Is Humanity in a Cult?
Is Modern Civilisation a Cult? Reflections on The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
I recently read J.K. Rowling's latest Cormoran Strike novel, The Running Grave, published under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith. As expected, the book was a page-turner, filled with suspense, vivid characters, and an intriguing mystery. But what struck me, as I read deeper, was something far more disturbing: the eerie resemblance between the cult in the story and the systems we live in today. By the end of the book, I found myself asking: "Is all of humanity in a cult?"
What Makes a Cult?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a cult as:
A religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious
Great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work
The object of such devotion
A usually small group of people characterised by such devotion
A system of religious beliefs and ritual
It goes on to explain that the word "cult" shares its origin with "culture" and "cultivate," which are all related to practices of "adoration" and "training." In this context, cult evolves from a mere system of rituals to a broader societal system of belief and behaviour.
Looking at the dynamics of The Running Grave, it's impossible not to notice how the features of the cult in the novel overlap with the very fabric of modern society. We might be so deeply immersed in our daily lives—our "civilisation"—that it’s difficult to see it as a cult from the inside. We just think that all the cult-like features we experience are normal, but are they?
The Cult in The Running Grave
The Universal Humanitarian Church (UHC) in The Running Grave is a mysterious and dangerous cult led by the charismatic Jonathan Wace, aka "Papa J." At first, the cult seems far removed from anything resembling mainstream society, but as the investigation unfolds, its practices start to feel disturbingly familiar. Let’s break down some of the primary features of this cult and their unsettling parallels with modern civilisation.
Charismatic Leadership = Politicians & Influential Figures
Papa J, the leader of the UHC, is a larger-than-life figure, revered by his followers as a divine leader. Similarly, modern society elevates politicians, celebrities, and business moguls to god-like status. This elevation is sometimes organic, but very often it is manufactured by those seeking to influence and control. We see these figures shaping ideologies and trends, with their followers often idealising them, mimicking their behaviours, and believing in their unshakeable authority. Whether it’s the rise of charismatic leaders or the cultural influence of celebrities, our society, too, has its "Papa Js." Like Rowling’s fictional Papa J., our celebrities often engage in immoral and downright evil behaviour, as evidenced by the recent P. Diddy arrest and subsequent allegations and criminal charges.
Isolation = Lockdowns & Technological Dependence
During the recent “pandemic”, we were physically isolated, yet more dependent on technology for connection. Just like cults use isolation to control their followers, global governments, particularly those in the five-eyes alliance used isolation tactics to create fear and confusion. Technology was used to isolate us into echo chambers of government sanctioned censorship and propaganda. Our reliance on these platforms for news, social interaction, and even personal validation, weakens critical thinking and makes it easier to manipulate us. You can read more about how the UK government used these tactics recently here.
Totalitarian Structure = Governments, Corporations, and Hierarchical Organisations
Rowling’s fictional UHC, with its rigid hierarchy and unquestionable authority at the top, mirrors the structure of modern governments and corporations. Both operate with top-down control, dictating the rules, behaviour, and beliefs of those within the system. In modern society, it’s not just cults; large organisations—whether political or corporate—exercise centralised power, often limiting autonomy and dictating how individuals should live and think. In countries like the United States, many people’s access to quality healthcare depends the security of their job at a corporation, further binding an individual to the corporate structure.
Exclusive Beliefs = Political Correctness, Cancel Culture, and Ideological Homogenisation
Rowling’s fictional UHC followers believed in the divine status of "Papa J" and the sanctity of the "Drowned Prophet," creating a closed-off belief system. Similarly, society today has rigid ideologies, from political correctness to social justice movements, which punish deviation and create an "us vs. them" mentality. Expressing divergent views can lead to ostracism, much like the social isolation faced by those who leave or question cults.
Exploitation = Forced Taxation, Economic Inequality
In The Running Grave, the UHC exploits its members through forced labor, sexual servitude, and emotional manipulation. Modern civilisation, too, often exploits its citizens. Forced taxation, inflation, and economic inequality keep the majority working for the benefit of a few. As we toil to pay taxes, bills, and debt, our labor is siphoned off into systems that don't always benefit us. This is especially evident in the growing amounts of money Western governments use to fund wars, destroying entire countries, impoverishing their citizens and destabilising the global order.
