>Let's clear the definitions first.
>cult n, often attrib [F & L; F culte, fr. L cultus care,
>adoration, fr. colere to cultivate--more at wheel] (1617)
>2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also: its body of
>adherents
>(Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition)
>I am referring to definition number 2: a system of religious
>beliefs and ritual, its body of adherents.
>A system (the ExI) of religous beliefs
>re.li.gious adj [ME, fr. OF religieus, fr. L religiosus, fr.
>religio] (13c)1: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion
>to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity <a ~ person> <~
>attitudes> 2:of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs
>or observances 3 a: scrupulously and conscientiously faithful b:
>fervent,zealous -- re.li.gious.ly adv --
>re.li.gious.ness n
>belief n [ME beleave, prob. alter. of OE geleafa, fr. ge-,
>associative prefix + leafa; akin to OE lyfan] (12c) 1: a
>state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in
>some person or thing 2: something believed; esp: a tenet
>or body of tenets held by a group 3: conviction of the truth of
>some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon esp.
>when based on examination of evidence
>the religous belief in a free will and individual freedom
>the religous belief in extropy which is considered as an ultimate
>reality
>the belief in the solution of today's problems through the use of
>superior technology
As Dan Fabulich <daniel.fabulich@yale.edu> and others have pointed
out there is no faith in extropianism, and by definition, no faith,
no religious beliefs, and by your selected definition #2 of "cult",
no religious beliefs, no "Cult".
>and ritual,
>ritual n (1649) 1: the established form for a ceremony; specif:
>the order of words prescribed for a religious ceremony
>2 a: ritual observance; specif: a system of rites b: a ceremonial
>act or action c: a customarily repeated often formal act
>or series of acts
>Although it is not obvious, the regular meetings of Extropians
>could be considered a ritual.
Under 2c possibly (formal?), but this makes us neither a religion
nor a cult.
I don't have a personal problem with a rational examination of the
basics, but it is again'st list rules, and by charter Max More is
the final arbitrator.
If he decides it is permitted, I suggest the meta [ANTI-BASICS]
Brian
Member,Extropy cult .....er..... I mean Institute ;)