Talk:Ben Klassen

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Pontifex Maximus

An editor keeps removing the title Pontifex Maximus from the infobox.

The infobox template is specifically for a clergy position.

In fact, Richard McCarty is specified as Klassen's successor, but if this individual who keeps removing Klassen's title has his way, readers won't know what he succeeded to.

I am not a Creator, and have a negative view of Klassen, but U.S. courts have acknowledged Creativity as a religion and he should be given his religious title here.2600:1012:B1C2:C7F8:0:3B:AC88:C101 (talk) 08:57, 12 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

He self-appointed himself "Pontifex Maximus" which we already cite on the article, this position is not a recognized title outside of the Roman Republic. See Publius Mucius Scaevola (pontifex maximus) for an example of the period when that title was used. Klassen self-appointed himself Pontifex Maximus as a joke. It is not something that was taken seriously with Klassen so we have no reason to take it seriously on Wikipedia and put it in his infobox. Historically the title had validity during the Roman era but not with this white supremacist organization in the 20th-century. You can see that the splcenter do not take the title "Pontifex Maximus" seriously in regard to the Creativity Movement [1], nor do the Anti-Defamation League [2]. Psychologist Guy (talk) 11:24, 12 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Alright folks, are you here to build an encyclopedia or here to engage in endless edit wars? The article includes a clergy infobox. The article acknowledges that he founded a religion and courts have ruled that it is a religion. The title of his ecclesiastical office was Pontifex Maximus. If their can't be a consensus on that, what title do you suggest? 47.137.179.4 (talk) 14:59, 24 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

A very rude editor left a message on my talk page stating that Pontifex Maximus is not used anywhere (presumably via an RS).

I suppose that you pikers who won't even collaborate with me to come up with a consensus title think that the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is unreliable, right?

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/707/491/230178/

Come on people, work with me. 47.137.179.4 (talk) 15:19, 24 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

It is not a recognized title outside of the Roman Republic, it has valid historical usage but not with white supremacist kook Ben Klassen. I already explained how Ben Klassen was using the title as a joke, it was not to be taken seriously and nobody takes it seriously. There is no reason to put it in the clergy infobox. Psychologist Guy (talk) 21:49, 24 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Shouldn't he also be described as a neo-Nazi?

The original Nazis believed in racial "socialism" as well, albeit the socialist part being a reference to ensuring a common wealth. That idea is analogous to the German Volksgemeinschaft idea as well. Phil of rel (talk) 22:51, 27 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

It isn't analogous. There may however have been some in the NSDAP whose thought went already into that direction. The irony is that Klaassen's views are in many ways analogous to Judaism, which always has promoted a racial socialism. 41.48.117.147 (talk) 07:57, 7 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]