Critical Conversations 2.4.22 – Authority Figures
This week we discussed the “appeal to authority” fallacy and gave some tips and advice on how to spot a real expert and avoid falling… Read More »Critical Conversations 2.4.22 – Authority Figures
academia
Why “Cult” is a Controversial Term
‘Cult’ is considered a nasty word in some circles. In this short clip, I talk about why I use the term ‘cult’ to talk about high control, authoritarian groups despite the controversy of the term and the academic justification for doing so. Enjoy!
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Why J. Gordon Melton is a Bad Academic
In my breakdown of the academic book “Scientology,” I take on academics in the religious studies world who have defended or written “apologetics” for Scientology. J. Gordon Melton out of Santa Barbara is one of the very worst of these lazy academics who just act as mouthpieces for Scientology. Melton in particular has carried Scientology’s water for years, so I give him a well-deserved ribbing here. Enjoy!
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How Academics Get Scientology So Wrong
Scientology has commissioned academics in sociology and religious studies to offer explanations and rationalizations for Scientology’s practices and have used their writings as defense in court for Scientology’s abuses. In this introduction to my critiques of such papers, I describe some of the basic reasons so many academics have gotten it wrong on Scientology. Enjoy!
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