Violent Rationalism: The Technocult Militancy of the Zizians
Feb 28, 2025
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Max Read, a journalist and creator of the Read Max Substack, dives deep into the Zizians, a militant cult behind a series of violent incidents. He reveals their bizarre beliefs rooted in cybersigilism and examines the unsettling rationalism that justifies their actions. The discussion touches on the unsettling dynamics of their community, blending authority with cult-like behavior, and explores how rationalism can spiral into extremism. Read also highlights the implications of echo chambers within intellectual subcultures, drawing chilling parallels to the Zizians' radical ideology.
The Zizians, a radical cult, justify violence as an obligation to their cause, reflecting a deep commitment to bizarre beliefs.
Ziz, the cult's leader, manipulates her followers through a unique understanding of gender and consciousness, fostering intense loyalty.
The tech backgrounds of Zizians illustrate how extremist ideologies can flourish in rational environments, blurring lines between thought and action.
Deep dives
The Zizians and Their Violent Acts
The Zizians represent a US-based cult involved in a series of violent incidents that have resulted in multiple deaths, including the murder of a Customs and Border Patrol officer. Initial reports mischaracterized the shooters as illegal immigrants, but it was later revealed that they were computer scientists connected to a fringe rationalist movement. The discussions highlight that the cult's ideology promotes bizarre beliefs linked to their militant actions, including a sense of obligation to commit violence as an expression of commitment to the group’s cause. Over the years, several deaths have been attributed to members of this cult, suggesting a long pattern of violence underpinned by their radical beliefs.
The Role of Ziz in the Cult's Ideology
Central to the Zizians' belief system is a figure known as Ziz, who espouses radical views on animal rights, framing her philosophy as a militant stance against what she perceives as systemic animal genocide. She promotes the idea that true disciples must demonstrate their loyalty through acts of violence, asserting that not killing for the cause indicates a lack of awareness regarding the moral stakes involved. Ziz infamously describes herself as a 'vegan Sith Lord,' emphasizing the extremity of her convictions, to the point where she believes that mass violence may be justified if it serves her animal rights agenda. This mentality has cultivated an atmosphere in which violence is not only accepted but expected among her followers.
Rationalism and its Distortion
The cult is connected to the rationalist movement, which revolves around using cognitive strategies to achieve better outcomes, yet the Zizians have taken these principles to illogical extremes. Members often engage in complex thought experiments and discussions that blur the lines between rational discourse and irrational beliefs. This environment has led to the crafting of bizarre concepts such as Rocco's Basilisk, indicating that some rationalists entertain distressing philosophical ideas that can result in harmful real-world implications. The rationalist framework, instead of promoting clarity, has enabled members to justify extreme positions and behaviors, feeding into a cult-like atmosphere.
Ziz's Complicated Identity and Leadership
Ziz's identity as a trans woman adds another layer to the dynamics within the cult, influencing its members and their alignment with her ideology. She utilizes a unique understanding of gender and consciousness to manipulate those who are vulnerable, often engaging with followers facing their own gender identity struggles. Ziz encourages a view of transness that is underpinned by her beliefs in bicameralism, suggesting a complex interplay between identity and allegiance to her violent ideology. This environment creates a fertile ground for control, where individuals can be coerced into actions and ideologies that may not align with their true selves or beliefs.
The Intersection of Violence and Technology
The Zizians comprise individuals primarily from the tech community, which raises questions about how extremist ideologies can flourish within seemingly rational environments. This tech background intersects with a broader concern about how rationalist ideas can evolve into cult-like beliefs, fostering an environment ripe for radicalization. The podcast discusses how the Zizians' trajectory parallels that of other notorious cults, underlining a cycle of charismatic leadership, groupthink, and eventual violence. These dynamics reflect the troubling reality that the rationalist framework can become a breeding ground for not just intellectual isolation, but also deadly extremism.
Today we're speaking to Max Read, journalist and creator of the Read Max Substack. He's talking to us about the Zizians, a militant US based cult that has killed seven people due to their bizarre cybersigilist type beliefs.