Bayle Shanks's website: notes-cults

Possible diagnostic signs of cults

Many of these criteria are met by mainstream governments and religions as well as cults. I have not yet decided if that is because the criteria are too inclusive, or if in fact there are no essential differences between governments, religions, and cults:

Encouraging obedience
- Encouraging a sense that you owe something to the organization or to its leadership for what they've done for you and yours
  - Example: People's temple:

http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/AboutJonestown/Tapes/Tapes/DeathTape/Q042.html

"Miller: Well, I think I still have a right to my own opinion.

Jones: I -- I'm not taking it from you. I'm not taking it from you. McElvane?: Christine, you're only standing here because he was here in the first place. So I don't know what you're talking about, having an individual life. Your life has been extended to the day that you're standing there, because of him. "

Donations
- Encouraging members to give a large amount their outside wealth to the organization
- Note: how to distinguish this from reasonable dues? examples: $10/week: reasonable; give all your possessions to the organization; unreasonable. 10% tithe? $1000/week?
  - Example: People's Temple

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/filmmore/pt.html

" Deborah Layton, Peoples Temple Member, Author, Seductive Poison: As older people joined, it took a year or so and he'd convince the people that he was doing so much in the community and so why not rather than just tithe your twenty percent, why not sell your home, give the money to the church? And that is what people began to do.

...

John R. Hall, Sociologist: They were giving their life's money and savings to the church, but in exchange, the church was agreeing to take care of them in the community, not just in a nursing home. "

Not providing members a chance to discuss the organization's policies amongst themselves

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/filmmore/pt.html

"Hue Fortson Jr., Peoples Temple Member: Being in an environment where you're constantly up, you're constantly busy, and you're made to feel guilty if you take too many luxuries like sleeping -- you tend to not really think for yourself. And I did allow Jones to think for me because I figured that he had the better plan. I gave my rights up to him. As many others did."

"Grace Stoen, Peoples Temple Member: One of the powerful things that Jim used, to keep us to not think, was that we were never really allowed to speak with one another. I'd look around and I'd say, "Am I the only one that feels this way?" I learned, eventually, not to say anything to anyone."

Encouraging members not to get news except as filtered by the organization
- Encouraging members not to communicate outside
Encouraging members not to leave

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/filmmore/pt.html

" Deborah Layton, Peoples Temple Member, Author, Seductive Poison: Every night, at some point, his voice would come over the loudspeaker and he'd say, "I'm sending somebody out tonight, somebody you know, somebody you trust and they're going to act like they want to leave. But this is a loyalty test and you need to turn them in."

Vernon Gosney, Peoples Temple Member: A father would turn in a son. A husband would turn in a wife. A small child would turn in a parent. There was no freedom to express to one another what was going on, because everything was suspect. The most forbidden thing to express was to leave.

Jim Jones Jr., Peoples Temple Member: He had a real issue with separation. People could not leave him. He took it as a betrayal to the cause, and to him personally.

Female Peoples Temple Member (archival): He said, "I really want to get away from him. By Christmas, I will be gone."

Jim Jones (archival): By Christmas, do you want to be gone? By Christmas, do you want to be gone?! By Christmas, do you want to be gone?!!

Male Peoples Temple Member (archival): I would ask you, could I go home and make a trip to see my people?

Jim Jones (archival): I have the power to send you home by Christmas, but it's not on Transworld Airlines. It's blasphemy! It's blasphemy to talk about going back when you have not been given any approval! Do you want to go home?

Male Peoples Temple Member (archival): No.

Jim Jones (archival): Well, then be seated and shut your mouth and don't be in my face anymore. "

Encouraging members to provide a nice personal life for head hierarchs
- For example, sex
  - Example: People's Temple

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/filmmore/pt.html

" Deborah Layton, Peoples Temple Member, Author, Seductive Poison: I had traveled on Bus Seven, which was Jim's bus. And he sat down next to me. And I was sitting there and I thought, "That's weird -- it smells like alcohol next to me." And he leaned over and he said, "Do you know what you do to me?" He had informed me that I was to come in -- on Bus Seven, there was a room in the back for just him. He had books. He had a desk. He had a bed.

When everyone got off the bus at the rest stop, I went into his little room and I sat there and waited for him. And finally he opened the door, and without any talk or anything, he just pulled down his pants and -- and had sex with me. And as I lay there frightened, not sure what to do, and as I shivered, he'd say to me, "This is for you. I'm doing this for you, Debbie." "

The organization having control over people's personal lives and using this control as reward or punishment
emphasis on growth of membership
(from Webster's: "devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for, a person, principle or lifestyle...")
"charismatic" leader
- "In his writings about charismatic authority, Weber applies the term charisma to "a certain quality of an individual personality, by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities. These are such as are not accessible to the ordinary person, but are regarded as of divine origin or as exemplary, and on the basis of them the individual concerned is treated as a leader [...] How the quality in question would be ultimately judged from an ethical, aesthetic, or other such point of view is naturally indifferent for the purpose of definition."[1]

Charismatic authority is 'power legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment, which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers'. " -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_authority

"imposing excessive control over members"
deceit involved in the recruitment and retention of members
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_control#Scholarly_positions

see also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_classifications_of_religious_movements

toread/possibly related links:

(note: i have not yet read and don't agree with many of the following links and am not claiming that any organization mentioned is a cult)

http://www.briancuban.com/is-alcoholics-anonymous-a-cult/
http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/006152.html
http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html
http://www.greatdreams.com/believrs.htm
http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult_q1.html
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/1999/09/01/christian/print.html
http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/a/aa/is_aa_cult.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_checklist
"using allegations or evidence of communal totalism, authoritarianism, charismatic leadership, manipulative and heavy-handed indoctrination, deceptive proselytization, violence and child-abuse, sexual exploitation, emotional intensity in group life, and the use of mind-control. Some individual groups get criticized for alleged tax-privileges, public solicitation, faith-healing and rejection of modern medicine, mental health jeopardy to participants, and corporal punishment." -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-cult_movement
"Lifton outlines the "Eight Criteria for Thought Reform":

1. Milieu Control. This involves the control of information and communication both within the environment and, ultimately, within the individual, resulting in a significant degree of isolation from society at large.
2. Mystical Manipulation. There is manipulation of experiences that appear spontaneous but in fact were planned and orchestrated by the group or its leaders in order to demonstrate divine authority or spiritual advancement or some special gift or talent that will then allow the leader to reinterpret events, scripture, and experiences as he or she wishes.
3. Demand for Purity. The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device used here.
4. Confession. Sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed either to a personal monitor or publicly to the group. There is no confidentiality; members' "sins," "attitudes," and "faults" are discussed and exploited by the leaders.
5. Sacred Science. The group's doctrine or ideology is considered to be the ultimate Truth, beyond all questioning or dispute. Truth is not to be found outside the group. The leader, as the spokesperson for God or for all humanity, is likewise above criticism.
6. Loading the Language. The group interprets or uses words and phrases in new ways so that often the outside world does not understand. This jargon consists of thought-terminating clichés, which serve to alter members' thought processes to conform to the group's way of thinking.
7. Doctrine over person. Member's personal experiences are subordinated to the sacred science and any contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the ideology of the group.
8. Dispensing of existence. The group has the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not. This is usually not literal but means that those in the outside world are not saved, unenlightened, unconscious and they must be converted to the group's ideology. If they do not join the group or are critical of the group, then they must be rejected by the members. Thus, the outside world loses all credibility. In conjunction, should any member leave the group, he or she must be rejected also[1].

 " -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_Reform_and_the_Psychology_of_Totalism

" Milieu control

All communication with outside world is limited, either being strictly filtered or completely cut off. Whether it is a monastery or a behind-closed-doors cult, isolation from the ideas, examples and distractions of the outside world turns the individuals attention to the only remaining form of stimulation, which is the ideology that is being inculcated in them.

This even works at the intrapersonal level, and individuals are discouraged from thinking incorrect thoughts, which may be termed evil, selfish, immoral and so on. Mystical manipulation

A part of the teaching is that the group has a higher purpose than others outside the group. This may be altruistic, such as saving the world or helping people in need. It may also be selfish, for example that group members will be saved when others outside the group will perish.

All things are then attributed and linked to this higher purpose. Coincidences (which actually may be deliberately engineered) are portrayed as symbolic events. Attention is given to the problems of out-group people and attributed to their not being in the group. Revelations are attributed to spiritual causes.

This association of events is used as evidence that the group truly is special and exclusive. Confession

Individuals are encouraged to confess past 'sins' (as defined by the group). This creates a tension between the person's actions and their stated belief that the action is bad, particularly if the statement is made publicly. The consistency principle thus leads the person to fully adopt the belief that the sin is bad and to distance themselves from repeating it.

