The Guardian and the Cult of Freedomain

The Guardian (and Daily Mail Online) published an article (written by Kate Hilpern) about Freedomain Radio that makes some pretty strong implications towards FDR being a cult.  A link to the article can be found on the FDR forums here.  I have a mixed reaction to that news.

I am angry and sad that Tom’s name was mentioned in the article and that his heinous mother would try to hurt him so publicly.  She is a truly cruel and abusive person and is further exposing herself as such.  

I feel a lot of sadness with regards to how Tom is being portrayed.  I have not seen any sympathetic comments to him and his experience of his abusive past anywhere except FDR.  More people sympathize with his abusive family (Barbara Weed) and that thought makes me feel sick.  Tom did an extremely brave thing by ridding himself of abusive relationships and I praise him for his actions.

The more prevalent feeling I have is happiness and excitement.  This may be confusing at first glance, since the article paints FDR in such a cruel light, but we knew this day would come and we knew that the media would not paint a pretty picture.  The reason I am excited is that it’s a positive thing to let people know that their familial relationships (and other relationships) are completely voluntary.  Just this idea alone will give many people the conscious option to leave people who do not truly love them.  Also, this will improve parenting because parents now have the explicit knowledge that their children have the choice to leave them.  I think this will cause many parents to think twice before mentally or physically abusing their children. Ultimately Tom’s mom has shot herself in the foot, because this will give people more freedom in their lives and I am sure it will bring some truly bright people into the conversation and keep away people who are not interested in philosophy.  I look forward to meeting new, bright people!

I also totally sympathize with how scary this would be for someone new approaching the Freedomain conversation now that this article is out there, so if you are skeptical but still curious I challenge you to read and watch the following:

• A response from Stefan to an interview request
• Posts related to the Globe and Mail Article
  • Stefan Molyneux’s Response
  • The raw interview with Stefan Molyneux
  • Audio
  • Is Freedomain really a cult?
  • You should be afraid
• Liberating Minds, Koen Swinkels and Freedomain Radio
  • Sunday Call in Show about Liberating Minds
• Podcasts related to the Guardian Article
  • Standing for the fallen
  • Stef on the BBC Radio
  • Sunday Call In Show about the article
  • Remembering the victim
• Important threads on Freedomain Radio pertaining to the “cult” accusations:
  • Stefan Molyneux’s public statement about the article
  • The podcast where Tom talks about his family
  • DeFOO statistics
  • Discussion about the Guardian Article
• Other Freedomain materials pertaining to the cult accusations
  • Freedom, Reason and Cults (on Youtube)
  • First podcast addressing cult fears
  • Podcast about FDR Cultwatch
  • Conversation Stef had with a critic of FDR
  • How to beat FDR
  • Another conversation Stef had with the same critic of FDR
  • How (not) to Achieve Freedom goes into the psychology behind the accusations
• Other bloggers response to the Guardian Article
  • The Guardian Publishes an Article about Freedomain Radio
  • Anarchist Mind Control Threatens Foundations of Culture

Also, feel free to ask me questions or contact Stef himself if you have any further questions.

Tags: cult, fdr, guardian