01 video - Cult Recruitment Attempt Number Two

[selfgodded]

[The feed flickers on to reveal a masked individual, their gender completely ambiguous]

Hello, Residents of Hinoto-Ri. I have been told that my earlier invitation to my cult was done rather poorly. I am not very experienced in recruiting in such ways, so please, forgive me for my clumsy blunders. I must have come across as suspicious, as many of you have said, and that was not my intent.

My intent is entirely pure.

But I am to explain it, yes? That was the criticism...

Humanity is something I have always admired. No matter how harsh the world becomes, no matter how dark and destructive your lives becomes, you struggle and fight against all the circumstances, to try and achieve - many things! You have dreams, ambitions, goals and needs, sometimes born of selfishness, sometimes born of altruism, and sometimes because you have nothing else, and the only direction you can go is up, or down, or sideways.

No matter the decisions humans make, be they for ill or good, the sheer depths of those emotions that rule your every movement are something...extremely fascinating. No, perhaps not emotions...your ingenuity, your intelligence and perseverance...

Humans never give up, even when it is clear they will lose.

This is the basis of my cult. To know and understand that success is there for those who will continuously struggle for it. To know that your decisions and consequences are accepted and encouraged - I would think that all humans would follow these rules, but I have learned that only a small portion of my world espouse these views. Many humans, in direct contrast, become meek and complacent, allowing the flows of time to push them to wherever the current goes, utterly apathetic to their own wants and needs.

That is also fine.

Choice is important. Humans can choose to struggle, humans can choose to give up - although it is better if they push and struggle, until they break.

My apologies. I must sound so contradictory in my words. In conclusion, my cult is for the celebration of the human condition. You are a wild, passionate species, that can destroy Gods and create worlds, coming in all ranges of personalities and ambitions. There is no 'evil', there is no 'good'. There is only humanity. And that is something to worship.

Those are my opinions. I have explained myself well now, yes? If there is further criticism on my conduct, please state it. I wish to spread this love for the human condition, even to those who loathe the darkness within, so developing better ways of 'advertising' it would be wonderful!

Please, think on it...

[The feed cuts off]

Comments

[Video]

[universebeware]

Maybe if you just flat out say "come get your ego stroked simply for being human while doing the same to others", that would possibly blind prospective members to the whole 'cult' term given its rather iffy connotations.

[Video]

[selfgodded]

Yes, I have been told that 'cult' is viewed rather negatively here. Perhaps I should take your suggestion to heart. Humans are very selfish, so appealing to their self-centred natures would bring in more worshippers...

...mmn, but then I feel like I am tricking them, and that is not my intent...

[Video]

[universebeware]

Maybe 'movement' might be a better word choice. I dunno. I never really was the religious type.

[Video]

[selfgodded]

Movement? The Humanity Movement. Ohhh...

[Anant presses their hands against their mask, bouncing a little]

Oh, I like that! Wonderful! Humanity Movement! Constantly shifting and ebbing like the movements of a river, or the torrential rain of the West...

Voice

[darkbaptist]

One needs more to worship than just mere humanity.

Voice

[selfgodded]

Religion? God? Luck? Superstitions?

Anything can be worshipped, if the human mind gives it enough power to. I recall a human who had a stone that they 'worshipped' in a way, because they believed it gave them luck. I do not know if it did, but the fact remains.

It is your belief that one must worship something more than humanity. Another human will have a differing opinion. Do you have to worship solely humanity to join my family? No. You may worship whatever else you wish.

I am rambling, aren't I? My apologies. Please. Tell me what else you would worship? I recall seeing you on this network. Your cooking analogy was rather intriguing.

Re: Voice

[darkbaptist]

Stillness.

Man must learn to give up his emotions and desires. In this way, and this way alone, can man achieve its full potential. There will be no difference of opinion of belief, or creed, or desire. Man shall desire nothing for all there already is is what man does desire. All shall be one, and brother shall be brother as much as man shall be the earth itself. Always functioning. Always agreeing. No conflict. No war. No strife.

Just stillness. Just oneness. The perfect harmony.

