In recent years, woke progressivism has emerged as a powerful ideological force in Western societies. Superficially, it claims to champion values such as social justice, equity, and inclusion. However, beneath the veneer of virtue lies a movement that exhibits all the hallmarks of a cult: unquestioning adherence to dogma, demonization of outsiders, and a refusal to engage with dissenting viewpoints. As someone who has escaped several ideological traps—including the oppressive system of Islam, the dogmatic grip of socialism, and the self-righteous echo chambers of the woke Left—I feel compelled to expose the cult-like nature of woke progressivism and its dangerous impact on society.
Unquestioning Adherence to Dogma
One of the most defining traits of a cult is its expectation of total conformity to its doctrines. Woke progressivism demands precisely this. Followers are required to accept its tenets without question, whether they concern race, gender, climate, or economic systems. Any deviation is met with swift condemnation. Terms like “racist,” “bigot,” or “phobe” are weaponized to silence dissenters, regardless of the validity of their arguments.
For example, the woke narrative on race posits that systemic racism explains all disparities, ignoring alternative explanations such as cultural factors, personal choices, or socio-economic complexities. Anyone daring to question this orthodoxy, even with well-reasoned evidence, is branded a heretic and subjected to social ostracism or professional ruin. This suppression of critical thought mirrors the ways cults control their members by discouraging independent inquiry.
Demonization of Outsiders
A core tactic of cults is to create an “us versus them” mentality. Woke progressivism thrives on this polarization. It categorizes people into oppressors and oppressed, privileging group identity over individual character or achievement. White conservatives, Christians, and even minorities who reject woke ideology are vilified as enemies of progress.
I experienced this firsthand during my tenure with CAIR and the Muslim Forum of Utah. Despite my efforts to foster dialogue, I witnessed how individuals or groups who questioned the woke-Islamist alliance were smeared as “Islamophobes” or “agents of colonialism.” This same approach is now deployed in broader society. If you are not actively “anti-racist” (as defined by woke doctrine), you are automatically labeled a racist. Such binary thinking stifles meaningful conversations and fosters societal division.
Emotional Manipulation and Moral Superiority
Cults prey on emotionally or mentally vulnerable individuals, offering them a sense of identity and belonging. Woke progressivism operates in much the same way, targeting those who feel alienated or disenfranchised. By joining the movement, they gain a sense of moral superiority and purpose. They are told that by adhering to woke principles, they are on the “right side of history.”
However, this sense of purpose is shallow and ultimately destructive. It replaces personal responsibility and self-reflection with external validation and virtue signaling. Many woke adherents adopt performative activism—posting hashtags, attending protests, and parroting slogans—without engaging in genuine efforts to improve their own lives or communities. The movement thus creates a façade of moral righteousness that masks a lack of substantive action.
Refusal to Engage with Dissenting Viewpoints
Another characteristic of cults is their isolation of members from external ideas. Woke progressivism enforces intellectual conformity by vilifying alternative viewpoints. Universities, once bastions of free thought, have become echo chambers where only woke-approved ideas are allowed to flourish. Social media platforms amplify this phenomenon, creating algorithms that reinforce ideological bubbles and censor dissent.
This refusal to engage with opposing perspectives not only undermines democracy but also leads to intellectual stagnation. Progress cannot occur in a society where debate is suppressed, and the pursuit of truth is abandoned in favor of ideological purity. As a Freemason and a Christian conservative, I cherish the principles of free speech and open dialogue, which are antithetical to the woke agenda.
The Need for True Freedom
Having escaped various oppressive systems, I see woke progressivism as yet another form of bondage. It masquerades as liberation while enslaving its followers to a rigid ideology. True freedom comes from embracing individual responsibility, critical thinking, and open dialogue. It requires the courage to confront uncomfortable truths and the humility to acknowledge our own flaws.
Woke progressivism offers neither courage nor humility. Instead, it provides a cheap substitute for morality—one that appeals to those unwilling to undertake the hard work of self-improvement. By rejecting this cult-like movement, we can reclaim the values that have made Western civilization great: liberty, reason, and the inherent worth of every individual.
Citations
- Lindsay, J. (2020). Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity. Pitchstone Publishing.
- Rufo, C. F. (2021). "The Woke Revolution in American Institutions." City Journal. https://www.city-journal.org/woke-revolution
- Sowell, T. (2018). Discrimination and Disparities. Basic Books.
- Orwell, G. (1949). 1984. Secker & Warburg.
- Haidt, J. (2012). The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. Vintage.
No comments:
Post a Comment