Poll: Is Woke a new religion?

[Stevicus]

Apart from not enumerating a "god" (afaik), do other characteristics of "woke" align with religions?

I voted no, but I'm not offended by the question.

 

[We Never Know]

I voted no, but I'm not offended by the question.

"I'm not offended by the question"

Then you aren't woke. You're still asleep

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Your only option for "no" also says "and I'm offended by the question." The thread is a loaded question from the start.

I don't think this is a serious question or one that is conducive to meaningful debate, but to answer the OP, I consider all forms of ideological zeal—religious or otherwise—to have some common factors. Depending on how one defines "wokeness," it could have some shared elements with religious extremism, such as strong tribalism, refusal to consider evidence, and lack of exposure to different arguments. It could also be something completely benign and even necessary in some situations. The term is highly malleable and vague by itself.

Pretty much this.
I suspect generally I'm a little more concerned about political correctness being used as a hammer to quell dissenting opinion, or to steer people towards the 'obvious' truths than many liberals would be.
Despite that concern, I agree with what you've said here.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I didn't vote, @icehorse

1. For all my concerns about some societal habits around controlling truth, I don't think 'woke' is a great label. Still, at a simplistic level I'd say I have some issues with wokeness.

2. Wouldn't think of it as religious, nor do I like using religion as a pejorative term. But if I were to use it, it would be around concepts like a strict dogma and ritualistic behaviour. Wokeness is more vague, and means different things to different people.

3. Can't answer no...basically no one can...because I'm not offended by the question.
Indeed if I have a problem with wokeness it's the amount of virtue signalling and direction to the 'correct' opinion it drives, often with the vaguest of evidence and justification. Your poll is either pithy, or exhibiting some of that.

 

[Stevicus]

"I'm not offended by the question"

Then you aren't woke. You're still asleep

No, I'm awake on a Friday afternoon, but I expect to be going to sleep early tonight.

 

[John53]

No, I'm awake on a Friday afternoon, but I expect to be going to sleep early tonight.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

No. Woke is a very handy marketing tool. Either for corporations looking to sell social points by selling people on consuming 'ethically' under capitalism, which is more like tokenism, and often takes a radically underbaked positions for the sake of filling a niche nobody actually asked for (see: girl bossification.)

Or it's a useful tool for people who would love to get 'cancelled' because there's nothing that sells books and gets you Netflix contracts quite like the false victimhood of 'I've been silenced.'

Edit: further 'thing that I'm interested in or passionate about' being conflated for religion is like...as serious a topic as the NFL being called a religious organization. People can get overly worked up about sports, but nobody is looking to give them tax exemption.

 

[exchemist]

What exactly is woke?

The opposite of "sleepin', man".

In other words a vernacular term for being alert to racial injustice and awareness of one's rights as a member of a racial minority.

So using "woke" as a term of disparagement is a handy way of making fun of concerns about racial injustice.

 

[Debater Slayer]

How I'm visualizing the last poll option:

 

[Windwalker]

Radicalism and the urge to immediately force your views on others at any and all costs.

That's essentially "woke".

Like the legislation of conservative values and morality from the Christian Right imposed upon those who don't share those beliefs and values? Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?

 

[Orbit]

Apart from not enumerating a "god" (afaik), do other characteristics of "woke" align with religions?

How about you define "woke"?

 

[Estro Felino]

It's a cult.
It's a mindset.
In my humble opinion.

 

[F1fan]

Anti-wokism is definitely a cult.

 

[Debater Slayer]

It's a cult.
It's a mindset.
In my humble opinion.

Is fascism also a cult or not?

 

[F1fan]

Radicalism and the urge to immediately force your views on others at any and all costs.

That's essentially "woke".

So republicans are the actual woke. No wonder they attack wokism, it’s self-loathing.

 

[Father Heathen]

The only people I ever see using the term "woke" are conservatives, and only in reference to anything they either don't like or don't understand, so no, obviously not a religion.

Also, ****-poor poll options.

 

[Father Heathen]

Radicalism and the urge to immediately force your views on others at any and all costs.

That's essentially "woke".

So evangelicals and dominionists, the heart and soul of the GOP, are "woke"?

Also, how is defending and advocating for freedom, rights, equality, justice, etc. "forcing views on others"?

 

[Debater Slayer]

This is a clown at a pride parade:

They call him Ronald WokeDonald.

 

[Rachel Rugelach]

I don't think that "woke" is a "new religion." I view it as just another one of those words that trigger right-wing conservatives' disapproval, anger, and resistance towards calls for change in the status quo. Much like these words do: "Feminist," "Social Justice," "Gun Control," and "Happy Holidays" (when used instead of "Merry Christmas").