So Many Cults, So Little Time

Doug and I are no strangers to borderline-cultish behaviors.

Back in the day (and I'm talking THE day, circa 1970 and following), we were bona fide Jesus Freaks. We were a bit too young (17) to have been full-blown hippies before we became Jesus Freaks, but God fixed all of that. If you weren't a hippie when you joined our rockin' church, you became one in short order.

There were about 1500 kids at the Ministries of Agape in Kansas City, and if you were really committed, you joined with the several hundred who lived "in community" in a certain apartment complex on the south side of town. (This was after the commune called "House of Agape" closed its doors due to all the young people who crashed there eventually pairing off, getting married, and deciding what they really needed was...well, closed doors.)

We couldn't wait to get back from our honeymoon so we could take up residence in our little corner of the community. We found out too late to save our bottom line that another way the group proved its ongoing coolness as well as its astute discernment in collectively hearing the Voice of God was for every household to purchase a Volvo. I happened to have an inheritance from my grandparents, a significant portion of which went to plunk down the cash to make sure we kept up with the Joneses.

Not the Jim Joneses, you nutty people, you. Just the plain old Jesus Freak Joneses.

Were we members of a cult? I don't think so, but lately the old feelings of needing to fit in in order to feel worthy have been creeping back into our lives. We're drinking more Kool-Aid than we used to, and serving it to our friends and family. Frankly, a deja-vu feeling is haunting us, and it all started with the Grand Opening Of The Apple Store On The Plaza In Kansas City.

The opening itself we might have gotten past without being pulled in to the religious fervor of it all, even though the line of espresso-sipping, iPod-listening, scarf-knitting young urban Christians stretched several blocks long. We distinguished ourselves that day, though, among our believing peers, by purchasing not one but two new computers--an iMac G5 for Doug and an iBook G4 for me.

Our son Scott and his new wife Brooke embraced us more passionately and joyfully than they had on their wedding day, welcoming us into the fold. Their pastor, Tim Keel, eyed us with new, well-founded admiration as we whipped out a debit card and laid claim to our status as true Mac-carrying members of the Apple Cult To End All Cults. What a rush!

Since then, we've discovered that the Sabbath--for Mac users blessed enough to live within driving distance of an Apple Store--is Saturday. That's the day the faithful make their way, as if on pilgrimage, to the Plaza. Some come bearing faulty iPods, and others wear their plastic bag backpacks filled with return goods. Still others tote large white boxes stamped with grey, bitten apples, reminding us that no matter how perfect the cult, folly still reigns supreme in the world.

Those truly blessed among us are privileged, when our Macs require the attention of a professional at the Apple Genius Bar, to meet with Brandon Edling. Brandon really is one of the best reasons to visit the Store, unless you just enjoy wandering around with other starry-eyed followers, drooling over enormous monitors and darling iPod speakers. Brandon is brilliant, patient, and determined to serve the devoted with good humor and astonishing skill. (Thanks, Brandon!)

If you're hankering for a good, old-fashioned cultish behavior, I can't recommend Macs and the Apple Store highly enough.

I promise, you'll feel just like a kid again.

Posted by Katy on 02/01/05 at 02:44 PM

Fallible Comments...

Mmm....appley....

(posting from a Powerbook G4 here)
-----
Posted by Bethany on 02/01/05 at 10:01 PM
What! What? Whadya mean, an Apple Cult? Not me, no not me! I swore off cults, really I did....

(posted from a G4 powerbook, while listening to some tunes streamed over the wireless to my stereo...)
Posted by Chris(tine) on 02/02/05 at 12:49 AM
Well, I do use an iMac, but I've never set foot in a store. I ordered it over the internet. You don't suppose they have an internet branch of the cult, too, do you?

I suppose it's called E-cult, and it's all part of the emergent Apple cult....
Posted by rebecca on 02/02/05 at 03:16 AM
Hey, cults are way underrated. If you can get into a grace-filled, Christ-centered cult with no authoritarian baggage, I say go for it!

I'm <A href="http://atlantasaints.com" rel="nofollow"> part of one </a>...I wouldn't trade my community for anything. : )
Posted by Mike Morrell on 02/02/05 at 08:39 AM
The HUMAN PARADIGM - Intro

Consider:

The way we define 'human' determines our view of self,

others, relationships, institutions, life, and future.

Important? Only the Creator who made us in His own image

is qualified to define us accurately. Choose wisely...

there are results.

Many problems in human experience are the result of false

and inaccurate definitions of humankind premised in man-

made religions and humanistic philosophies.

Human knowledge is a fraction of the whole universe. The

balance is a vast void of human ignorance. Human reason

cannot fully function in such a void, thus, the intellect

can rise no higher than the criteria by which it perceives

and measures values.

Humanism makes man his own standard of measure. However,

as with all measuring systems, a standard must be greater

than the value measured. Based on preponderant ignorance

and an egocentric carnal nature, humanism demotes reason

to the simpleton task of excuse-making in behalf of the

rule of appetites, desires, feelings, emotions, and glands.

