I keep reading the same "you're cultists, duudes!" accusations over and over again, and I have had enough, so instead of working on my long overdue mythology thread, I'm doing this instead. C'est la vie...

Are we a cult? Well, let's find out!

To answer the question I will comment briefly on the characteristics associated with cults according to the website linked below.

1. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

We're open to questioning and dissent as long... http://cultresearch.org/help/characteristics-associated-with-cults/

... as it's grounded on sound logical arguments. The orcs we usually deal with, however, have no arguments, they just want to waste our time and energy.

Do they get punished? We don't have any power to punish anyone, unless you consider blocking a punishment.

2. Mind-altering practices are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

We don't encourage any such practices and in fact we vehemently oppose some of them, such as e.g. use of drugs.

3. The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel.

We have no proper leadership, we stand for leaderless resistance. Each individual should be able to take care of himself or herself.

4. The leader is not accountable to any authorities.

Reputation is solely based on the quality/consistency of contributions. The reputable contributors engage in discussions in the same level as everybody else, there's no dictators, no impositions, only logical argumentation...

If anything, prominent/leading figures bear greater responsibility, they're more accountable to the authority of the logos!

5. The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members participating in...

... behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group.

That applies only if you consider reprehensible or unethical to cut on the consumption of poison, to grow a permaculture garden and to connect to Nature and to your roots.

6. The leadership induces feelings of shame/guilt in order to influence/control members. Often this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

Again, we don't have leaders in that sense. And we have no interest in shaming anyone...

... If they insist on shaming themselves, however, there's little we can do.

7. Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

We abhor subservience and subservient types.

In a cult people are encouraged to cut ties and alter their goals in order to accept ideas; we merely present ideas, if people decide it's in their best interest to cut any ties or alter their lives because of these ideas, ...

... it's completely up to them.

8. The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

We're not. We don't even have any form of membership and we're often alienating potential "members".

9. The group is preoccupied with making money.

We don't want to have anything to do with money.

10. Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

Again, people are free to come and go as they please. If they want to...

... contribute comments and threads often or if they want to drop by once a year, it's entirely up to them. We stand for a free, undomesticated ideal, you should work only for yourself!

11. Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members

We encouraged people to start their own families/tribes/groups independently. Is family a "cult", too?

12. The most loyal members feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or...

... others if they leave the group.

There's no life within the group! We're all living our lives independently, in the outside. We're only sharing ideas, knowledge and experiences here. Nobody is being forced to stay, nobody really cares if anyone leaves.

13. The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and its members (e.g., the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

We're elitists, alright. But your value isn't being determined by anyone here, it should be measured only against the accumulated honour of your ancestors. We're just trying to help people REMEMBER that measure.

14. The group has a polarized, us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

We have had a very polarized them-versus-us mentality since Christians took over. Pagans have been suppressed and persecuted for centuries, we need to fight back.

15. The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader, and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

The "leader" would be Varg. Look at the overgrown path he has walked up to this...

... point. His belief system and ideology developed a lot BECAUSE he remained committed to the truth. He and Marie are offering insights into the truth, helping us find OUR OWN PATH towards it.

So, in conclusion: There's no cult, no evil agenda, no hidden intentions. Our efforts are as pure and honest as the heart of a hobbit.

Thanks for reading.