I have learned about so many new wackadoodle groups here that I thought it time to ask which is the nuttiest. Nominate a group and give a case for them. By group I mean anything with at least a thousand followers, a basic set of beliefs (even if there is a lot of variation), and a name. This could be a religion, a particular type of woo, or a political party. The Westboro Baptist Church would not count, for example, since they are too small. Otherwise that would be a great example.
People believe a lot of stupid things. We are looking for the group that the question, “How could they be THAT stupid?” best applies to.
I have three starter nominations. First, in the category of woo, Believers in Indigo Children. Taking kids that are either terribly disciplined, have a mental illness, or both and deciding that means that they are the next step in human evolution to spiritual beings is pretty damn stupid. Points off for belief coming from desperation of parents with difficult children and lack of a good name (believers in… doesn’t really cut it). Bonus points for self righteousness in deciding that they have birthed superbeings.
Second, in the category of politics, the Sovereign Citizens. This is a good one as everyone has access to the same source material that these guys do. There is no revealed word or spiritual element; it is all just reference to the same laws we reference. It is just that they do it in the most idiotic manner with blinders to absolutely anything that does not agree with how they wan to interpret things. Bonus points for it making them act in really stupid ways, often in public. Points off for it being responsible for several deaths. That is no fun.
Third, in the category of religion, Scientologists. Seriously, this is a solid contender for the overall winner. A religion that only became a religion to avoid taxes that was started by a Science Fiction writer quoted as saying that starting a religion would be the way to make real money. As part of the religion they force you to reveal so much personal information that they could blackmail you if you ever cause trouble. They grab as much cash from their members as is possible. They raid government offices to help in their tax evasion. They have, quite possibly, the stupidest mythology of any religion, and that includes the Greek gods. Bonus points for using E-meters, basically an electric mood ring, as a religious artifact. Also, just about everything else about the group.
So, what do you think? Is one of these the worst offender? Do you have other nominations. Best would be ones we have not yet heard of.
