You don't need external conditions to line up with your narrative to start a cult. You just need charisma, a willingness to unflinchingly lie about anything to get what you want, and the mental acuity to make good excuses when your lies inevitably contain contradictions.
Pretty wild that humanity would only have four years to respond if when we measure it again in 2028 it's confirmed on track to hit Earth.
I doubt humanity could assemble quickly enough to divert it.
Thread here,
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42864272 ("Asteroid Impact on Earth 2032 with Probability 1% and 8Mt Energy (nasa.gov)", 69 comments)
I know nil of the social sciences. What are the necessary conditions to start a cult? Seems like big rock flying thru space ominously could qualify!
You don't need external conditions to line up with your narrative to start a cult. You just need charisma, a willingness to unflinchingly lie about anything to get what you want, and the mental acuity to make good excuses when your lies inevitably contain contradictions.
Hope it's got airbags.
Can't wait for the reenactment of "Don't look up!"