Discussion of inner fears and anxieties, as well as confessing sins is exposing vulnerabilities and requires the person to place trust in the group and hence bond with them. When we bond with others, they become our friends, and we will tend to adopt their beliefs more easily.

This effect may be exaggerated with intense sessions where deep thoughts and feelings are regularly surfaced. This also has the effect of exhausting people, making them more open to suggestion. Self-sanctification through purity

Individuals are encouraged to constantly push towards an ultimate and unattainable perfection. This may be rewarded with promotion within the group to higher levels, for example by giving them a new status name (acolyte, traveller, master, etc.) or by giving them new authority within the group.

The unattainability of the ultimate perfection is used to induce guilt and show the person to be sinful and hence sustain the requirement for confession and obedience to those higher than them in the groups order of perfection.

Not being perfect may be seen as deserving of punishment, which may be meted out by the higher members of the group or even by the person themselves, who are taught that such atonement and self-flagellation is a valuable method of reaching higher levels of perfection. Aura of sacred science

The beliefs and regulations of the group are framed as perfect, absolute and non-negotiable. The dogma of the group is presented as scientifically correct or otherwise unquestionable.

Rules and processes are therefore to be followed without question, and any transgression is a sin and hence requires atonement or other forms of punishment, as does consideration of any alternative viewpoints. Loaded language

New words and language are created to explain the new and profound meanings that have been discovered. Existing words are also hijacked and given new and different meaning.

This is particularly effective due to the way we think a lot though language. The consequence of this is that the person who controls the meaning of words also controls how people think. In this way, black-and-white thinking is embedded in the language, such that wrong-doers are framed as terrible and evil, whilst those who do right (as defined by the group) are perfect and marvellous.

The meaning of words are kept hidden both from the outside world, giving a sense of exclusivity. The meaning of special words may also be revealed in careful illuminatory rituals, where people who are being elevated within the order are given the power of understanding this new language. Doctrine over person

The importance of the group is elevated over the importance of the individual in all ways. Along with this comes the importance of the the group's ideas and rules over personal beliefs and values.

Past experiences, beliefs and values can all thus be cast as being invalid if they conflict with group rules. In fact this conflict can be used as a reason for confession of sins. Likewise, the beliefs, values and words of those outside the group are equally invalid. Dispensed existence

There is a very sharp line between the group and the outside world. Insiders are to be saved and elevated, whilst outsiders are doomed to failure and loss (which may be eternal).

Who is an outsider or insider is chosen by the group. Thus, any person within the group may be damned at any time. There are no rights of membership except, perhaps, for the leader.

People who leave the group are singled out as particularly evil, weak, lost or otherwise to be despised or pitied. Rather than being ignored or hidden, they are used as examples of how anyone who leaves will be looked down upon and publicly denigrated.

People thus have a constant fear of being cast out, and consequently work hard to be accepted and not be ejected from the group. Outsiders who try to persuade the person to leave are doubly feared.

Dispensation also goes into all aspects of living within the group. Any and all aspects of existence within the group is subject to scrutiny and control. There is no privacy and, ultimately, no free will. " -- http://changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/lifton_thought_reform.htm

"A best definition of a 'cult' for our purposes is simply a group of people with an authoritarian structure, such that the leader has total authority, cannot be questioned and is always right." (later adding, or always right within some domain) -- http://changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/cults.htm

" *

      Initially very friendly, becoming more demanding
    *

      Out-group people cast as sinful, bad or deluded
    *

      Members live in poverty, leaders live in luxury
    *

      A focus on obedience, devotion and money
    *

      Pressure to donate large sums of your own assets
    *

      Leaders can do no wrong and must always be obeyed
    *

      Non-stop work, prayer, etc. that fills every moment
    *

      Severe punishment (psychological and/or physical) for transgressions
    *

      Motivation through encouraging feelings of guilt"

-- http://changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/cults.htm

http://www.anandainfo.com/cult_checklist.html:

1) The group is focused on a living leader to whom members display excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment.

2) The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members and/or making money.

3) Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged.

4) Mind-numbing techniques (for example: meditation, chanting, denunciation sessions, or debilitating work routines) are used to suppress members' doubts.

5) The group's leadership dictates how members should think, act, and feel (for example: members must get permission from leaders to date, change jobs, or get married;) leaders may determine types of clothes to wear, where to live, how to discipline children, and so forth.

6) The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, it's leader(s), and members (for example: the leader is considered the Messiah or an avatar; the group and/or the leader has a special mission to save humanity).

7) The group has a polarized we-they mentality that causes conflict with the wider society.

8) The group's leader is not accountable to any authorities (as are, for example, military commanders and ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream denominations).

9) The group teaches or implies that its "superior" ends justify means that members would have considered unethical before joining the group (for example: collecting money for bogus charities).

10) The group's leadership induces guilt feelings in members in order to control then

11) Members'subservience to the group causes them to give up previous personal goats and interests while devoting inordinate amounts of time to the groups."

12) Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

Adapted with permission from Dr. Michael Langone.

Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group.

 Or, ecstatic "highs" reached by the congregation during services are seen as validating the instructions of the leader.

http://www.scientology-kills.org/cults.htm :

from Michael Langone

    The group is focused on a leader to whom members seem to display excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment.

    The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

    The group is preoccupied with making money.

    Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

    Mind-numbing techniques (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, debilitating work routines) are used to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

    The leadership dictates sometimes in great detail how members should think, act, and feel (for example: members must get permission from leaders to date, change jobs,  get married; leaders may prescribe what types of  clothes to wear, where to live, how to discipline children, and so forth).

    The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and members (for example: the leader is considered the Messiah or an avatar; the group and/or the leader has a special mission to save humanity).

    The group has a polarized us- versus-them mentality, which causes conflict with the wider society.

    The group's leader is not accountable to any authorities (as are, for example, military commanders and ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of  mainstream denominations).

    The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify means that members would have considered unethical before joining the group (for example: collecting money for bogus charities).

    The leadership induces guilt feelings in members in order to control them.

    Members' subservience to the group causes them to cut ties with family and friends, and to give up personal goals and activities that were of interest before joining the group.

    Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group.

    Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members

http://www.ex-premie.org/pages/cultchecklst.htm from Barry Beyerstein:

(a) engage in deceptive recruitment practices? (recruiters typically disguise the true nature and aims of the group when seeking converts)

(b) tend to target vulnerable individuals, as outlined above?

(d) have a closed social system that makes a special effort to isolate acolytes from family, friends, etc.?

(e) use constant bombardment with pro-group and pro-leader messages and exclusion of other messages?

(f) have a rigid, authoritarian hierarchy?

(g) have a leader and ruling clique that are perceived to possess infallible insight, supernatural powers, etc.? Do they claim to have been chosen by some higher authority to rule, and thus to be excused from the normal social restrictions on one’s behavior?

(h) have an eclectic, often muddled and internally contradictory, set of teachings - usually a magic-laden philosophy that claims to have infallible answers to those “big ticket” questions of existence?

(i) have a strict behavior code that governs all aspects of how one should think, feel, and act? Are there strong penalties for deviation?

(j) instill fear of outsiders (the “bunker mentality”)? Does the group try to convince members they are powerless to act without the group’s support and that the world “out there” is uncaring and hostile?

(k) engage in major forms of exploitation (e.g., financial, occupational, or sexual - of self, spouse, or children)?

(l) demand immoral, unethical, or illegal activity on the part of its members?

Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D:

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

‪ The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

‪ Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

‪ Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

‪ The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

‪ The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

‪ The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

‪ The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).

‪ The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

‪ The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

‪ Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

‪ The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

‪ The group is preoccupied with making money.

‪ Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

‪ Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

‪ The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

http://www.ex-premie.org/pages/jwcult1.htm

1. The Commandment Against Doubting.

Cults almost always forbid or discourage their members from doubting anything about the Cult, and especially the Cult Leader. Maharaji was especially explicit about this. For many years, Maharaji had a "Commandment" that his followers were supposed to follow, which was to "Never Leave Room for Doubt in Your Mind." I know he doesn’t have "commandments" anymore, but I think the principle is still there, and I read a transcript of Maharaji speaking in Argentina in which he again lambasted "doubts" as a detriment to your "experience." I know that some PWKs say that the commandment actually meant something else, but I find the explanations absurd. It says what it says. Moreover, in my experience, doubts in the Maharaji cult were always discouraged, with or without the existence of Maharaji’s "commandment."

So, after you receive knowledge, after the repression of your thoughts that it took to get to that point, Maharaji gives you a commandment that says you aren’t supposed to doubt and that doubting interferes with the "experience." Obviously, this makes it nearly impossible to look at knowledge or Maharaji objectively.

2. No Critical Question about the Leader or His Teaching is Legitimate.

One of the true tests of whether someone is in a cult is whether he or she can criticize the Cult Leader. It’s nearly impossible, indeed is impossible, to get a one of Maharaji’s followers to do it. Of course, they will say there is nothing to criticize, because cult thinking will not allow those critiques, those "doubts" to enter, and if they do, they are immediately repressed. It causes a cult member great discomfort to think of questioning or criticizing the Cult Leader and if they have such thoughts, they would NEVER say it publicly. This is because the Maharaji cult is really a personality cult, although it retains some "Eastern spiritual cult" overtones. Obviously, if you attack the "personality" what do you have left? Some PWKs can bring themselves to criticize Elan Vital, and various leaders of that and other related organizations. I did the same thing towards the end of my involvement. But mostly, I just blamed myself for even having any doubts in the first place.

Once you are out of the cult, believe me, you will have no problem criticizing Maharaji. All the critical things you have thought about him, about his "efforts" as master, or about knowledge, or about your experiences as one of his followers, all of which have been repressed, will come out like a raging river, and it feels wonderful.

3. Criticism of the Cult and Especially the Cult Leader, in any Form, is Seen as Lack of "Understanding," or "Confusion."

In my experience, if you express criticism of Maharaji, or any of his decisions, or Knowledge, or anything related, you get the cold shoulder by his followers and his organization and will be considered "confused" or not "synchronized." It’s group pressure, really. And if you do so, you can usually forget about moving up in the organization, getting close to the Lotus Feet, getting a good seat at a program, being invited to "the residence," or getting a good "participation opportunity."

If you do it too much, you might even be categorized as a "bongo." Try sitting in your next "participation meeting" and say some negative stuff about Maharaji or what he’s doing. See how open and tolerant your fellow followers are to such statements. It’s unlikely they will encourage you to air your opinions and vigorously discuss your "negative" views. [By the way, being labeled "negative" is about the worst thing that can happen to you in the Maharaji cult and this is yet another form of mind control.]

4. Threats of Dire Calamity if They Abandon Knowledge/Maharaji.

I could go into the "tons of rotten vegetables" and other things Maharaji said as threats of what would happen if people abandoned the cult, but that isn’t really necessary. Basically, this is internalized in most PWKs, such that they cannot imagine, and fear, what their lives would be like if they left Maharaji. Since Maharaji has been portrayed as being exclusive in his "perfect master" position, PWKs fear there is no place else to go. This is basically phobia indoctrination. It’s the irrational fear of ever leaving the group or even questioning the leader’s authority. Basically, the PWKs (and this was also true for me), cannot visualize a positive, fulfilled future without being a follower of Maharaji, and Maharaji reinforces this in just about everything he says.

As a premie, I described this psychological dependence on Maharaji or at least my image of Maharaji and the fear I had of rejection by him, as my "love for Maharaji," despite the fact that I never even met the guy. Obviously, this is about as far from "love" as you can get. Also, somehow, if I said I "loved" Maharaji, it gave me some comfort that it was less likely I would ever unconsciously reject him, or that he would reject me.

5. There is Never A Legitimate Reason to Leave/Shunning Those Who Leave.

It’s difficult for a follower of Maharaji to see how someone can legitimately leave "that place" and not be miserable. Ex-premies have heard it all, and I thought much the same when people left the cult when I was still a member. People who leave are labeled as "confused," "lacking the proper understanding," having gotten into the cult for "the wrong reasons," wanting a "Hindu spiritual trip," "undisciplined," "never having practiced knowledge," "negative," or seduced by money, sex, rock and roll. You name it. We have heard it all. Just check out Pia Grunbaum’s and Charles Glasser’s websites, if you want to see it in print. And as for being shunned, how many of us lost our premie "friends" when we left? Now that some of us are notorious ex-premies speaking out on the Internet, that "shunning" has evolved into open hostility. It even extends to attack websites, like those of CAC, Charles Glasser and Pia Grunbaum. "Please Consider This" is just a lot more diplomatic on that score, but is essentially and attempt at the same endeavor.

6. The Cult Leader and the Cult Make Followers Feel that Any Problems Are Their Own Fault and Never Maharaji’s.

This, in my opinion, is the essence of the Maharaji cult. The axiom is this: All that is good is due to Maharaji, or at least ultimately due to him, while all that is bad is due to the PWK, because of the PWK’s lack of understanding, always getting distracted, or "forgetting that place," his or her own confusion, etc.

If you want to see examples of this, just read the Maharaji cult websites, and see how the writers thereon engage in logical gymnastics to keep from ever blaming Maharaji for anything that ever happened, but are quite willing to place responsibility on themselves or Maharaji’s other followers.

7. Information is Not Freely Accessible/Information Varies at Different Levels/Leadership Decides Who "Needs to Know" What.

Elan Vital and Maharaji are notoriously secretive. Very little is disclosed, even to members. And of course, we all know how secretive Maharaji has been about his personal life, with people being "x-rated" in order to be around him. And even PWKs complain of the paranoid secrecy within Elan Vital and Maharaji’s organization. This kind of information control, especially when it involves information damaging to the perceptions of Maharaji and knowledge, is very important in the Maharaji cult, and always has been. This is partly why EPO is seen as such a threat, because it exposes information the cult is trying to keep secret, and information is empowering to people, and even encourages them to look critically at things they accepted as truth in the past.

8. Lots of "Loaded Language" (AKA Thought-Terminating Clichés).

These are basically terms that have normal meanings to most people, but to people in the Maharaji cult, they have loaded meanings, that evoke an instantaneous "understanding" such that no further thought about what is being said is necessary. Just to name a few: mind, heart, knowledge, breath (that’s a big one these days), that love, that peace, that experience, that gift (really lots of words with "that" in front of them to convey special meaning), understanding, thirst, negativity, doubt, participation, gratitude, and my personal favorite, "synchronization." Maharaji can use these words peppered throughout his speech and end up really saying nothing, but sounding profound, with appropriate nods from his followers.

http://www.ex-premie.org/pages/culttest.htm

We offer a shorthand list followed by a longer list of cultic traits compiled from: Recovery From Cults, by Michael D. Langone, Captive Hearts, Captive Minds, by Madeleine Tobias and Janja Lalich, 'Crazy' Therapies, by Margaret Singer and Janja Lalich, Combating Cult Mind Control, by Steven Hassan.

Michael Langone, in his article 'Cults, Violence, and the Millennium,' suggests the following three characteristics as essential in the definition of a cultic group:

1. centralized control by a charismatic leader 2. an us-versus-them mentality that isolates 3. a lack of tolerance for dissent

Compiled list:

1.Control-oriented leadership - leader claims to be an all-knowing, liberated being.

2.Hierarchical structure with an elite inner circle - including leader's assistants.

3.Group leader not accountable to any authorities, as are, for example: military commanders, and ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream denominations.

4.Polarized us-versus-them, black-or-white mentality causing conflict with wider society.

5.Manipulation of members by alternating guilt/anxiety/fear/ostracism and attention.

6.Group perception of being spiritually unique/elite and separate from normal culture.

7.Denunciation of other spiritual/religious leaders and groups.

8.Mind-numbing techniques (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used to suppress doubts about group and leader.

9.Spiritual practices emphasize experience rather than rationality.

10.Sexual abuse - leader uses power to sexually exploit members.

11.Economic exploitation of members by leader and assistants.

12.Confidentiality of members private affairs (legal, medical) violated by leader and assistants.

13.Members' subservience to group causes them to cut or weaken ties with family, friends, and personal goals and activities that were of interest before joining group.

14.Reliance on outside professional help, doctors, therapists, etc., discouraged.

15.Leader poses as self-sacrificing divine agent who only promotes members' well-being.

16.Service is inner directed toward the group not the surrounding community.

17.Revamping of members' cultural/moral values to suit leader's lifestyle and program.

18.Conformity to group's/leader's values, life style, mode of dress, diet, esthetics, and so on.

19.Promotion of dependence on group/leader - often disguised.

20.Important personal decisions must be approved by leader - members seek his blessing.

21.Phobia induction vis-à-vis leaving the group/leader.

22.Painful exit process - ex-members ridiculed, threatened, and dumped.

http://members.aol.com/djrtx/23diff.htm

Content Which Is Biblical Content Which Is Totalistic Teaches/matures Clones Leaders open to questions Unquestioning obedience Truth is the bottom line Love and loyalty are the bottom line Teaches the entire Bible Places undue emphasis on portions of Scripture Doctrine is verifiable by others outside the group, agreeing with church fathers, history Doctrine is virtually infallible; espoused and supported by one group alone Leaders proclaim what is truth Adheres to basis tenets of Christian faith passed down over the centuries Purports to have rediscovered or restored "truth" which has been lost to the church for centuries Emphasis Which Is Biblical Emphasis Which Is Totalistic Freedom to form own conclusions Indoctrination. Leaders' conclusions must be accepted. Emphasis on unity Emphasis on uniformity Not elitist Elitist Methods Which Are Biblical Methods Which Are Totalistic Open program Hidden agenda Influences Manipulates Leaders shepherd (guide) the flock Leaders "lord" it over the flock Integration (with the church universal) Isolationist ("we" are the church universal) Mainstream/traditional Originated within last 25 years Church Life Which Is Biblical Church Life Which Is Totalistic Free to join/leave Free to join/leaving results in loss of salvation Results in diversity, freedom Results in conformity, rigidity Provides many avenues of service Allows one avenue of service serving -- their church Lifestyle Which Is Biblical Lifestyle Which Is Totalistic Individual is responsible to God for his life Individual is responsible to leaders Individual seeks, discerns and follows God's will Leaders tell individual what God's will is Holy Spirit directed Leaders, in effect, serve in place of the Holy Spirit Critical thinking encouraged Analytical thinking hindered Complex, no simple answers Simplistic approach to life Reasoned approach based on whole counsel of God, prayer, counsel, circumstances, other information Find a verse to lead you Choices must conform to leaders' dictates, leaders' approval

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5951/recruit.html

     11.  graduated indoctrination:  the actual basis, or belief
          system, is introduced to the target so slowly, the
          victim assimilates information without checking
          it against previous information.  Most commonly,
          truthful principles are utilized initially, then
          the true beliefs and policies of the group are
          intermingled.  An individual may subjectively
          perceive the new ideas of the group as being very
          consistent with his/her own belief system, even
          though those ideas were originally perceived as
          being contrary to that individual.

http://www.freeminds.org/psych/lifton.htm

reprinted from the Mar/Apr 1990 Bethel Ministries Newsletter Eight Marks of a Mind-Control Cult

by Randall Watters

Brainwashing has become almost a household word in the last two decades or so. In 1961, Robert J. Lifton wrote the definitive book on the subject, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, after studying the effects of mind control on American prisoners of war under the Communist Chinese. Lifton outlines eight major factors that can be used to identify whether a group is a destructive cult or not. Any authoritarian religion should be held up to the light in order to determine just how destructive their influence is on their members. Judge for yourselves. Milieu Control

"Milieu" is a French word meaning "surroundings; environment." Cults are able to control the environment around their recruits in a number of ways, but almost always using a form of isolation. Recruits can be physically separated from society, or they can be warned under threat of punishment to stay away from the world's educational media, especially when it might provoke critical thinking. Any books, movies or testimonies of ex-members of the group, or even anyone critical of the group in any way are to be avoided.

Information is carefully kept on each recruit by the mother organization. All are watched, lest they fall behind or get too far ahead of the thinking of the organization. Because it appears that the organization knows so much about everything and everyone, they appear omniscient in the eyes of the recruits. Mystical Manipulation

In religious cults, God is ever-present in the workings of the organization. If a person leaves for any reason, accidents or ill-will that may befall them are always attributed to God's punishment on them. For the faithful, the angels are always said to be working, and stories circulate about how God is truly doing marvelous things among them, because they are "the truth." The organization is therefore given a certain "mystique" that is quite alluring to the new recruit. Demand for Purity

The world is depicted as black and white, with little room for making personal decisions based on a trained conscience. One's conduct is modeled after the ideology of the group, as taught in its literature. People and organizations are pictured as either good or evil, depending on their relationship to the cult.

Universal tendencies of guilt and shame are used to control individuals, even after they leave. There is great difficulty in understanding the complexities of human morality, since everything is polarized and oversimplified. All things classified as evil are to be avoided, and purity is attainable through immersion into the cult's ideology. The Cult of Confession

Serious sins (as defined by the organization) are to be confessed immediately. The members are to be reported if found walking contrary to the rules.

There is often a tendency to derive pleasure from self-degradation through confession. This occurs when all must confess their sins before each other regularly, creating an intense kind of "oneness" within the group. It also allows leaders from within to exercise authority over the weaker ones, using their "sins" as a whip to lead them on. The "Sacred Science"

The cult's ideology becomes the ultimate moral vision for the ordering of human existence. The ideology is too "sacred" to call into question, and a reverence is demanded for the leadership. The cult's ideology makes an exaggerated claim for possessing airtight logic, making it appear as absolute truth with no contradictions. Such an attractive system offers security. Loading the Language

Lifton explains the prolific use of "thought-terminating cliches," expressions or words that are designed to end the conversation or controversy. We are all familiar with the use of the cliches "capitalist" and "imperialist," as used by antiwar demonstrators in the 60's. Such cliches are easily memorized and readily expressed. They are called the "language of non-thought," since the discussion is terminated, not allowing further consideration.

In the Watchtower, for instance, expressions such as "the truth", the "mother organization", the "new system", "apostates" and "worldly" carry with them a judgment on outsiders, leaving them unworthy of further consideration. Doctrine Over Person

Human experience is subordinated to doctrine, no matter how profound or contradictory such experiences seem. The history of the cult is altered to fit their doctrinal logic. The person is only valuable insomuch as they conform to the role models of the cult. Commonsense perceptions are disregarded if they are hostile to the cult's ideology. Dispensing of Existence

The cult decides who has the "right" to exist and who does not. They decide who will perish in the final battle of good over evil. The leaders decide which history books are accurate and which are biased. Families can be cut off and outsiders can be deceived, for they are not fit to exist!

"...if you believe in it, it is a religion or perhaps 'the' religion; and if you do not care one way or another about it, it is a sect; but if you fear and hate it, it is a cult." Leo Pfeffer.

http://www.csj.org/studyindex/studycult/study_zimbar.htm

Any stereotyped collective personality analysis of the Heaven's Gate members proves inadequate when tallied against the resumes of individual members. They represented a wide range of demographic backgrounds, ages, talents, interests and careers prior to committing themselves to a new ideology embodied in the totally regimented, obedient lifestyle that would end with an eternal transformation. Comparable individual diversity has been evident among the members of many different cult groups I've studied over the past several decades. What is common are the recruiting promises, influence agendas and group's coercive influence power that compromise the personal exercise of free will and critical thinking. On the basis of my investigations and the psychological research of colleagues, we can argue the following propositions, some of which will be elaborated:

No one ever joins a "cult." People join interesting groups that promise to fulfill their pressing needs. They become "cults" when they are seen as deceptive, defective, dangerous, or as opposing basic values of their society.
Cults represent each society's "default values," filling in its missing functions. The cult epidemic is diagnostic of where and how society is failing its citizens.
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. As basic human values are being strained, distorted and lost in our rapidly evolving culture, illusions and promissory notes are too readily believed and bought--without reality validation or credit checks.
Whatever any member of a cult has done, you and I could be recruited or seduced into doing--under the right or wrong conditions. The majority of "normal, average, intelligent" individuals can be led to engage in immoral, illegal, irrational, aggressive and self destructive actions that are contrary to their values or personality--when manipulated situational conditions exert their power over individual dispositions.
Cult methods of recruiting, indoctrinating and influencing their members are not exotic forms of mind control, but only more intensely applied mundane tactics of social influence practiced daily by all compliance professionals and societal agents of influence.

The appeal What is the appeal of cults? Imagine being part of a group in which you will find instant friendship, a caring family, respect for your contributions, an identity, safety, security, simplicity, and an organized daily agenda. You will learn new skills, have a respected position, gain personal insight, improve your personality and intelligence. There is no crime or violence and your healthy lifestyle means there is no illness.

Your leader may promise not only to heal any sickness and foretell the future, but give you the gift of immortality, if you are a true believer. In addition, your group's ideology represents a unique spiritual/religious agenda (in other cults it is political, social or personal enhancement) that if followed, will enhance the Human Condition somewhere in the world or cosmos.

Who would fall for such appeals? Most of us, if they were made by someone we trusted, in a setting that was familiar, and especially if we had unfulfilled needs.

Much cult recruitment is done by family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, teachers and highly trained professional recruiters. They recruit not on the streets or airports, but in contexts that are "home bases" for the potential recruit; at schools, in the home, coffee houses, on the job, at sports events, lectures, churches, or drop-in dinners and free personal assessment workshops. The Heaven's Gate group made us aware that recruiting is now also active over the Internet and across the World Wide Web.

In a 1980 study where we (C. Hartley and I) surveyed and interviewed more than 1,000 randomly selected high school students in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, 54 percent reported they had at least one active recruiting attempt by someone they identified with a cult, and 40 percent said they had experienced three to five such contacts. And that was long before electronic cult recruiting could be a new allure for a generation of youngsters growing up as web surfers.

