advancedatheist comments on Cult impressions of Less Wrong/Singularity Institute - Less Wrong
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Here's what an outsider might see:
"doomsday beliefs" (something "bad" may happen eschatologically, and we must work to prevent this): check
a gospel (The Sequences): check
vigorous assertions of untestable claims (Everett interpretation): check
a charismatic leader extracting a living from his followers: check
is sometimes called a cult: check
This is enough to make up a lot of minds, regardless of any additional distinctions you may want to make, sadly.
I recently read an article about Keith Raniere, the founder of a cult called NXIVM (pronounced "nexium"):
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Secrets-of-NXIVM-2880885.php
Raniere reminds me of Yudkowsky, especially after reading cult expert Rick Ross's assessment of Raniere: