Essay Questions

What type of instinct governs the Creedish sect’s obsession?

The Death Instinct among the adherents of the Creedish sect is astonishing. Fertility Hollis asserts: "You remember those cult people who all killed themselves…It was about seven or eight years ago. Their whole town they started, they all went to church and drank poison, and the FBI found them all holding hands on the floor, dead." Fertility Hollis’ example elucidates that the members of the sect are preoccupied with death. Their dogmas program them to aim for death as a prerequisite for profiting from heaven. Accordingly, the members are not petrified of death because it is considered a superlative practicality.

What is the implication of religious allusion in Survivor?

All through Survivor, Tender Branson quotes Biblical verses to rationalize the Creedish undertakings. For example, he states, “Luke, Chapter Twenty, Verse Thirty-five: "But they which shall be accounted worthy ... neither marry, nor are given in marriage." Elders of the Creedish church made celibacy sound as easy as choosing not to play baseball. Just say no. The other rules just went on and on. God forbid you should ever dance. Or eat refined sugar. Or sing. But the most important rule to remember was always: If the members of the church district colony felt summoned by God, rejoice. When the apocalypse was imminent, celebrate, and all Creedish must deliver themselves unto God, amen. And you had to follow.” The Biblical allusions prove the extent to which the Bible can be referenced to vindicate cultish performances. The Bible is a trustworthy and commanding book that would not be interrogated gratuitously. Hence, the elders exploit it to appeal to the members’ persuasion such that they would staunchly conform to the elders’ instructions. Evidently, the Bible, through slanted and distorted elucidations, can be manipulated to foster cultish agendas.