This is way better than the last three cults I joined!

[moon_custafer]

Andrew rewatched episode 5 of Doom Patrol last night, and I’ve got to say it’s my favourite episode so far – the previous one had ended on a cliffhanger, with a cult summoning a god called the Decreator to destroy the world. Turns out the Decreator was actually constructed out of the cult’s faith, so the only solution is to go back in time forty years and start a rival cult who will be able, when the time is right, to summon the “Re-Creator.”

Obviously.

The more I think about it, the more I like that the good-guy cultists are all patients (and some staff) from a 1970s mental hospital, led by a chain-smoking, oxygen-tank-toting, rock’n’roll grandma. I think the main reason they succeed because they’re not simply a mirror-image of the original Cult of the Unwritten Book—one of their commandments is that when the Apocalypse comes they are to “Dance. Dance like there’s a giant eye in the sky watching you.”

Also, Ezekiel the cockroach is once again disappointed by the human race’s failure to be destroyed.

Comments

Re: The apotheosis of TV

[moon_custafer]

I was wondering how you’d view that episode, given your time with the cult hotline. It occurred to me the Rewritten Book, despite labeling themselves a cult (or because they did) might not even meet your definition of such, as they’re weird but non-hierarchal* and not actually out to abuse their adherents.

*Sort of— Dr. Harrison has mind-control powers, but she’s very willing to accept input from her followers.

Re: The apotheosis of TV

[palain-7.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's a clear distinction between the two groups. Well spotted! The Cult of the Unwritten Book is totalist (although I suppose that they would speciously argue against that with a malaprop use of the word 'totalist' by saying that they are against Totality in favour of Nullity), they have a rigid heirarchy (the Archons) and, most importantly, they lie to you when you come in the door. They certainly lied to Elliot the Book (love the lines "We don't kill kids!", "Or burn books...well, he's both.") and, in the comics, the straight-razor wielding nuns are tricked into the transformation into said creatures.

The Cult of the Rewritten book might bear a charge of Totalism but fail on the other two counts. That they're not rigidly hierarchical is shown by their staff meeting. The objection that "I too question the use of the male pronoun in this exercise." when the consensus is moving towards a dog messiah would get you excommunicated in a second in an abusive cult. And of course, they're totally up front about being all about a giant eye-in-the-sky that will engage the decreator in a staring contest.