I too will be afk for a few days, so there won't be much action from me round there parts. But I've recently rediscovered Eric Hoffer's brilliant analysis of mass movements titled The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements after a 4 years of neglect (first year sociology, forgot about it since) and will leave two quotes to consider while I'm away.

It's a shame that I sold it at a textbook exchange at the end of first year. I'll have to find another copy at one of the local used bookstores like BMV Books, described as a new Mecca for bibliophiles in Toronto. Or there's always the trusty local Book City for a pristine new copy.

Anyways, here are two quotes that I've liked since I first read them. The first resonates with my thoughts and experiences of religious groups and practices. The second pretty much describes proponents of intelligent design to the letter.

An effective mass movement cultivates the idea of sin. It depicts the autonomous self not only as barren and helpless but also as vile. To confess and repent is to slough off one's individual distinctness and separateness, and salvation is found by losing oneself in the holy oneness of the congregation.

The creed whose legitimacy is most easily challenged is likely to develop the strongest proselytizing impulse. It is doubtful whether a movement which does not profess some preposterous and patently irrational dogma can be possessed of that zealous drive which 'must either win men or destroy the world.' It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction between profession and practice - that is to say with a strong feeling of guilt - are likely to be the most fervent in imposing their faith on others.