Is DARC a CULT?

 (Sparked by musings perhaps spawned by a lack of coffee this morning. Kind of low ball humour?)

 

https://image1.slideserve.com/3053574/warning-signs-checklist-of-cult-characteristics-l.jpg

So - here is the thing

Is the Dark Ages Re-creation Company a CULT?

So maybe a bit far fetched.
Or is it??

    Those with drastically long memories may remember organizations like ‘The Campus Crusade for Christ’ (A) and ‘the Moonies’ who were quite active (and problematic), particularly on university and college campuses, back in the 1970’s. There were pamphlets widely circled among students, warning of ‘The 10 Danger Signs of a Cult’. (B)
    Newly involved with the Society for Creative Anachronism in the mid to later years of that decade, one of the standard in group jokes at the time was that 'the SCA had nine of the ten danger signs' : 

1) ‘The group has a charismatic and all powerful leader’.
    The SCA failing right off the top of the list!. The SCA had a regional leader (a King), who a) often was not at all charismatic (won this via a martial tournament), b) had only as much real ‘power’ as anyone would grant them freely (and often did not, see point (a), and c) was subject to mandatory retirement from office every six months for an entirely new individual. 

Other points I could remember / imagine (I have not been able to find the original list from back when) :

2) You will be expected to assume an alternate identity, including special modes of dress.
    The SCA expected you to assume a (somewhat ?) historic based ‘personna’ / character, often with a self fulfilling fantasy element. This character is expected to be presented, often to extreme detail, as historic individuals.

3) You will take on a new name, used only within the group
    See above. (One of the standards of having a close friend was that you actually knew their ‘mundane’ / legal name.)
 

4) You will spend increasing time in activities and events for which no one other than group members are allowed
    SCA events were freely open to others, but only in so much that ‘An attempt at ‘garb’ / clothing is worn which resembles that from 500 - 1650 AD’.  (So, at least mimicking, if not outright joining into the group.)
 

5) You will be expected to use a unique language, known only to other group members.
    See examples above, add as many other examples as you would like here…
 

6) Increasingly, you will become more an more isolated from past friends and family, interacting with group members will dominate your social activities.
    Common were weekly meetings, separate weekly combat practice (itself a specialized activity), several potential day long special gatherings every month, often related craft activity nights, major multi day ‘camping events yearly, long post event parties. All of which were pretty much confined to group participants only (or those on the edges of recruitment). It was very typical for members of the SCA to meet and establish intimate partnerships with other group members.
 

7)  Promises of advancement or special standing for following the dictates of the Cult.
    Well, honours are awarded inside the SCA for activities undertaken inside of, or for the support of, the group activities. Often those recognitions were clearly more important to the individuals who held them than any achievements outside the group itself. Decision making powers and special status, often granted (even expected) as well.
 

8) You will be expected to strongly promote the Cult, and engage in active recruiting of new members.
    For the SCA, maybe not really expected, but certainly most members do actively attempt to encourage others to become involved. There are commonly smaller specialized associations created, which can have another layer of members only activities.
 

9) Activities within the Cult will be kept hidden and details kept secret.
    Honestly, this presents another major failing of the SCA as a potential Cult. Try to stop anyone involved from going on at amazing lengths about personal research, object making activities, who did what, where, and when. To be fair, there was a point in the early days when those involved did attempt to limit description (if not hide involvement outright) to institutions or authority figures. (Remember trying to explain to a police officer why you had a bag full of armour and swords?)
 

10) The Cult leadership demands large amounts of member funds or other assets be turned over to them personally.
    Seriously? Yet another major fail for the SCA as Cult! Yea, everyone bitches about the cost of the basic membership, that 50 - 60 dollars a year sent off to the head office in California. Yes, individual members certainly do invest huge amounts of coin, effort and time into equipping themselves personally in clothing, accessories, specialized tools for craft work, extensive camping gear or portable room setting, ... Many ‘expensive’ gifts are given to others. All of this is completely voluntary (see ‘attempt at costume’).

Ok - Spin those Signs against DARC
 

1) Leader
    Maybe a bit charismatic? (To be fair I am aware that I do have Leadership abilities, but that may be personal ego talking!) All powerful? Not a chance! Individual group members almost all have strong personalities, plus proven abilities for organization of their own. Most are just as happy to let someone else take on the heavy lifting, but Truth be Told, it is more like herding cats…
 

2) Identity
    Well, this is certainly true. As with the SCA however, those choices are made by the individual. A case could be made that members are ‘forced’ to pick a personna within a specified historical time frame and rough regional location (Norse or in direct contact with Norse, we even allow Saxons.)
 

3) Name
    Also certainly true. Because members are a bit lazy and all have very wide social circles, there is a tendency to use the character names when we are together and out of historic dress as well. (Everyone knows a lot of ‘Daves’ - but there is only one ‘Grimmi’.)
 

4) Activities
    Hardly. If there is one continuing problem it can actually getting members up here (mainly) to participate in specialist activities. All are extremely busy with all sorts of communities, well outside of DARC.
 

5) Language
    Does Old Norse count? (although only a few of us speak it beyond the odd word) Maybe joint examples of ‘museum speak’ and in public presentation (only) attempting to maintain the ‘rhythms’ of people from a past cultural set.
 

6) Isolation
    Again - see point 4. If anything, involvement with DARC has lead many individuals to expand into formal academics, placing themselves in front of the public at huge events.
 

7)  Advancement
    Given that within DARC there is absolutely no rank structure at all? Beyond this roles individuals have chosen for themselves (Ragnar gets blamed for everything, Kettil gets made fun of as his health fails, …)
 

8) Recruitment
    Exact opposite! One of our largest problems right now is actually finding new people (crazy enough) to take part in our activities.
 

9) Secrets
    ‘Got a minute? Let me tell you about … (pick specialized craft, bizarre fact, most recent research topic - insert here)’ Given the number of workshops, lectures, physical demonstration, web documents, formal articles, conference presentations,... that so many members undertake?
 

10) Donations
    You are kidding, right. Given the losses I have taken organizing large scale group activities over the last 20 years? At least people do buy me scotch…
 

I make that maybe two out of ten, both related to the use of characterizations in living history activities (and those primarily those in front of the public). A bit of fuzz on the names?

So yes, Concerned Parent, it remains (relatively) safe to the sanity of your daughter/son to engage with the Dark Ages Re-Creation company.
 

A) A group that I personally had been involved in for a (thankfully) short time, as they expanded down to high school level. I would have been in grade 9, about 14 - 15 years old. The forceful insistence on an Us or Them (you were either ‘Saved’ or unworthy) pretty much killed any acceptance I might have entertained to the Christian Church. (I had been raised in a fairly strong Presbyterian household, a faith that both suited and well sustained my mother.)

B)  See ‘the Cult Database : Cult Warning Signs’ : https://www.cultdatabase.com/articles/cult-warning-signs

    Part of the inspiration leading to this navel gazing was dealing with a recent publication by a certain self described ’Heathen’ organization, based in Massachusetts USA. Lead by an individual who has repeatedly demonstrated an insistence on tight control to communications and information flow. Filtered by a long conversation with an old friend and trusted academic colleague.
    As individuals within DARC age, potential new members seem harder to find and encourage, and significantly as I personally feel declining abilities with time, I do start wondering about the future for a group that I have put a significant amount of myself behind over the last + 20 years.