Because man, hobbled in an ego-centric predicament, cannot

invent criteria greater than himself, the humanist lacks

a predictive capability. Without instinct or transcendent

criteria, humanism cannot evaluate options with foresight

and vision for progression and survival. Lacking foresight,

man is blind to potential consequence and is unwittingly

committed to mediocrity, averages, and regression - and

worse. Humanism is an unworthy worship.

The void of human ignorance can easily be filled with a

functional faith while not-so-patiently awaiting the foot-

dragging growth of human knowledge and behavior. Faith,

initiated by the Creator and revealed and validated in His

Word, the Bible, brings a transcendent standard to man the

choice-maker. Other philosophies and religions are man-

made, humanism, and thereby lack what only the Bible has:

1.Transcendent Criteria and

2.Fulfilled Prophetic Validation.

The vision of faith in God and His Word is survival equip-

ment for today and the future.

Man is earth's Choicemaker. Psalm 25:12 He is by nature

and nature's God a creature of Choice - and of Criteria.

Psalm 119:30,173 His unique and definitive characteristic

is, and of Right ought to be, the natural foundation of

his environments, institutions, and respectful relations

to his fellow-man. Thus, he is oriented to a Freedom

whose roots are in the Order of the universe.

See the complete article at Homesite:

"Human Defined: Earth's Choicemaker"

http://www.choicemaker.net/
Posted by Jim Baxter on 02/02/05 at 05:17 PM
Tim Keel was just relaying to me a conversation that he and Deanne had about the "Mac Cult." His fateful line was as follows...

"I sure hope that we're bringing as many people to Jesus as we are to Macs."

LOL!
Posted by timsamoff on 02/02/05 at 06:57 PM
Hiya,

I was recently in the market for a new computer. I was so close to getting a G5 but alas I am timid and the familiarity of a pc was overpowering...So weak am I.
Posted by Danielking on 02/02/05 at 11:33 PM
Hi,
I received a rebate from an item i purchased on black friday, but instead of a check, i recieved a debit mastercard for 60 dollars.I would like to redeem it for cash instead of having the card.One way i know i can do is buy something with the card and return it for cash.Is there an easier way to redeem the cash? like go to the bank and get a cash advance from it?
Posted by Marketing on 09/14/10 at 02:00 AM
Many problems in human experience are the result of false