What makes any of us especially vulnerable to cult appeals? Someone is in a transitional phase in life: moved to a new city or country, lost a job, dropped out of school, parents divorced, romantic relationship broken, gave up traditional religion as personally irrelevant. Add to the recipe, all those who find their work tedious and trivial, education abstractly meaningless, social life absent or inconsistent, family remote or dysfunctional, friends too busy to find time for you and trust in government eroded.

Cults promise to fulfill most of those personal individual's needs and also to compensate for a litany of societal failures: to make their slice of the world safe, healthy, caring, predictable and controllable. They will eliminate the increasing feelings of isolation and alienation being created by mobility, technology, competition, meritocracy, incivility, and dehumanized living and working conditions in our society.

In general, cult leaders offer simple solutions to the increasingly complex world problems we all face daily. They offer the simple path to happiness, to success, to salvation by following their simple rules, simple group regimentation and simple total lifestyle. Ultimately, each new member contributes to the power of the leader by trading his or her freedom for the illusion of security and reflected glory that group membership holds out.

It seems like a "win-win" trade for those whose freedom is without power to make a difference in their lives. This may be especially so for the shy among us. Shyness among adults is now escalating to epidemic proportions, according to recent research by Dr. B. Carducci in Indiana and my research team in California. More than 50 percent of college-aged adults report being chronically shy (lacking social skills, low self-esteem, awkward in many social encounters). As with the rise in cult membership, a public health model is essential for understanding how societal pathology is implicated in contributing to the rise in shyness among adults and children in America.

A society in transition Our society is in a curious transitional phase; as science and technology make remarkable advances, antiscientific values and beliefs in the paranormal and occult abound, family values are stridently promoted in Congress and pulpits, yet divorce is rising along with spouse and child abuse, fear of nuclear annihilation in superpower wars is replaced by fears of crime in our streets and drugs in our schools, and the economic gap grows exponentially between the rich and powerful and our legions of poor and powerless.

Such change and confusion create intellectual chaos that makes it difficult for many citizens to believe in anything, to trust anyone, to stand for anything substantial.

On such shifting sands of time and resolve, the cult leader stands firm with simple directions for what to think and feel, and how to act. "Follow me, I know the path to sanity, security and salvation," proclaims Marshall Applewhite, with other cult leaders chanting the same lyric in that celestial chorus. And many will follow.

What makes cults dangerous? It depends in part on the kind of cult since they come in many sizes, purposes and disguises. Some cults are in the business of power and money. They need members to give money, work for free, beg and recruit new members. They won't go the deathly route of the Heaven's Gaters; their danger lies in deception, mindless devotion, and failure to deliver on the recruiting promises.

Danger also comes in the form of insisting on contributions of exorbitant amounts of money (tithing, signing over life insurance, social security or property, and fees for personal testing and training).

Add exhausting labor as another danger (spending all one's waking time begging for money, recruiting new members, or doing menial service for little or no remuneration). Most cult groups demand that members sever ties with former family and friends which creates total dependence on the group for self identity, recognition, social reinforcement. Unquestioning obedience to the leader and following arbitrary rules and regulations eliminates independent, critical thinking, and the exercise of free will. Such cerebral straight jacketing is a terrible danger that can lead in turn to the ultimate twin dangers of committing suicide upon command or destroying the cult's enemies.

Potential for the worst abuse is found in "total situations" where the group is physically and socially isolated from the outside community. The accompanying total milieu and informational control permits idiosyncratic and paranoid thinking to flourish and be shared without limits. The madness of any leader then becomes normalized as members embrace it, and the folly of one becomes folie à deux, and finally, with three or more adherents, it becomes a constitutionally protected belief system that is an ideology defended to the death.

A remarkable thing about cult mind control is that it's so ordinary in the tactics and strategies of social influence employed. They are variants of well-known social psychological principles of compliance, conformity, persuasion, dissonance, reactance, framing, emotional manipulation, and others that are used on all of us daily to entice us: to buy, to try, to donate, to vote, to join, to change, to believe, to love, to hate the enemy.

Cult mind control is not different in kind from these everyday varieties, but in its greater intensity, persistence, duration, and scope. One difference is in its greater efforts to block quitting the group, by imposing high exit costs, replete with induced phobias of harm, failure, and personal isolation.

What's the solution? Heaven's Gate mass suicides have made cults front page news. While their number and ritually methodical formula are unusual, cults are not. They exist as part of the frayed edges of our society and have vital messages for us to reflect upon if we want to prevent such tragedies or our children and neighbors from joining such destructive groups that are on the near horizon.

The solution? Simple. All we have to do is to create an alternative, "perfect cult." We need to work together to find ways to make our society actually deliver on many of those cult promises, to co-opt their appeal, without their deception, distortion and potential for destruction.

No man or woman is an island unto itself, nor a space traveller without an earthly control center. Finding that center, spreading that continent of connections, enriching that core of common humanity should be our first priority as we learn and share a vital lesson from the tragedy of Heaven's Gate.

    This article was published in the American Psychological Association Monitor, May 1997, page 14. It is Copyright 1997 by the American Psychological Association and is reprinted with permission.

http://www.ex-premie.org/pages/selfquiz.htm

Source: John D. Goldhammer website

Find out :

1. Does your group discourage doubts, criticism or ideas that differ from their belief system?

Yes____No____

2. Do you tend to rationalize whatever the group does even when it goes against your sense of right and wrong?

Yes___ No___

3. Do you often feel exhausted from lengthy group activities, meetings and projects?

Yes___ No___

4. Does your group have its own unique words, clichés, slogans, chants, prayers and doctrinal phrases that reinforce the group viewpoint?

Yes___ No___

5. Are doubts viewed as a lack of faith, dedication, commitment or disloyalty?

Yes___ No___

6. Have "your thoughts" become "the enemy?"

Yes___ No___

7. Do you often find yourself doing more and more things in the group or because of group peer pressure that you would not have done on your own?

Yes___ No___

8. Does your group publicly humiliate or criticize members?

Yes___ No___

9. Does your group have a system of punishments and rewards for behavior?

Yes___ No___

10. Group paranoia: Does your group obsessively think other groups or people with different beliefs are out to get them?

Yes___ No___

11. Does the prospect of leaving your group seem scary, difficult?

Yes___ No___

12. Do you feel the need to leave in secret?

Yes___ No___

13. Have you been told something bad might happen if you leave?

Yes___ No___

14. Does your group/belief system think they have/are the only or highest truth, or have the solution for the world's problems?

Yes___ No___

15. Are your leader's ideas or belief system considered beyond reproach or sacred?

Yes___ No___

16. Do you follow a particular individual or belief system that requires unquestioning obedience and loyalty?

Yes___ No___

17. Do members of your group feel specially chosen, superior, exclusive, elite?

Yes___ No___

18. Do you feel the need to save or convert others to your belief system or ideology?

Yes___ No___

19. Is your group secretive to outsiders about its inner workings, teachings, activities or beliefs?

Yes___ No___

20. Does your group equate purity and goodness to being in your group, and impurity or evil to those outside your group?

Yes___ No___

21. Do you place your group's mission or agenda above your own goals and ideals? Do group interests come before your own interest

Yes___ No___

22. Do you find yourself thinking in a we-they, us-versus-them mind set?

Yes___ No___

23. Does your group/system have a clear outside enemy?

Yes___ No___

24. Do you see less and less of your family and friends who do not belong to your group or who do not subscribe to your group's belief system?

Yes___ No___

25. Does your group use frequent public testimonials, confessions, or sharings that reinforce the group's mission or agenda?

Yes___ No___

26. Is communication within, into and out of your group controlled or censored in any manner?

Yes___ No___

27. Does your group criticize, shun, abandon or demean individuals who leave the group?

Yes___ No___

28. Do members seek approval or get permission from group leader(s) for personal life choices?

Yes___ No___

29. Do you feel pressured to attend meetings, events, lectures, seminars? And do you feel guilty if you don't attend?

Yes___ No___

30. Do you feel pressured to give a portion of your income to the group, or spend money on courses, books or special projects?

