Is BDSM a religion?

[Veronika]

Some in the BDSM community do act and live as they are part of a cult though.

This is interesting, could you tell me more?

[Aibo]

This is interesting, could you tell me more?

Even though this thread borders on a flamewar already. I will reply.

So yes, I used the word cult, and we find quite a number of similarities.

Cults tend to have a uniform, on BDSM gatherings you find something called 'dresscode' - ok not the best example since you see quite some variety, yet there is something to it, since everthing you see there, is something you dont see on the streets. And so you have the closed society setting, another sign of a cult.

Rules of conduct. Only certain ways of behaviour are allowed, switches tends to have a hard time both in reality as well as on forums.
Also if you have one interest that is outside the norm. Animal roleplayers to mention one example are often attacked with deliberate misunderstandings even suggestions of copulating with animals by other BDSM interested individuals.

Even within one male dominant female submissive relationship you will find that the ceiling is quite low, even on a forum.
If a submissive is allowed to suggest things, then you can bet you soon will see posts telling that she 'is topping from the bottom' and that you are a crappy Master. The examples can be made manifold but I will move on to some other points.

Breaking the law, many of us in many countries do break the law with these activities. We need not look further than Great Britain to find examples of raids by the police and arrests.

This does not only account for the action of private couples at home. Some BDSM organisations do even have bylaws that go against the legislation of the society where they are found. Examples found in several countries, though I limit to only one BDSM organisation in Norway where they have some ideas I don't subscribe to, including on rape.

That we do this for one erotic purpose changes nothing, many cults do indeed have the same aim, it may be polyamory ...or things we might dont even want to contemplate here (well I spit it out, children yuck.)

If you go against the dogma of a cult, you will be expulsed or banned.
Also that we can see here, very often there is only one view that is allowed on a number of matters.

[Veronika]

If you go against the dogma of a cult, you will be expulsed or banned. Also that we can see here, very often there is only one view that is allowed on a number of matters.

True. Also might I add the attitude may be in some cases "us against the rest of the world" and isolation. For example if the master/mistress forbids sub/slave to contact certain people or media.

[sinderella]

Even though this thread borders on a flamewar already. I will reply.

So yes, I used the word cult, and we find quite a number of similarities.

Cults tend to have a uniform, on BDSM gatherings you find something called 'dresscode' - ok not the best example since you see quite some variety, yet there is something to it, since everthing you see there, is something you dont see on the streets. And so you have the closed society setting, another sign of a cult.

i'm not sure how being mindful of people's privacy is being a "closed society", and how you determine that is "a sign of a cult". not everyone is open about their true nature...while i am not ashamed of being a submissive, i don't go broadcasting it at the office, or at family gatherings. it is a cherished, private part of myself, not subject to other's ignorant assumptions and prejudices.

Rules of conduct. Only certain ways of behaviour are allowed, switches tends to have a hard time both in reality as well as on forums. Also if you have one interest that is outside the norm. Animal roleplayers to mention one example are often attacked with deliberate misunderstandings even suggestions of copulating with animals by other BDSM interested individuals.

Even within one male dominant female submissive relationship you will find that the ceiling is quite low, even on a forum.
If a submissive is allowed to suggest things, then you can bet you soon will see posts telling that she 'is topping from the bottom' and that you are a crappy Master. The examples can be made manifold but I will move on to some other points.

Breaking the law, many of us in many countries do break the law with these activities. We need not look further than Great Britain to find examples of raids by the police and arrests.

This does not only account for the action of private couples at home. Some BDSM organisations do even have bylaws that go against the legislation of the society where they are found. Examples found in several countries, though I limit to only one BDSM organisation in Norway where they have some ideas I don't subscribe to, including on rape.

That we do this for one erotic purpose changes nothing, many cults do indeed have the same aim, it may be polyamory ...or things we might dont even want to contemplate here (well I spit it out, children yuck.)

If you go against the dogma of a cult, you will be expulsed or banned.
Also that we can see here, very often there is only one view that is allowed on a number of matters.

individual opinions on message forums are just that - opinion and commentary. they do not make up the entire BDSM D/s etc. way of life. you of course know why protocols and rules are necessary, and they are by no means sinister or signs of a cult.

[Aibo]

i'm not sure how being mindful of people's privacy is being a "closed society", and how you determine that is "a sign of a cult". not everyone is open about their true nature...while i am not ashamed of being a submissive, i don't go broadcasting it at the office, or at family gatherings. it is a cherished, private part of myself, not subject to other's ignorant assumptions and prejudices.

Hello sindarella, it is with extreme hesitation I decided to reply to you directly.
First off, I did say similarities, you also read my post the same way as 'the Devil reads the Bible'.

How you deal with this have nothing to so with my post at all, I dont know you, and was not the subject here.

I do however know the ideas, situation and as already mentioned bylaws of a number of BDSM clubs and societies, and a few of them do indeed show warning signs both as for the rules and the behaviour of certain individuals.

individual opinions on message forums are just that - opinion and commentary. they do not make up the entire BDSM D/s etc. way of life. you of course know why protocols and rules are necessary, and they are by no means sinister or signs of a cult.

When rules and bylaws go against both the law and common sense, (the example on rape mentioned earlier) I be damned, but I do view it as a sign that something is wrong and want no part of it. So I do not subscribe to their newsletter, never have or will visit one of their BDSM parties and never will be a member until they change them, period.