracy theories.


 * A nice solid 10.

14. GRIMNESS: Amount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).


 * And another 10. Internets are Serious Business!

15. SURRENDER OF WILL: Amount of emphasis on members not having to be responsible for personal decisions; degree of individual disempowerment created by the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).


 * Hard to say, really. Given Andy's lack of ability to keep idiots from running amuck, I'll put this at a 3.

16. HYPOCRISY: amount of approval for other actions (not included above) which the group officially considers immoral or unethical, when done by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s); willingness to violate group's declared principles for political, psychological, economic, or other gain.


 * And another big fat 10 for Andy "It's OK if a Conservative Does It!" Schlafly.

Grand total: In Real Life, 79 points out of a possible 160.

Evaluation
Despite Andy's best efforts at brain-squishing, he's got a long way to go before CP qualifies as a REAL cult. Maybe he could ask Ed Poor for some tips?