and inaccurate definitions of humankind premised in man-

made religions and humanistic philosophies.
Posted by jewelrytendency on 09/20/10 at 01:39 AM
Love your perspectives. I too remember the 70's and House of Agape. I lived there for awhile in 72. I still remember the joy that seemed to follow me everywhere back then. It was nice to remember....Keep up the good stories...
Posted by Geoff on 08/25/11 at 09:05 PM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	So Many Cults, So Little Time Doug and I are no strangers to borderline-cultish behaviors. Back in the day (and I'm talking THE day, circa 1970 and following), we were bona fide Jesus Freaks. We were a bit too young (17) to have been full-blown hippies before we became Jesus Freaks, but God fixed all of that. If you weren't a hippie when you joined our rockin' church, you became one in short order. There were about 1500 kids at the Ministries of Agape in Kansas City, and if you were really committed, you joined with the several hundred who lived "in community" in a certain apartment complex on the south side of town. (This was after the commune called "House of Agape" closed its doors due to all the young people who crashed there eventually pairing off, getting married, and deciding what they really needed was...well, closed doors.) We couldn't wait to get back from our honeymoon so we could take up residence in our little corner of the community. We found out too late to save our bottom line that another way the group proved its ongoing coolness as well as its astute discernment in collectively hearing the Voice of God was for every household to purchase a Volvo. I happened to have an inheritance from my grandparents, a significant portion of which went to plunk down the cash to make sure we kept up with the Joneses. Not the Jim Joneses, you nutty people, you. Just the plain old Jesus Freak Joneses. Were we members of a cult? I don't think so, but lately the old feelings of needing to fit in in order to feel worthy have been creeping back into our lives. We're drinking more Kool-Aid than we used to, and serving it to our friends and family. Frankly, a deja-vu feeling is haunting us, and it all started with the Grand Opening Of The Apple Store On The Plaza In Kansas City. The opening itself we might have gotten past without being pulled in to the religious fervor of it all, even though the line of espresso-sipping, iPod-listening, scarf-knitting young urban Christians stretched several blocks long. We distinguished ourselves that day, though, among our believing peers, by purchasing not one but two new computers--an iMac G5 for Doug and an iBook G4 for me. Our son Scott and his new wife Brooke embraced us more passionately and joyfully than they had on their wedding day, welcoming us into the fold. Their pastor, Tim Keel, eyed us with new, well-founded admiration as we whipped out a debit card and laid claim to our status as true Mac-carrying members of the Apple Cult To End All Cults. What a rush! Since then, we've discovered that the Sabbath--for Mac users blessed enough to live within driving distance of an Apple Store--is Saturday. That's the day the faithful make their way, as if on pilgrimage, to the Plaza. Some come bearing faulty iPods, and others wear their plastic bag backpacks filled with return goods. Still others tote large white boxes stamped with grey, bitten apples, reminding us that no matter how perfect the cult, folly still reigns supreme in the world. Those truly blessed among us are privileged, when our Macs require the attention of a professional at the Apple Genius Bar, to meet with Brandon Edling. Brandon really is one of the best reasons to visit the Store, unless you just enjoy wandering around with other starry-eyed followers, drooling over enormous monitors and darling iPod speakers. Brandon is brilliant, patient, and determined to serve the devoted with good humor and astonishing skill. (Thanks, Brandon!) If you're hankering for a good, old-fashioned cultish behavior, I can't recommend Macs and the Apple Store highly enough. I promise, you'll feel just like a kid again. Posted by Katy on 02/01/05 at 02:44 PM Fallible Comments... Mmm....appley.... (posting from a Powerbook G4 here) ----- Posted by Bethany on 02/01/05 at 10:01 PM What! What? Whadya mean, an Apple Cult? Not me, no not me! I swore off cults, really I did.... (posted from a G4 powerbook, while listening to some tunes streamed over the wireless to my stereo...) Posted by Chris(tine) on 02/02/05 at 12:49 AM Well, I do use an iMac, but I've never set foot in a store. I ordered it over the internet. You don't suppose they have an internet branch of the cult, too, do you? I suppose it's called E-cult, and it's all part of the emergent Apple cult.... Posted by rebecca on 02/02/05 at 03:16 AM Hey, cults are way underrated. If you can get into a grace-filled, Christ-centered cult with no authoritarian baggage, I say go for it! I'm <A href="http://atlantasaints.com" rel="nofollow"> part of one </a>...I wouldn't trade my community for anything. : ) Posted by Mike Morrell on 02/02/05 at 08:39 AM The HUMAN PARADIGM - Intro Consider: The way we define 'human' determines our view of self, others, relationships, institutions, life, and future. Important? Only the Creator who made us in His own image is qualified to define us accurately. Choose wisely... there are results. Many problems in human experience are the result of false and inaccurate definitions of humankind premised in man- made religions and humanistic philosophies. Human knowledge is a fraction of the whole universe. The balance is a vast void of human ignorance. Human reason cannot fully function in such a void, thus, the intellect can rise no higher than the criteria by which it perceives and measures values. Humanism makes man his own standard of measure. However, as with all measuring systems, a standard must be greater than the value measured. Based on preponderant ignorance and an egocentric carnal nature, humanism demotes reason to the simpleton task of excuse-making in behalf of the rule of appetites, desires, feelings, emotions, and glands. Because man, hobbled in an ego-centric predicament, cannot invent criteria greater than himself, the humanist lacks a predictive capability. Without instinct or transcendent criteria, humanism cannot evaluate options with foresight and vision for progression and survival. Lacking foresight, man is blind to potential consequence and is unwittingly committed to mediocrity, averages, and regression - and worse. Humanism is an unworthy worship. The void of human ignorance can easily be filled with a functional faith while not-so-patiently awaiting the foot- dragging growth of human knowledge and behavior. Faith, initiated by the Creator and revealed and validated in His Word, the Bible, brings a transcendent standard to man the choice-maker. Other philosophies and religions are man- made, humanism, and thereby lack what only the Bible has: 1.Transcendent Criteria and 2.Fulfilled Prophetic Validation. The vision of faith in God and His Word is survival equip- ment for today and the future. Man is earth's Choicemaker. Psalm 25:12 He is by nature and nature's God a creature of Choice - and of Criteria. Psalm 119:30,173 His unique and definitive characteristic is, and of Right ought to be, the natural foundation of his environments, institutions, and respectful relations to his fellow-man. Thus, he is oriented to a Freedom whose roots are in the Order of the universe. See the complete article at Homesite: "Human Defined: Earth's Choicemaker" http://www.choicemaker.net/ Posted by Jim Baxter on 02/02/05 at 05:17 PM Tim Keel was just relaying to me a conversation that he and Deanne had about the "Mac Cult." His fateful line was as follows... "I sure hope that we're bringing as many people to Jesus as we are to Macs." LOL! Posted by timsamoff on 02/02/05 at 06:57 PM Hiya, I was recently in the market for a new computer. I was so close to getting a G5 but alas I am timid and the familiarity of a pc was overpowering...So weak am I. Posted by Danielking on 02/02/05 at 11:33 PM Hi, I received a rebate from an item i purchased on black friday, but instead of a check, i recieved a debit mastercard for 60 dollars.I would like to redeem it for cash instead of having the card.One way i know i can do is buy something with the card and return it for cash.Is there an easier way to redeem the cash? like go to the bank and get a cash advance from it? Posted by Marketing on 09/14/10 at 02:00 AM Many problems in human experience are the result of false and inaccurate definitions of humankind premised in man- made religions and humanistic philosophies. Posted by jewelrytendency on 09/20/10 at 01:39 AM Love your perspectives. I too remember the 70's and House of Agape. I lived there for awhile in 72. I still remember the joy that seemed to follow me everywhere back then. It was nice to remember....Keep up the good stories... Posted by Geoff on 08/25/11 at 09:05 PM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: Everything's Up To Date In Kansas City? Previous entry: Well, Then. She's Certainly Not A Homophobe << Back to main


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So Many Cults, So Little Time

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri