THINK ABOUT IT!

Are you isolating yourself from Ham friends and Ham Groups outside the Cult?
Do you consider the Cult Leader as the final word on all matters?
Does your loyalty to the Cult Leader cause you to blindly follow the Cult Leader?
Do you believe all the lies that the Cult Leader expels about others?
Does the Cult Leader blame their failures and misfortunes on others?
Does the Cult Leader never take responsibly for their actions and mistakes?
Cult Leaders are experts at sucking people into their Imperial World.
Please read on and think for yourself.

A goldfish living in a bowl that is painted black on the outside will never know it lives in a bowl unless someone takes it out and shows it the rest of the world. Mindsets can be like that - locked into a `thinking box', unable to see outside because the web of beliefs is so all-encompassing

How can this happen to people like you and me?

Have you ever bought an outfit that didn't fit properly because the sales person convinced you it looked nice? Ever have someone talk you into having another drink when you didn't want one? Ever run into a clever con artist who had a good line? Ever sign a contract you didn't really want to sign? Getting involved with a cultic group could be just that easy? (If you still think it can't happen to you take our test on the General Information page [grin]

In the USA alone there are an estimated 5,000 cults actively recruiting people of all ages, from all walks of life, at the rate of tens of thousands of new recruits every year.

This site will help you to learn how to establish criteria for defining a cult, how to recognize cultic, abusive behaviors, and how to guard against unwanted psychological persuasion - the techniques used by cults to recruit and retain their members (and unethical salespersons.).

Identifying A Cult

There has been much confusion about cults and how to ‘pick them’.

Some have difficulty identifying a cult because it is not so easy to identify a Cult that is not even religious. For this reason, over the years, different definitions of what actually is a cult have developed to make it easier when you know little about their beliefs.

Definitions:

Secular Definition

CULT - From the Latin “cultis” which denotes all that is involved in worship, ritual, emotion, liturgy and attitude. This definition actually denotes what we call denominations and sects and would make all religious movements a cult.

Universal Definition

CULT - Any group which has a pyramid type authoritarian leadership structure with all teaching and guidance coming from the person/persons at the top. The group will claim to be the only way to God; Nirvana; Paradise; Ultimate Reality; Full Potential, Way to Happiness etc, and will use thought reform or mind control techniques to gain control and keep their members.

This definition covers cults within all major world religions, along with those cults which have no OBVIOUS religious base such as commercial, educational and psychological cults. Others may define these a little differently, but this is the simplest.

Other Identification Marks

(a) The group will have an ELITIST view of itself in relation to others, and a UNIQUE CAUSE. e.i. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES RIGHT - everyone else is wrong. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES DOING GOD’S WILL - everyone else is in apostasy.

(b) They will promote their cause actively, and in doing so, abuse God-given personal rights and freedoms. This abuse can be THEOLOGICAL, SPIRITUAL, SOCIAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL.

How They Do This

Their leader/s may claim a special, exclusive knowledge, revelation or position of authority given by God.
They believe they are the only true authority and take a critical stance regarding other groups while at the same time praising and exalting their own group, leader/s and work.
They use intimidation or psychological manipulation to keep members loyal to their ranks. This could be in the form of character assignation; lies, being shunned by their friends and etc. This is a vital part of the mind control process.
Members will be expected to give substantial time and/or financial support to the group. This could be compulsory work; coercive methods of instilling guilt on those who have not contributed; for the group as part of their “dynasty”.
There will be great emphasis on loyalty to the group and its teachings. The lives of members will be totally absorbed into the group’s activities. They will have little or no time to think for themselves because of physical and emotional exhaustion. This is also a vital part of the mind control process.
There will be total control over almost all aspects of the private lives of members. This control can be direct through “being obedient to leadership”. Members will look to their leaders for guidance in everything they do.
Bible-based cults may proclaim they have no clergy/laity distinction and no paid ministry class - that they are all equal.
Any dissent or questioning of the group’s teachings is discouraged. Criticism in any form is seen as rebellion. There will be an emphasis on authority, unquestioning obedience and submission. This is vigilantly maintained.
Members are required to demonstrate their loyalty to the group in some way. This could be in the form of “dobbing” on fellow members (including family) under the guise of looking out for their “spiritual welfare”. They may be required to deliberately lie (heavenly deception).
Attempts to leave or reveal embarrassing facts about the group may be met with threats. Some may have taken oaths of loyalty that involve their lives or have signed a “covenant” and feel threatened by this.
Refugees of the group are usually faced with confrontations by other members with coercion.

Some Abuses Of Rights And Freedoms:-

1. Abuse Of Individuality: They adopt a “groupness” mentality. They are not permitted to think for themselves apart from the group and only accept what they are told.

2. Abuse Of Intimacy: Relationships with outsiders are discouraged, broken or seriously hampered.

3. Abuse Of Finances: Pressure to give all you can to the group.

4. “Us Versus Them” Mentality: Isolation from the community in general. Anyone and everything outside the group is seen as “of the devil” or “unenlightened” etc. Their enemies now include former friends and the outside world in general. Those who are involved with these in any way see such involvement as a “means to an end”.

5. Abuse Of Time And Energy: The group controls and uses almost all the members time and energy in group activities. They are usually in a constant state of mental and physical exhaustion.

6. Abuse Of Free Will: They must unquestioning submit to the groups teachings and directions and their own free will is broken. Their “will” actually becomes the groups “will” without their realizing it. This is done either by coercive methods or group pressure over a period of time through intimidation. Both methods make heavy use of “guilt”.

Results Of This Abuse

1. Personality Changes

Friends will say they no longer recognize the person. From a warm, loving personality will come heaped abuse, rejection and feelings of hate. The cult member sees himself as “righteous” in comparison and this comes across in their attitude toward all outsiders.

2. Loss Of Identity

They cannot see themselves as individuals apart from the group.

3. Paranoid - We Are Being Persecuted

Any time you say anything negative about the group, whether justified or not, it is regarded as “persecution”. Any criticism of the individual is also seen as persecution only because they are the “true “enlightened” one - not because they, as an individual, have done the wrong thing. However, at the same time they will feel free to criticize whatever you believe, say and do because they are “the only ones who are right”.

4. Social Disorientation

They lose their ability to socialize outside the group. This can go so far as to not being able to structure their time or make simple decisions for themselves when they are outside the group

Their world-view alters and they perceive the world through their leaders eyes. They become very naive about life in general.

5. Severe Guilt Complexes

They are made to feel guilty of everything they did before entering the group and are to strive to be “good” and “worthy” for “the leader”. Misdemeanors are made into “mountains” so that members are in a constant state of guilt for infringing even the most minor rules. Guilt comes because they aren’t doing enough; entertaining doubts or questions; even thinking rationally for oneself.

This guilt is piled upon pile with new rules constantly being laid down about what is wrong and what is not.

Summary

Not all these points will be found in every cult, but all cults will have some if not most of them, although these may vary to some degree.