Yes___ No___

31. Are the group's financial needs more important than your own economic well-being?

Yes___ No___

32. Does your group discriminate against anyone regarding race, gender, belief, or sexual orientation?

Yes___ No___

33. Does your group have a totalitarian structure: a strict, top-down centralized control?

http://www.lermanet.com/cisar/germany/040201.htm

Hareide's Cult Checklist

1. The cult has the Truth.
- The insights administered from cult management are sacred, similar in form to revelation.
2. The cult leader has the power.
Normally there's a leader and the organization is built like a pyramid, with a strong leader at the top.
3. The cult has a strong and simple image of its enemy.
- The external enemy and evil are outside the cult, while the good is inside. Those outside the cult have an inferior existence and are going to hell.
4. Members alter their identity after joining.
- This happens through ceremonies. They like to choose new names. The old identity is downplayed, and old connections with business, family, work and friends are radically changed.
5. The cult takes over social control.
- The requirement for purity means that time, money, access to other information and the reasons for decisions have to be controlled by the cult's organization.
6. The cult maintains an internal enemy in life.
- These are the sins or mistakes committed by cult members. The cult holds confessions for when you have done something wrong. Those who do not participate in this are expelled.
7. The end justifies the means.
- The goals of the cult are more important than the commandments commonly applied in world religions or philosophical moral systems. Lying comes first. Outsiders may be addressed in ambiguous terms. It's OK to mislead outsiders, but not other members. Later the other commandments come into play, such as those of theft, sexuality, family coherence, and in extreme cases, death.
8. The cult develops its own jargon that turns into a closed universe.
- This jargon tends toward irrational and contains mystic manipulation.
9. Cult knowledge is hierarchical and esoteric.
- Beginners down have the same access to the perceptions and information the leaders have. Perceptions are hidden and under the control of the management and are constructed so that one has to earn them through obedience.
10. Leaving the cult results in sanctions.
- This can mean anything from social disconnection to physical persecution.

No one ever joins a "cult." People join interesting groups that promise to fulfill their pressing needs. They become "cults" when they are seen as deceptive, defective, dangerous, or as opposing basic values of their society.
Cults represent each society's "default values," filling in its missing functions. The cult epidemic is diagnostic of where and how society is failing its citizens.
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. As basic human values are being strained, distorted and lost in our rapidly evolving culture, illusions and promissory notes are too readily believed and bought--without reality validation or credit checks.
Whatever any member of a cult has done, you and I could be recruited or seduced into doing--under the right or wrong conditions. The majority of "normal, average, intelligent" individuals can be led to engage in immoral, illegal, irrational, aggressive and self destructive actions that are contrary to their values or personality--when manipulated situational conditions exert their power over individual dispositions.
Cult methods of recruiting, indoctrinating and influencing their members are not exotic forms of mind control, but only more intensely applied mundane tactics of social influence practiced daily by all compliance professionals and societal agents of influence.

Who would fall for such appeals? Most of us, if they were made by someone we trusted, in a setting that was familiar, and especially if we had unfulfilled needs.

Such change and confusion create intellectual chaos that makes it difficult for many citizens to believe in anything, to trust anyone, to stand for anything substantial.

    This article was published in the American Psychological Association Monitor, May 1997, page 14. It is Copyright 1997 by the American Psychological Association and is reprinted with permission.

http://www.ex-premie.org/pages/selfquiz.htm

Source: John D. Goldhammer website

Find out :

1. Does your group discourage doubts, criticism or ideas that differ from their belief system?

Yes____No____

2. Do you tend to rationalize whatever the group does even when it goes against your sense of right and wrong?

Yes___ No___

3. Do you often feel exhausted from lengthy group activities, meetings and projects?

Yes___ No___

4. Does your group have its own unique words, clichés, slogans, chants, prayers and doctrinal phrases that reinforce the group viewpoint?

Yes___ No___

5. Are doubts viewed as a lack of faith, dedication, commitment or disloyalty?

Yes___ No___

6. Have "your thoughts" become "the enemy?"

Yes___ No___

7. Do you often find yourself doing more and more things in the group or because of group peer pressure that you would not have done on your own?

Yes___ No___

8. Does your group publicly humiliate or criticize members?

Yes___ No___

9. Does your group have a system of punishments and rewards for behavior?

Yes___ No___

10. Group paranoia: Does your group obsessively think other groups or people with different beliefs are out to get them?

Yes___ No___

11. Does the prospect of leaving your group seem scary, difficult?

Yes___ No___

12. Do you feel the need to leave in secret?

Yes___ No___

13. Have you been told something bad might happen if you leave?

Yes___ No___

14. Does your group/belief system think they have/are the only or highest truth, or have the solution for the world's problems?

Yes___ No___

15. Are your leader's ideas or belief system considered beyond reproach or sacred?

Yes___ No___

16. Do you follow a particular individual or belief system that requires unquestioning obedience and loyalty?

Yes___ No___

17. Do members of your group feel specially chosen, superior, exclusive, elite?

Yes___ No___

18. Do you feel the need to save or convert others to your belief system or ideology?

Yes___ No___

19. Is your group secretive to outsiders about its inner workings, teachings, activities or beliefs?

Yes___ No___

20. Does your group equate purity and goodness to being in your group, and impurity or evil to those outside your group?

Yes___ No___

21. Do you place your group's mission or agenda above your own goals and ideals? Do group interests come before your own interest

Yes___ No___

22. Do you find yourself thinking in a we-they, us-versus-them mind set?

Yes___ No___

23. Does your group/system have a clear outside enemy?

Yes___ No___

24. Do you see less and less of your family and friends who do not belong to your group or who do not subscribe to your group's belief system?

Yes___ No___

25. Does your group use frequent public testimonials, confessions, or sharings that reinforce the group's mission or agenda?

Yes___ No___

26. Is communication within, into and out of your group controlled or censored in any manner?

Yes___ No___

27. Does your group criticize, shun, abandon or demean individuals who leave the group?

Yes___ No___

28. Do members seek approval or get permission from group leader(s) for personal life choices?

Yes___ No___

29. Do you feel pressured to attend meetings, events, lectures, seminars? And do you feel guilty if you don't attend?

Yes___ No___

30. Do you feel pressured to give a portion of your income to the group, or spend money on courses, books or special projects?

Yes___ No___

31. Are the group's financial needs more important than your own economic well-being?

Yes___ No___

32. Does your group discriminate against anyone regarding race, gender, belief, or sexual orientation?

Yes___ No___

33. Does your group have a totalitarian structure: a strict, top-down centralized control?

http://www.lermanet.com/cisar/germany/040201.htm

Hareide's Cult Checklist

http://www.caic.org.au/general/cultcrit.htm

The cult is authoritarian in its power structure.

The leader is regarded as the supreme authority. He or she may delegate certain power to a few subordinates for the purpose of seeing that members adhere to the leader's wishes and roles. There is no appeal outside of his or her system to greater systems of justice. For example, if a school teacher feels unjustly treated by a principal, appeals can be made. In a cult, the leader claims to have the only and final ruling on all matters.

The cult's leaders tend to be charismatic, determined, and domineering.

They persuade followers to drop their families, jobs, careers, and friends to follow them. They (not the individual) then take over control of their followers' possessions, money, lives. The cult's leaders are self-appointed, messianic persons who claim to have a special mission in life. For example, the flying saucer cult leaders claim that people from outer space have commissioned them to lead people to special places to await a space ship.

The cult's leaders center the veneration of members upon themselves.

Priests, rabbis, ministers, democratic leaders, and leaders of genuinely altruistic movements keep the veneration of adherents focused on God, abstract principles, and group purposes. Cult leaders, in contrast, keep the focus of love, devotion, and allegiance on themselves.

The cult tends to be totalitarian in its control of the behavior of its members.

Cults are likely to dictate in great detail what members wear, eat, when and where they work, sleep, and bathe-as well as what to believe, think, and say. The cult tends to have a double set of ethics. Members are urged to be open and honest within the group, and confess all to the leaders. On the other hand, they are encouraged to deceive and manipulate outsiders or nonmembers. Established religions teach members to be honest and truthful to all, and to abide by one set of ethics.

The cult has basically only two purposes, recruiting new members and fund-raising.

Established religions and altruistic movements may also recruit and raise funds. However, their sole purpose is not to grow larger; such groups have the goals to better the lives of their members and mankind in general. The cults may claim to make social contributions, but in actuality these remain mere claims, or gestures. Their focus is always dominated by recruiting new members and fund-raising.

The cult appears to be innovative and exclusive.

The leader claims to be breaking with tradition, offering something novel, and instituting the only viable system for change that will solve life's problems or the world's ills. While claiming this, the cult then surreptitiously uses systems of psychological coercion on its members to inhibit their ability to examine the actual validity of the claims of the leader and the cult.

The third set of criteria has to do with defining other common elements of coercive psychological systems. If most of Robert Jay Lifton's eight point model of thought reform is being used in a cultic organization, it is most likely a dangerous and destructive cult. These eight points are:

1. ENVIRONMENT CONTROL. Limitation of many/all forms of communication with those outside the group. Books, magazines, letters and visits with friends and family are taboo. "Come out and be separate!"

2. MYSTICAL MANIPULATION. The potential convert to the group becomes convinced of the higher purpose and special calling of the group through a profound encounter/experience, for example, through an alleged miracle or prophetic word of those in the group.

3. DEMAND FOR PURITY. An explicit goal of the group is to bring about some kind of change, whether it be on a global, social, or personal level. "Perfection is possible if one stays with the group and is committed."

