Neo-Oscurantism Unmasked

Features

On an individual/community level, neo-obscurantism is characterized by the same behavioral traits who are found inside religious sects; while on an organized/institutional level, it assumes the same features who are found inside totalitarian regimes.
The more often these features are encountered in everyday life, the tighter the grip Neo-Obscurantism has on society.

Main signs you're inside a religious sect:

Systematic use of buzzwords/catchphrases to dismiss without argument any kind of alternative idea
Hostile kneejerk reaction at even the mere mention of different views
Adoption of hostile herd-like behavior like group shaming/ridiculing
Obstinate refusal to engage in the merit of an argument
Obstinate refusal to acknowledge different sources/points of views other than the approved ones

Main signs you're living in a totalitarian regime:

All political factions (including the alleged "opposition") keep pushing for the same agenda
Presence of an alleged state of "emergency" that keeps being reinstated to the point of becoming permanent
Journalism stops asking questions, but only keeps repeating the government's line
Creation of specific cathegories of people who are treated as public enemies and openly smeared/discriminated
Adoption of a paternalistic style of communication that treats citizens as immature children

Analogies

Neo-obscurantism is a direct variant of medieval obscurantism, from which it deviates only in terms of language and exterior appearance, and as such it shares nearly all of its distinctive traits:

MEDIEVAL OBSCURANTISM

MODERN OBSCURANTISM

Existence of supernational organizations whose power trumps that of the individual governments:

The Holy Church
Holy Roman Empire

U.N.O.
N.A.T.O.
European Union

Promotion of a top-down pyramidal system of government where common people are at the bottom:

Feudalism

Corporativism

Adoption of an ideology theoretically serving as the foundation of its entire worldview, but whose principles are constantly and systematically violated in practice:

Christianity

(teaches non-violence, forgiveness and sharing;
employed to justify torture, slaughter and concentration of wealth)

Science

(based on rational thought and direct experience;
employed as a tool of emotional manipulation and thought-suppression)

Existence of a medium that is considered to be the ultimate source of all knowledge, to the point of being identified with reality itself:

The Holy Bible

Television
Newspapers

Oxymoric equiparation between reason and faith:

(sic)

Existence of a specific class of people tasked with the job of indoctrinating the masses:

Priests

Journalists

Use of slogans/catchphrases to promote blind faith in authority, and to vilify critical thought:

"Ipse dixit"
"Deus vult"

"Trust the experts"
"Science says so"

Use of specific buzzwords to dismiss any kind of dissenting view without resorting to debate:

"Heretics"
"Infidels"

"Cranks"/"Crackpots"
"Conspiracy theorists"

Organized suppression of dissent and inconvenient facts:

Holy Inquisition
Index

"Debunking"
"Fact Checking"

Encouragement of self-profiling as a form of control over people's lives and thoughts:

Confession

Social media

Withdrawal of rights as a form of punishment for violating authority:

Excommunication

Deplatforming

Conception of life as form of atonement for sins committed by past people:

"Original Sin"

"Invisible Privilege"
"Systemic Racism"

Aversion towards the material/physical aspect of existence, and longing for the immaterial:

spiritualism
ascetism
chastity

digitalization
sanitization
sex-phobia

Neo-Oscurantism Unmasked

Features

Analogies

MEDIEVAL OBSCURANTISM

MODERN OBSCURANTISM

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