[voice]

[forceofnature]

You sound like a self-help guide mixed with a splash of New Age hippy-dippy transcendentalism.

This is exactly the sort of philosophy that leads to the destruction of the world. They need to take responsibility for their actions, not do whatever they feel like doing just because.

[voice]

[selfgodded]

Of course, consequences are a thing. I am not so foolish as to ignore their existence. Humans have to understand that although their potential allows them to achieve miraculous things, they must also accept any and whatever consequences fall upon them as a result. An action causes a reaction.

That said, I do not wish to hinder them in any way. They can take responsibility, or not. They are interesting no matter what they do.

[forceofnature]

But then you're not doing anything. You just offer humans self-affirmation that nothing they do is wrong because they're Special. What's the point of being a deity if not to safeguard the earth and lead its people on the right path?

[anonymous text]

[demifemme]

*It takes time for Shura to type properly, but if she doesn't want to be recognized, she better.*

I think you're kinda all right now.

[selfgodded]

thank you mysterious writer. i am happy that my words have soothed whatever concerns my last clumsy invitation caused.

:)

[demifemme]

Well I'm still not going to join your cult.

Truth be told, I don't really like humanity anymore.

I mean some people are all right, but as a whole it's not great.

But I think what you believe in is all right because you don't try to take away people's free will.

video

[nyxterious]

[Well... the last time he saw a cult, it turned out to get pretty rough, and bring out the negativity in people. Which... ultimately lead to most of the problems of his world.

Though, at least he can agree with this person.]

I've witnessed firsthand the way humans never give up. Even in the face of danger, with no hope of winning... they came out victorious.

[And he's very happy, that he was able to see his friends prosper like that. It was something he wasn't expecting, but they showed him that it was possible to stand up to something that strong.]

It truly is wonderful, isn't it? They managed to overcome the impossible, despite their hardships. I've never been happier in my life, to see them achieve what they did.

video

[selfgodded]

Yes! You understand what I mean! Humanity's greatest asset is their ability to create miracles!

Of course, Gods can create miracles, but that is because they are Gods. It takes an admirable creature, a creature as powerless as humans, to achieve such things when the odds are against them.

video

[nyxterious]

I do. I was even lucky enough to witness a miracle, as well.

Mm... they truly are wonderful, aren't they?

[Video]

[getoutclaus]

The way you talk makes me want to kick your teeth down your throat, man.

I like what you're saying, though, even if I'm not on board with the idea that there isn't any evil in the world, know what I mean? 'Cause if there isn't any evil then...

[A dramatic beat.......!]

Who the hell do the super heroes keep beating up in the comics?!

[Video]

[selfgodded]

Still problems with the way I speak...

[Anant murmurs this to themselves. Perhaps they should adopt an...accent? Slang...?]

But to answer, heroes beat up villains. But villains are not necessarily evil. Just as Heroes are not necessarily good.

[Video]

[getoutclaus]

It's the amount you were speaking, man, don't worry about it.

[Someone from Zero Escape telling someone they speak too much. The irony is palpable.]

Anyway, it's a pretty out there thing to say that evil doesn't exist, just like it's a pretty out there thing to say that good doesn't exist. There are plenty of people out there who are good, right?

[He asks, even though he assumes Anant disagrees]

Or do you think boy scouts just help old ladies cross the street because it's hard wired into their brain cells that they're supposed to?

[Audio]

[bondsofsuffering]

...You have a pretty high opinion of humans.

[Audio]

[selfgodded]

I hold nothing higher than humanity. They are a miraculous species, and I enjoy watching their growth, no matter where it leads them, be it destruction or salvation.

[Audio]

[bondsofsuffering]

But if they turn out to destroy themselves, what left will there be to watch?

[VIDEO]

[misery_hates_company]

You're nothing if not persistent, I suppose.

[VIDEO]

[selfgodded]

Persistence is a good trait to possess. Thank you!

[Flowers and sparkles - oy vey]

[VIDEO]

[misery_hates_company]

Persistence in the face of futility, even! Perhaps you're more human than you think you are.