4. CULT OF CONFESSION. The unhealthy practice of self disclosure to members in the group. Often in the context of a public gathering in the group, admitting past sins and imperfections, even doubts about the group and critical thoughts about the integrity of the leaders.

5. SACRED SCIENCE. The group's perspective is absolutely true and completely adequate to explain EVERYTHING. The doctrine is not subject to amendments or question. ABSOLUTE conformity to the doctrine is required.

6. LOADED LANGUAGE. A new vocabulary emerges within the context of the group. Group members "think" within the very abstract and narrow parameters of the group's doctrine. The terminology sufficiently stops members from thinking critically by reinforcing a "black and white" mentality. Loaded terms and clich_s prejudice thinking.

7. DOCTRINE OVER PERSON. Pre-group experience and group experience are narrowly and decisively interpreted through the absolute doctrine, even when experience contradicts the doctrine.

8. DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE. Salvation is possible only in the group. Those who leave the group are doomed.

Cult Awareness & Information Center PO Box 2444 Mansfield Q 4122

http://www.caic.org.au/general/coerchrt.htm

 Isolation

Deprives individual of social support, effectively rendering him unable to resist
Makes individual dependent upon interrogator
Develops an intense concern with self.

Once a person is away from longstanding emotional support and thus reality checks, it is fairly easy to set a stage for brainwashing. Spiritually abusive groups work to isolate individuals from friends and family, whether directly, by requiring the individuals to forsake friends and family for the sake of the "Kingdom" (group membership), or indirectly, by preaching the necessity to demonstrate one's love for God by "hating" one's father, mother, family, friends.

Abusive groups are not outward-looking, but inward-looking, insisting that members find all comfort and support and a replacement family within the group. Cut off from friends, relatives, previous relationships, abusive groups surround the recruits and hammer rigid ideologies into their consciousnesses, saturating their senses with specific doctrines and requirements of the group.

Isolated from everyone but those within the group, recruits become dependent upon group members and leaders and find it difficult if not impossible to offer resistance to group teachings. They become self-interested and hyper-vigilant, very fearful should they incur the disapproval of the group, which now offers the only support available to them which has group approval.

Warning signs

The seed of extremism exists wherever a group demands all the free time of a member, insisting he be in church every time the doors are open and calling him to account if he isn't, is critical or disapproving of involvements with friends and family outside the group, encourages secrecy by asking that members not share what they have seen or heard in meetings or about church affairs with outsiders, is openly, publicly, and repeatedly critical of other churches or groups (especially if the group claims to be the only one which speaks for God), is critical when members attend conferences, workshops or services at other churches, checks up on members in any way, i.e., to determine that the reason they gave for missing a meeting was valid, or makes attendance at all church functions mandatory for participating in church ministry or enjoying other benefits of church fellowship.

Once a member stops interacting openly with others, the group's influence is all that matters. He is bombarded with group values and information and there is no one outside the group with whom to share thoughts or who will offer reinforcement or affirmation if the member disagrees with or doubts the values of the group. The process of isolation and the self-doubt it creates allow the group and its leaders to gain power over the members. Leaders may criticize major and minor flaws of members, sometimes publically, or remind them of present or past sins. They may call members names, insult them or ignore them, or practice a combination of ignoring members at some times and receiving them warmly at others, thus maintaining a position of power (i.e., the leaders call the shots.)

The sense of humiliation makes members feel they deserve the poor treatment they are receiving and may cause them to allow themselves to be subjected to any and all indignities out of gratefulness that one as unworthy as they feel is allowed to participate in the group at all. When leaders treat the member well occasionally, they accept any and all crumbs gratefully. Eventually, awareness of how dependent they are on the group and gratitude for the smallest attention contributes to an increasing sense of shame and degradation on the part of the members, who begin to abuse themselves with "litanies of self-blame," i.e., "No matter what they do to me, I deserve it, as sinful and wretched as I am. I deserve no better. I have no rights but to go to hell. I should be grateful for everything I receive, even punishment."

Monopolization of Perception

Fixes attention upon immediate predicament; fosters introspection
Eliminates stimuli competing with those controlled by captor
Frustrates all actions not consistent with compliance

Abusive groups insist on compliance with trival demands related to all facets of life: food, clothing, money, household arrangements, children, conversation. They monitor members' appearances, criticize language and childcare practices. They insist on precise schedules and routines, which may change and be contradictory from day to day or moment to moment, depending on the whims of group leaders.

At first, new members may think these expectations are unreasonable and may dispute them, but later, either because they want to be at peace or because they are afraid, or because everyone else is complying, they attempt to comply. After all, what real difference does it make if a member is not allowed to wear a certain color, or to wear his hair in a certain way, to eat certain foods, or say certain words, to go certain places, watch certain things, or associate with certain individuals. In the overall scheme of things, does it really matter? In fact, in the long run, the member begins to reason, it is probably good to learn these disciplines, and after all, as they have frequently been reminded, they are to submit to spiritual authority as unto the Lord.. Soon it becomes apparent that the demands will be unending, and increasing time and energy are focused on avoiding group disapproval by doing something "wrong." There is a feeling of walking on eggs. Everything becomes important in terms of how the group or its leaders will respond, and members' desires, feelings and ideas become insignificant.

Eventually, members may no longer even know what they want, feel or think. The group has so monopolized all of the members' perceptions with trivial demands that members lose their perspective as to the enormity of the situation they are in.

The leaders may also persuade the members that they have the inside track with God and therefore know how everything should be done. When their behavior results in disastrous consequences, as it often does, the members are blamed. Sometimes the leaders may have moments, especially after abusive episodes, when they appear to humble themselves and confess their faults, and the contrast of these moments of vulnerability with their usual pose of being all-powerful endears them to members and gives hope for some open communication.

Threats sometimes accompany all of these methods. Members are told they will be under God's judgment, under a curse, punished, chastised, chastened if they leave the group or disobey group leaders. Sometimes the leaders, themselves, punish the members, and so members can never be sure when leaders will make good on the threats which they say are God's idea. The members begin to focus on what they can do to meet any and all group demands and how to preserve peace in the short run. Abusive groups may remove children from their parents, control all the money in the group, arrange marriages, destroy personal items of members or hide personal items.

Warning signs:

Preoccupation with trivial demands of daily life, demanding strict compliance with standards of appearance, dress codes, what foods are or are not to be eaten and when, schedules, threats of God's wrath if group rules are not obeyed, a feeling of being monitored, watched constantly by those in the group or by leaders. In other words, what the church wants, believes and thinks its members should do becomes everything, and you feel preoccupied with making sure you are meeting the standards. It no longer matters whether you agree that the standards are correct, only that you follow them and thus keep the peace and in the good graces of leaders.

Induced Debility and Exhaustion

People subjected to this type of spiritual abuse become worn out by tension, fear and continual rushing about in an effort to meet group standards. They must often avoid displays of fear, sorrow or rage, since these may result in ridicule or punishment. Rigid ministry demands and requirements that members attend unreasonable numbers of meetings and events makes the exhaustion and ability to resist group pressure even worse.

Warning Signs:

Feelings of being overwhelmed by demands, close to tears, guilty if one says no to a request or goes against a church standards. Being intimidated or pressured into volunteering for church duties and subjected to scorn or ridicule when one does not "volunteer." Being rebuked or reproved when family or work responsibilities intrude on church responsibilities.

Occasional Indulgences

Provides motivation for compliance

Leaders of abusive groups often sense when members are making plans to leave and may suddenly offer some kind of indulgence, perhaps just love or affection, attention where there was none before, a note or a gesture of concern. Hope that the situation in the church will change or self doubt ("Maybe I'm just imagining it's this bad,") then replace fear or despair and the members decide to stay a while longer. Other groups practice sporadic demonstrations of compassion or affection right in the middle of desperate conflict or abusive episodes. This keeps members off guard and doubting their own perceptions of what is happening.

Some of the brainwashing techniques described are extreme, some groups may use them in a disciplined, regular manner while others use them more sporadically. But even mild, occasional use of these techniques is effective in gaining power.

Warning Signs:

Be concerned if you have had an ongoing desire to leave a church or group you believe may be abusive, but find yourself repeatedly drawn back in just at the moment you are ready to leave, by a call, a comment or moment of compassion. These moments, infrequent as they may be, are enough to keep hope in change alive and thus you sacrifice years and years to an abusive group.

Devaluing the Individual

Creates fear of freedom and dependence upon captors
Creates feelings of helplessness
Develops lack of faith in individual capabilities

Abusive leaders are frequently uncannily able to pick out traits church members are proud of and to use those very traits against the members. Those with natural gifts in the areas of music may be told they are proud or puffed up or "anxious to be up front" if they want to use their talents and denied that opportunity. Those with discernment are called judgmental or critical, the merciful are lacking in holiness or good judgment, the peacemakers are reminded the Lord came to bring a sword, not peace. Sometimes efforts are made to convince members that they really are not gifted teachers or musically talented or prophetically inclined as they believed they were.

