Sir Night, Wayward Hunter-Angel
The defining trait of a cult is generally its leader, and the emotional abuse he (it's usually a he) puts the cult members through to become the center of their world.
I'd say the inventor/finder of the immortality artifact is a good candidate, even if he lies about where it comes from. He could describe himself as a prophet who God acted through to give the town their immortality, in order to preserve their faith past the Great Tribulation-or-something. Anything to keep the other townies in his web. He also wants the cult to grow, so he created a system of proscribed births and theology that explained his criteria (naturally, he and his direct lieutenants are the judges for this criteria).
So there's a start.
edited 26th Oct '14 8:03:44 AM by Leliel
What rises must fall, what falls may rise again.
I could probably have their religion be a mishmash of 16-17th century Christian principles (considering they' were already broken off from the major religions of the day) It would be plausible for them to at least change slightly over the centuries, right?
- But if for a majority of the time, people don't have to worry about ST Ds or pregnancies, how would their community dissuade people from engaging in premarital sex?
- And would it be less believable for the community to have almost NO contact with the outside world or for higher ups to have some interaction with it? (Outsiders occasionally end up in the town because they are traveling through the area and get stranded, but that's not the norm)
edited 27th Oct '14 8:20:58 AM by TheMuse
Perhaps they believe (through the leader's persuasion) the lack of aging is a gift from God, or that they lack original sin because of their beliefs? After all, hardships and shortened lifespans only happened when Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden. "Sex Before Marriage = Becoming Sinners Like Everyone Else" would be a good incentive to keep people from premarital sex.
edited 28th Oct '14 10:03:37 PM by Sharysa
My setting is in the modern day, but in a secluded area of the United States (I'm not exactly sure where, but somewhere on the east coast probably) there is a small town where, due to supernatural means, the people there do not age. This place has existed and been affected since the 17th - 18th century. Their community is effectively self sufficient and they have very limited contact with the outside world (except the higher ups do interact with it to some degree) Citizens are not allowed to leave for any reason (except for children who are reared in a small settlement just outside of the town until they reach adulthood and pregnant women because otherwise they wouldn't gestate) under punishment of death for not only them, but their family as well. Outsiders are very much discouraged from entering. Their society's morals are mostly in line with those of much earlier centuries.
I have a few questions regarding this however:
Any thoughts about this would be appreciated :)