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Essay:The Cult of Conservapedia
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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[edit]
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?