Make up of a Cult What is a theological cult? A theological cult is an egalitarian organization based on religion that attempts to completely control the minds and actions of the adherents. Personal judgment is suspended and independent thinking is not allowed. Here are 19 indicators of a cult. If the organization that you belong to or are anticipating joining is described by ½ or more of these indicators perhaps you should rethink your choice.
1. Charismatic Leader A leader who can spell bind the members. He will be divinely commissioned or specifically chosen by the former guru. 2. Vague and metaphorical goal A goal that is in the distant future and not clearly defined. Probably expressed as an abstract idea. 3. Sacred doctrine Such as the bible or the Koran. Or perhaps a newly revealed doctrine. However all sources are carefully manipulated to support the doctrine of the cult. 4. Divine coincidence Members must learn of the cult by “grace” not by reasoning or conscious process. Many organizations proselytize extensively. They tell the contact that they have been sent, inspired, to their door to give them the true word. Even if the contact has filled out a form it was still by divine intervention that the prosyliter arrives at the door. Cults try to avoid the member taking credit for discovering the cult by their own initiative because members should be separated from their sense of self determination in order to be fully indoctrinated. Join because you feel good about it not because it makes sense. 5. Monetary commitment Discovery and introduction are almost always FREE but the novice member is told that only by paying dues can he fully enjoy the benefits of membership. 6. Extraordinary measures Having joined, the new adherent is asked to do something that he or she would not normally do. 7. Member complicity 8. Demeaning self worth 9. Confusion and transference. 10. Behavior directed by an “other” All behavior is externally directed. What the member may eat, drink, wear, watch and listen to is directed by mandate of someone other than the member them self. 11. Inclusion by obsession with acceptance. 12. Never express doubt to subordinates No matter what doubts you may have it is a cardinal sin to express these doubts to someone lower on the power ladder than you. To do so would maybe give them motivation to investigate, independently, the issue at hand. The subordinate must always view you as a granite rock when dealing with any ecclesiastical issue. 13. Never express doubt to superiors Even if your doubts are well founded never express them to a superior. If you do either they will deny or report. Deny your doubt or report you to the next higher up in the food chain. 14. The cult supersedes all other commitments This indicator is one of the most potent in the cult arsenal. If the higher ups want you to subordinate other commitments to the desires of the cult this indicates an imminent take over of your control over your own mind. One of the classic approaches to this is The cult represents God—therefore when someone in power speaks it is as if God himself were speaking. So refusing to do what is asked is refusing God's request. 15. Never refuse a request 16. Never ask for something that specifically benefits you. 17. Never take action because the cult leader said to. 18. Respond automatically to the cult leader’s wishes 19. Accept the leaders as the perfect centers of the universe.
There have been charismatic leaders since the beginning of time - there will always be.
They are usually religious or political figures who have the ability to convince others of their claims. People have a natural desire to follow which explains this phenomena repeating over and over again.
carameldreams Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This is so great!!! I'm assuming you wrote it. > Are you okay with me using it as a guide with > family/kids? > > Question on this one: > >17. Never take action because the cult leader > said to. > > Do you mean if the cult leader says to take > action, one has to? Something like that? > > Thanks again!
In order for the cult to disavow responsibility they can never be directly responsible for any action of any member
In Idaho I take this to mean that they cannot be forced to be a mandatory reporter of child abuse.
The bishop is clergy but he's lay clergy so the "church" takes no legal responsibility for his non-action in child abuse cases.
There was a case here several years ago where a guy was a police officer and former Bishop. His wife told the stake president he was molesting babies. They held a love court but left off the police officer who usually sat on love courts because he's a mandatory reporter. They left it to the guy (I think his last name was Young) to turn himself in.
If someone is more familiar with this case, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Unless I missed it, there is another: Because the cult has new "exclusive" or "enlightened" knowledge previously hidden from the great unwashed masses, it makes the members feel that they are superior in some way. This is balanced* with #8 on the list, which makes the member feel unworthy, because they can never fully realize this enlightenment unless they work harder for the cult, resulting in a spiral.
*Balanced may not be the correct word, because the member is actually always a bit "out of balance" because of the dissonance between feeling superior and unworthy at the same time, making them easier to manipulate.
Chicken N. Backpacks Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Unless I missed it, there is another: Because the > cult has new "exclusive" or "enlightened" > knowledge previously hidden from the great > unwashed masses, it makes the members feel that > they are superior in some way. This is balanced* > with #8 on the list, which makes the member feel > unworthy, because they can never fully realize > this enlightenment unless they work harder for the > cult, resulting in a spiral. > > *Balanced may not be the correct word, because > the member is actually always a bit "out of > balance" because of the dissonance between feeling > superior and unworthy at the same time, making > them easier to manipulate.
I believe indicator 3 will cover your issue
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2017 08:07PM by desertman.
I have spent many years researching methodology and application of indoctrination and mind control in theological cults. I hope to complete and publish the book by the same name one day. In the mean time anything that I post here is for use by the members of this forum with proper credit please.
This is my cut-and-paste from a post, there. We seem to have a fair bit of overlap. Readers can combine the two, and I think you've got a fairly comprehensive list.
I want to emphasize that there are degrees of "cultishness," but the more a group manifests these characteristics, the more cultic it is. Also, not all cults are religious! Some are psychology/therapy groups, political, eco-communal, etc.
(Asterisks are used only to indent subcategories.)
*Powerful, charismatic leadership (living or deceased) ****Leadership is accountable only to himself/herself/themselves ****Membership has neither knowledge nor control of finances ****Members compete aggressively for rank and position ****Extreme willingness to dismiss/deny/rationalize sins and shortcomings of the leadership and high-ranking members *Intensive Community, often manifested as: *Legalistic oversight of personal life, including: ****apparel ****family relationships, notably *********sexual and marriage relationships *********shunning of apostate/non-believing family members ****food and drink ****activity requirements which consume members' time *Special revelation/writings unique to their group ****belief that they/their founder complete or correct traditional Christianity and/or the Bible. This typically produces: *********Spiritual elitism (Note "Members compete for position," above) *A belief that everybody/everything outside their group is evil or lost, *Esoteric (hidden) beliefs--secret teachings not available to outsiders or even new believers ******Their group (or confession) possesses the only means to Heaven. *"Spiritualized language" (words unique to their group, and/or special meanings to common words) *Deceit with people outside the group. This may be: ******Misleading outsiders about the group's true beliefs and practices (note "Esoteric Beliefs," above) and ******Defrauding outsiders financially (since they are "of Satan")