I agree that it is immoral, but cults couldn't possibly exist in a society where intellectualism thrives. People's gullibility speaks volumes about how out of whack our society is. Thinking is becoming passe and that is scary.

I don't agree with the critics but a lot of folks say that objectivism is a cult. These seem to be a bunch of folks who try to extricate themselves from society and who try to use reason and the intellect to live their lives. But based on the behavior of some objectivists the cult label certainly appears to apply. And don't even get me started on the Jesuits.

I wonder if Scientology had anything to do with the Tom/Nicole breakup. Hmm...I'm just full of conspiracy theories today! :p

Susan

I am more than sure that it was the thing that broke them up. Considering her parents are psychologists and she was raised as a Catholic.

I don't agree with the critics but a lot of folks say that objectivism is a cult. These seem to be a bunch of folks who try to extricate themselves from society and who try to use reason and the intellect to live their lives. But based on the behavior of some objectivists the cult label certainly appears to apply. And don't even get me started on the Jesuits.

Steve D
I never doubted objectivism is a cult. Argue with a Scientologist and the goon squad escorts you to the door. Argue with a Objectivist and you get banished to a "black list." As long as they don't play with guns, though, I think they're safe. :p Funny thing is...I, too, read and loved all the Ayn Rand books, but I didn't get cultified with Adonisitic Intellectualism. I think Jim said it best: Learn as much as you can and don't stop learning, because once you stop learning, you become a know-it-all, the intellectual pursuit ends and you think you're right in all matters and all who disagree with you are wrong in all matters. Am I right or am I right?!

Steve D
I never doubted objectivism is a cult. Argue with a Scientologist and the goon squad escorts you to the door. Argue with a Objectivist and you get banished to a "black list." As long as they don't play with guns, though, I think they're safe. :p Funny thing is...I, too, read and loved all the Ayn Rand books, but I didn't get cultified with Adonisitic Intellectualism. I think Jim said it best: Learn as much as you can and don't stop learning, because once you stop learning, you become a know-it-all, the intellectual pursuit ends and you think you're right in all matters and all who disagree with you are wrong in all matters. Am I right or am I right?!

you're right :p

How bizarre to have a religion founded by a SF author. Hey- Robert Silverberg is a favorite, along with Asimiv and FPW, but i'm not worshipping either of them. Nor I am listening to them on who THEY worship or don't. I don't really give a hoot. I likely disagree with them on many political issues as well, but who cares? i enjoy their work. Ironically, I consider Silverberg to be an influence on me as far as many of my political beliefs as I was growing up. This is ironic because I think our respective views are very different. I guess it is all in what we pull out of an author's work. That is what makes literature great.
As far as RJ, I like the compassion he shows for the founder of the cult in CrissCross. it would have been easy to dismiss this guy, but he actually gave him a chance. RJ is a pretty fair and surprisingly non-judgmental person, IMO.