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- Jul 13, 2021
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---READ THESE FIRST---
For context, here's the news:
Hontiveros calls for Senate probe into 'cult' in Surigao abusing minors
Alleged Socorro cult denies sexual abuse among minors, defends child marriages
---READ THESE FIRST---
---MAIN ARTICLE---
CTTO: Jayeel Cornelio
@jayeel_cornelio
'Cult' or 'kulto' is not only loaded. It's also misleading. Here's why we should stop using it.
This is a call to all journalists out there and the rest of us, really. A thread.
The first reason is that it's a label about a religious minority the majority considers strange, weird, or funny. But what religion does not have anything strange, weird, or funny?
If you doubt this, just look at the rituals, incantations, and fashion prescribed in your church.
Think about this. Someone once said that a religion is a cult that has become acceptable. (3/11)
Second, is it a cult because of sexual abuses? Well, guess what. Every religion is guilty of committing (and protecting) sexual abuses among its ranks.
If within a minority, we call them cultic practices. But if within a big church, they're 'cases of religious abuse.' (4/11)
Third. 'cult' as a label stereotypes all its members as brainwashed or, worse, stupid people. This is wrong.
People have different motivations for being part of a religious group. (5/11)
Sometimes it's about acceptance. Sometimes it's about getting a sense of security in an uncertain world. This is why apocalyptic messages can be, paradoxically, reassuring. (6/11)
Finally, the main reason I'm bringing all of this up is that referring to Socorro or anything like them as a cult leads all of us to misunderstand the issue at stake here accountability within religious groups. (7/11)
People like Senior Aguila (or Quiboloy) could get away with their crimes because they're not accountable to anyone.
It's about the pervasive belief that they're divine. But it's also about the fear among members that disobeying their leaders is ultimately disobeying God. (8/11)
But note that this is not unique to 'cults'. This is a problem we see even among mainstream religious groups such as the Catholic Church and megachurches. (9/11)
Beyond Socorro, many priests and pastors are guilty of sexual abuses and continue to hide behind their holy vestments.
But to whom are they really accountable if they're so powerful and deeply revered in their communities? (10/11)
Thus the problem is not that a religious group is a 'cult' and others are not. This label is misleading.
The sexual abuses and other forms of religious violence now being revealed about Socorro are ultimately the tragedy of religious groups where accountability is weak. (11/11 end)
---COMMENTS and REPLIES---
@...oyo: When would you use the word 'cult'
Jayeel Cornelio: I don't use it at all.
Elon Moks: So anong gagamitin mo? Sindikato?
Jayeel Cornelio: Religious group. Or new religious movement.
Elon Moks: Ha? Mga na child marriage, narape, mga asawang pinakasal sa iba, child labor, mass evacuations, mass resignations ng govt. employees?
Hindi to coop sir
Elon Moks (again):
Tong batang to 3am pa lang gising na para magtrabaho para sa kulto, pinahawak ng armas, di pinag aral ng kulto, araw araw sinasambit ang mysteries and miracles ni Senior Agila, buong araw utak sundalo 12 years old tapos i-invalidate mo dito dahil gusto mo ng technicality?
Jayeel Cornelio:
In fact you agree with me. My thread points to exactly all of that. See concluding bits.
Elon Moks:
Ang una mong claim ay kung gagamitin ba ang cult or not. So ano nga gagamitin? New religious movement para saan? Para kapantay lang sila ng ibang org?
Jayeel Cornelio:
Hindi yan para lang maging pantay silang lahat. The issue is that abuses are to be expected in religious spaces where accountability is weak. One doesn't have to be a 'cult' for these abuses to exist. They happen in Socorro but they also happen in megachurches.
Elon Moks:
Kaya tinawag na kulto yung SBSI kasi nga yung mga practice THEY DON'T HAPPEN IN MEGACHURCHES. That's the line in the sand. Yan yung punto ng hearing. Naka latag yan sa opening pa lang ng hearing
@...rnie:
Pasingit, ang gulo Jayeel. Bakit di sila tatawaging kulto eh exactly the connotations tied to the term ang indicator para habulin sila ng batas. Also, sabi mo kay Moks tawaging religious group eh kakasabi mo lang sa tweet na religious groups are cults that are accepted.
