What would a cult member call a non-believer?

Question

I'm looking for a term that a crazy cult member would apply to an outsider, a term that implies that such a "non-believer" is ignorant and of lesser worth -- ideally, something that is humorous because it is slightly ridiculous.

For example, an Islamic radical might use "filthy infidel" or an over-the-top Catholic may say "hell-bound heathen," but I'm looking for something that may be uttered by a member of a run-of-the-mill Kool-Aid cult.

Answer 1

• Heathens
• Unbelievers
• Those who choose to live in the dark
• The unwashed
• The blind
• Worshipers of Mammon
• The unchosen
• The prodigals
• Strangers
• Outsiders
• The apostates
• The unworthy
• Servants of Baal
• God's rebellious children
• Lovers of darkness
• Children of 'The World'

(I really need to stop joining all these secret groups!)

Answer 2

Mundane is fairly likely to see usage this way, referencing someone being concerned with "matters of this world" as opposed to whatever the cult is into. A cult less into traditional dualistic slurs and more into cutesy neologisms might use sheeple. Cults that are about awakening the higher perceptions or psychic powers of their members may derogate non-members as headblind.

And, of course, from A Scanner Darkly, we get the immortal phrase albino shape-shifting lizard bitches, which really cannot be applied frequently enough to describe anybody the speaker wishes to categorize as "other".

Answer 3

How about a nullifidian? Could be a word the cult leader decided to revive.

Answer 4

Philistine has that appropriate apocalyptic tenor characteristic of cult members:

Just as hath the Lord promised when He delivered those woeful people unto David and his mighty men, so shalt you and your heathen ilk burn in the fiery furnaces of Hell for all eternity!

Answer 5

I propose heretic, apostate or paynim.

Answer 6

In Iain Banks' novel Whit, or, Isis among the Unsaved, they are called (you get one guess) "the unsaved."

Answer 7

Some suggestions:

• Unenlightened
• Unwashed/Unclean
• Uneducated
• Pigs/piggies ( This was actually used by Charles Manson's cult)

Answer 8

I can think of infidel, heathen, agnostic, apostate.

Heathen is a derogatory word; maybe it is the genre of words that a "crazy cult member" would use.

Answer 9

I don't think the answer is simple. The reason being a cult is a specific instance of a radical belief system. If you want something humorous then the audience would need to be introduced to a basic understanding of their ideals.

It seems to me that many belief systems/ideologies are the result of a perceived problem. For this reason although their own tenants are good, the oppositions faults are viewed vehemently.

Consider the major political parties of your country, and insults each may have for the other. Consider the fear differing economic systems invoke in some people. The fear of different races, by racial pride groups. There are also many examples in science fiction too where one group has departed from another by some social, technological, evolutionary... well it's science fiction could be anything... the point is without understanding the differentiating factors between the two groups, insults have little meaning.

Edit:
Oh, I did think of something! If it's a run of the mill "Kool-Aid cult" then PEPSI DRINKERS! Or maybe "Those who do not partake of the anti-freeze." I think the later would be said solemnly, like you would "Poor misguided people."

Answer 10

If it's a Christian-based cult, then dogs might be appropriate. It's a Biblical image, which turns up more than once. Outside are the dogs, etc. It's used in both Revelation and the Gospels, and I think in other places.