Thought Reform = The Education System and Workforce "Training"
Just as the fictional UHC used indoctrination to mold its members, society’s education and workforce systems are designed to shape us into compliant workers. From daycare to university and beyond, we are taught not to question the system but to follow a prescribed path, focusing on conformity and obedience rather than critical thinking or individuality.
Indoctrination Tactics in The Running Grave
The fictional cult in The Running Grave uses various tactics to manipulate and control its members, tactics that are not unlike those seen in modern society:
Love-Bombing = Social Media & Consumer Advertising
Just as cults initially shower their recruits with love and attention, social media and advertising make us feel special, valued, and part of a community. Remember the infamous L’Oreal campaign “Because you’re worth it!”?. Brands, political figures and influencers engage in love-bombing to manipulate our emotions and get us to conform to their ideologies (and buy their products).
Gradual Escalation = "Lifestyle Inflation" & Increasing Demands
The demands placed on cult members escalate gradually over time, and the same happens in modern society. We’re conditioned to work longer hours, accept more responsibilities and keep consuming more as a means of achieving "success" or "happiness." This gradual pressure leads to burnout, debt, and a sense of never being fulfilled.
Fear & Guilt = Social Pressure & Media Scare Tactics
Cults use fear to maintain control, and society today uses fear tactics via the media—climate change, political instability, economic collapse—to shape our actions. Fear of missing out (FOMO) and guilt over not doing enough (whether it’s recycling or being politically correct) keeps us in line.
Control Over Information = Censorship & Algorithmic Moderation
Just as cults control the flow of information to their followers, modern society uses censorship, algorithms, and media bias to shape the information we see. The truth is filtered, and alternative perspectives are often suppressed, leaving us vulnerable to manipulation. If you want to delve into this topic in more depth, this recent interview with former U.S. State Dept employee, Mike Benz is an excellent starting point.
Economic Control = Debt & Consumerism
Modern society, like the fictional UHC, keeps individuals in a state of financial dependence. Through credit, loans, and consumerism, we are forced to participate in an economic system that benefits the elite. Just as a cult exploits its followers’ labour, our economic system exploits us through debt and inflation.
Breaking Free from the Cult: First Principles and Bitcoin
So, what can we do to break free from this societal "cult"? In The Creature from Jekyll Island, G. Edward Griffin explains how the monetary system was designed to benefit the few, using the Federal Reserve and fiat currency to control the masses. Just as Rowling’s fictional UHC uses manipulation to maintain its power, “the creature” (the fiat system) maintains its hold over us through economic control.
This is where Bitcoin comes in. Bitcoin, as a decentralised and sound monetary system, is designed to operate outside the control of central authorities. By using Bitcoin, we can escape the inflationary, debt-based system that perpetuates exploitation and indoctrination. This system allows us to think from first principles—a method of reasoning where we break down complex problems into their most basic elements and reason up from there. In other words, rather than accepting the default narrative, we learn to think critically and build healthier, more sustainable systems for ourselves.
Living by first principles means rejecting the false promises of fulfillment through materialism and consumerism. It means adopting a mindset that values authenticity, self-sufficiency, and community. Many of these traits can be seen in committed Bitcoiners, who value and invest in their health by growing their own food, supporting ethical food producers and taking care of their bodies through regular exercise and sun exposure.
By embracing Bitcoin, we can start to re-program our minds, break free from the toxic cult of modern civilisation, and create a world that is not only more joyful but also kinder and more sustainable.
Embracing Hope
In The Running Grave, the protagonists’ investigation into a cult reveals the darker side of manipulation, control, and exploitation. As I read, I realised how much of modern society mirrors the features of the cult in the book. We live in a system that, like a cult, exploits, controls, and indoctrinates. But by embracing alternative systems like Bitcoin and thinking from first principles, we can break free, live more authentically, and build a world that is healthier, happier, and ultimately kinder.
Further Resources:
Understanding Societal Structure and Building Better Alternatives:
Finding ethical food producers - X List
Understanding the Monetary System and its Impacts:
Understanding Mind Control