Less Wrong, More Rite (II)

A community-sociology essay using the (much-mocked) Rationalist Solstice ritual to explore in-group building. Observation: religions are 'cringeworthy,' and stronger ones MORE so (Unitarian -> Christian -> Mormon -> Scientology, escalating belief-weirdness and community-strength). Via Steven Bond's 'objects of fandom' theory (Star Wars attracts fans partly because it's also laughably bad), Scott refines the active ingredient from awfulness to SEPARATION: radical differentiation from the out-group strengthens in-group ties (Scientology's vocabulary and assumptions burn every bridge). Atheists struggle to build community precisely because they LACK out-group separation (an atheist Marxist feels less akin than a centrist Reform Jew). Four strategies follow: ignore it (weak meetups); make atheism seem persecuted; dial atheism to 11 (religion-causes-all-problems); or link it to a more specific, separation-providing belief (transhumanism, social justice, rationality) — the rationalist movement is 'especially blessed' here (the Contract-Drafting-Em-Song 'these are my people' feeling). Part II: the 'missing atheist music' isn't songs about atheism but the humanist canon ('The Times They Are A-Changin'', 'Blowin' in the Wind').

Quality 70 · Strong. Strong (70). A clear, insightful essay on in-group dynamics and community-building with genuine ideas (separation-not-awfulness builds community; the four atheist-community strategies; the missing-music reframe). Held to mid-Strong by its inside-baseball Solstice/atheist-community scope.

Claude’s paradigm shift 55 · Moderate. Moderate, high (55). The separation-builds-in-groups refinement of Bond and the atheist-community-strategies taxonomy are a fresh, sharp framing.

Real-world impact 2 · Minor. Minor (2). Within-subculture community-building thought; the Solstice is a real but niche institution.