Jayeel Cornelio:
"Think about this. Someone once said that a religion is a cult that has become acceptable. (3/11)"
For context, here's the news:
Hontiveros calls for Senate probe into 'cult' in Surigao abusing minors
Alleged Socorro cult denies sexual abuse among minors, defends child marriages
---READ THESE FIRST---
---MAIN ARTICLE---
CTTO: Jayeel Cornelio
@jayeel_cornelio
'Cult' or 'kulto' is not only loaded. It's also misleading. Here's why we should stop using it.
This is a call to all journalists out there and the rest of us, really. A thread.
The first reason is that it's a label about a religious minority the majority considers strange, weird, or funny. But what religion does not have anything strange, weird, or funny?
If you doubt this, just look at the rituals, incantations, and fashion prescribed in your church.
Think about this. Someone once said that a religion is a cult that has become acceptable. (3/11)
Second, is it a cult because of sexual abuses? Well, guess what. Every religion is guilty of committing (and protecting) sexual abuses among its ranks.
If within a minority, we call them cultic practices. But if within a big church, they're 'cases of religious abuse.' (4/11)
Third. 'cult' as a label stereotypes all its members as brainwashed or, worse, stupid people. This is wrong.
People have different motivations for being part of a religious group. (5/11)
Sometimes it's about acceptance. Sometimes it's about getting a sense of security in an uncertain world. This is why apocalyptic messages can be, paradoxically, reassuring. (6/11)
Finally, the main reason I'm bringing all of this up is that referring to Socorro or anything like them as a cult leads all of us to misunderstand the issue at stake here accountability within religious groups. (7/11)
People like Senior Aguila (or Quiboloy) could get away with their crimes because they're not accountable to anyone.
It's about the pervasive belief that they're divine. But it's also about the fear among members that disobeying their leaders is ultimately disobeying God. (8/11)
But note that this is not unique to 'cults'. This is a problem we see even among mainstream religious groups such as the Catholic Church and megachurches. (9/11)
Beyond Socorro, many priests and pastors are guilty of sexual abuses and continue to hide behind their holy vestments.
But to whom are they really accountable if they're so powerful and deeply revered in their communities? (10/11)
Thus the problem is not that a religious group is a 'cult' and others are not. This label is misleading.
The sexual abuses and other forms of religious violence now being revealed about Socorro are ultimately the tragedy of religious groups where accountability is weak. (11/11 end)
---COMMENTS and REPLIES---
@...oyo: When would you use the word 'cult'
Jayeel Cornelio: I don't use it at all.
Elon Moks: So anong gagamitin mo? Sindikato?
Jayeel Cornelio: Religious group. Or new religious movement.
Elon Moks: Ha? Mga na child marriage, narape, mga asawang pinakasal sa iba, child labor, mass evacuations, mass resignations ng govt. employees?
Hindi to coop sir
Elon Moks (again):
Tong batang to 3am pa lang gising na para magtrabaho para sa kulto, pinahawak ng armas, di pinag aral ng kulto, araw araw sinasambit ang mysteries and miracles ni Senior Agila, buong araw utak sundalo 12 years old tapos i-invalidate mo dito dahil gusto mo ng technicality?
Jayeel Cornelio:
In fact you agree with me. My thread points to exactly all of that. See concluding bits.
Elon Moks:
Ang una mong claim ay kung gagamitin ba ang cult or not. So ano nga gagamitin? New religious movement para saan? Para kapantay lang sila ng ibang org?
Jayeel Cornelio:
Hindi yan para lang maging pantay silang lahat. The issue is that abuses are to be expected in religious spaces where accountability is weak. One doesn't have to be a 'cult' for these abuses to exist. They happen in Socorro but they also happen in megachurches.
Elon Moks:
Kaya tinawag na kulto yung SBSI kasi nga yung mga practice THEY DON'T HAPPEN IN MEGACHURCHES. That's the line in the sand. Yan yung punto ng hearing. Naka latag yan sa opening pa lang ng hearing
@...rnie:
Pasingit, ang gulo Jayeel. Bakit di sila tatawaging kulto eh exactly the connotations tied to the term ang indicator para habulin sila ng batas. Also, sabi mo kay Moks tawaging religious group eh kakasabi mo lang sa tweet na religious groups are cults that are accepted.
Jayeel Cornelio:
"Think about this. Someone once said that a religion is a cult that has become acceptable. (3/11)"