When members begin to doubt the one or two special gifts they possess which they have always been sure were God-given, they begin to doubt everything else they have ever believed about themselves, to feel dependent upon church leaders and afraid to leave the group. ("If I've been wrong about even *that*, how can I ever trust myself to make right decisions ever again?").

Warning Signs:

Unwillingness to allow members to use their gifts. Establishing rigid boot camp-like requirements for the sake of proving commitment to the group before gifts may be exercised. Repeatedly criticizing natural giftedness by reminding members they must die to their natural gifts, that Paul, after all, said, "When I'm weak, I'm strong," and that they should expect God to use them in areas other than their areas of giftedness. Emphasizing helps or service to the group as a prerequisite to church ministry. This might take the form of requiring that anyone wanting to serve in any way first have the responsibility of cleaning toilets or cleaning the church for a specified time, that anyone wanting to sing in the worship band must first sing to the children in Sunday School, or that before exercising any gifts at all, members must demonstrate loyalty to the group by faithful attendance at all functions and such things as tithing. No consideration is given to the length of time a new member has been a Christian or to his age or station in life or his unique talents or abilities. The rules apply to everyone alike.

This has the effect of reducing everyone to some kind of lowest common denominator where no one's gifts or natural abilities are valued or appreciated, where the individual is not cherished for the unique blessing he or she is to the body of Christ, where what is most highly valued is service, obedience, submission to authority, and performance without regard to gifts or abilities or, for that matter, individual limitations.

http://www.caic.org.au/general/psymove.htm

The main features

Which are the features most common to spiritual movements which are of psychological influence?

1. The outlook/aspiration of their members
2. The authority of the leader/founder
3. Shared belief in a scripture, revelation, or sayings.
4. Uniqueness of the movement.
5. Salvation through baptism, initiation, or conversion.
6. Belief in a prediction/prophesy
7. Belief versus intellect
8. Common practice of a ritual
9. Sacrifice. Financial secrecy. Favours to the rich.
10. Reprehensible behaviour amongst members.
11. Fear of expulsion

1. Type of members.

There are many types of members, each with their own motivation. First of all there the ones who have been moved to do so out of a genuine spiritual aspiration, prepared to sacrifice. Other members may have been searching for a truth behind the dreadful aspects of life around them and an escape therefrom. People who wrestle with a psychological problem seek (unconsciously) a key or solution to it in a particular teaching or discipline. Then there are those that did so out of a feeling of isolation and loneliness. Lack of true companionship may have made them long to be taken up in a fraternity of kindred souls. People will be drawn to a brotherhood whose aims are within their reach of comprehension and nearest to their hearts. A religious background may make them veer towards a sect that accomodates nostalgia, like the Jehova Witnesses. For younger people it may be an escape from having to enter into a harsh materialistic society. They are in a idealistic life-cycle, prepared to give up their study and career to a worthy cause. Some older people can never make up their minds and wander from one cause to another. The weaker the individual's independance, the more will he be tied to the group. Members who understand group-mechanisms, prepared to cope with them in order to direct their attention to the spirit, will benefit most as they are selective in picking up the cream of what is given and taking the rest with a grain of salt. 2. Leader/founder

New religious movements arise usually around a father/mother figure who has gained authority after receiving a special revelation, communication, truth or insight. His/her charisma will vouchsafe loyal followers, even if his/her lifestyle may give rise to severe doubts by some. He may boost his prestige by claiming to follow the footsteps of a an esteemed spiritual teacher, represent an esoteric tradition, be of noble descent, or channel the wisdom of a great mind. He represents an arche-type in member's subconscious minds. That of a wise father, or mother. He will have a compelling influence on followers who project their father/mother complex on him/her.

During his lifetime the leader will act as a moderator and steer the movement. He will re-interprete his teachings as he sees fit from the responses he receives. The death of the founder marks a turning point. His teachings will become inflexible, as no one dares to temper with them as he did himself. The &eacutelan disappears, a rigidity may enter, unless another figure arises that leads the movement in a different direction, for better or for worse. 3. Doctrine/teaching

The more secret his/her sayings the better. The pronouncements are characterized by great certainty and authority as if it was the word of God. In some cases it is presented as such. The more incomprehensible the secret doctrine of the master the more stronger its appeal. After all it is beyond reason and should appeal only to the heart. An exception should be made for true mystical literature based on inner experience which can hardly be expected to appeal to the intellect, but be appreciated intuitively, especially by those who had similar experiences. Members may adopt fresh meanings to words, talk to each other in a jargon that the outsider can hardly follow (group-speak). The result being an inability to relate in speech, or explain new concepts to the outsider (Fourth Way). 4. Uniqueness of the movement

Movements will extol their benefits over others usually. After all there should be a strong reason to join that particular group. Some present themselves as being the sole way towards salvation, being God's chosen people. Others make a promise of a benefit that is only reserved for members of that sect. To avert attention some pride themselves for absence of a teaching, or their openness and democratic rules.

In short new movements will advance a variety of reasons for their uniqueness. Herewith a few:

Never before has mankind been offered through the leader this discipline/interpretation/insight.
Do not pour new wine in old bottles.
God's, or a celestial, new message to mankind for this particular time.
Impending disaster (pollution, atomic explosion) calls for drastic measures. Salvation only reserved for faithful members.
Fresh interpretation of holy book thanks to insight/revelation of founder.
Esoteric tradition, once accessible to adepts only, now revealed.
New doctrine/insight based on latest scientific discoveries, reveals reality.
Only those following that particular work on self, discipline, or belief, will reach eternity, be released from earth's satanic attraction, cycle of rebirths, etc.
Preparatory group to make way for the coming of the new messiah/world-teacher/avatar.

Noteworthy is the vehemency with which groups stress differences between each other. The closer movements share an outlook the more virulent the attacks on their rivals become, seemingly more than on groups which follow a completely different belief. This manifests itself especially when original groups split. In Christianity one could not steep low enough to attack other followers of Christ, who held a slightly different opinion. It resulted in disastrous wars. Despite their peaceful appearance relatively new spiritual movements like Theosophy, Rosicrucianism etc., following splits, exert themselves in accusations against former comrades.

Attacks against spiritual movements, for instance by SCICOP, are reminiscent of the zeal of a Christian crusade, be it that they have their roots in humanism and its rationalistic/materialistic outlook of the turn of the century. Consequently they are not much different from the movements mentioned here. The psychological background will be discussed further under points 10 and 11. 5. Probation and conversion

Certain sects are too eager to accept individuals. They may have high entrance fees. Others are swayed by zeal to convert. Many movements will put up a barrier by means of an initiation to test the probationer's fitness to become part of the group. Henceforth they will play an important pioneer-part in the foretold future. Having reached such coveted stage members will not fail to follow what they are being told for fear of expulsion.

The new member may undergo a conversion, gaining a completely new insight in the meaning of life, see it in a way the sect does. His previous life with all its relationships has become meaningless. He may have turned himself inside out by a confession of his previous "sins". His conversion is marked by a feeling of peace, happiness and transcendence. 6. Failure of predictions Common belief in a prophesy will be a strong binding force. One of the principal attractions of the first Christian sects was that they offered salvation from a threatening disaster. That being the end of the world. Only the baptized would await a glorious future. Sects like the Jehova's Witnesses have taken over this succesful formula. Christians have had to come up with all sorts of arguments to explain away the unfulfilled prediction of their founder regarding the end of the world: "This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished." (S.Matthew 24:34). One of the lame excuses being that this prediction concerned the fall of Jersusalem only. All prophesies in the New Testament in this respect suggest that the impending doom was to take place in their life-time. Jehovah's Witnesses have taken the risk of being more specific in their predictions. Older members, who built their faith on them, have had the humiliating experience of having had to explain away various times in their lifetime the failure of the outcome of their forewarnings.

But predictions are not limited to the religious faiths. The New Age movements use this shared belief in portents as well. For fifty years an imminent landing of UFO's has been predicted. Various cults claimed in vain to be their first contactees. In other movements the second coming of Christ was a main feature (Benjamin Creme). In Theosophy it was the re-appearance of the Masters of Wisdom in 1975. The uncritical believers in Edgar Cayce's trance sayings put weight on his predictions of cataclysms. Nostradamus' obscure astrological foresayings have captured the minds of people for centuries. Each time his verses were interpreted again to suit the circumstances

Sociologists have observed that failure of prediction results in quite the opposite of the expected effect. Contrary to expectations it binds members together. Usually failure is blamed on a small mishap, or a mistake on the part of the members. To counter-act ridicule they tend to stick together more than ever. Of course there is a limit. This being set at three times failing predictions. Then a severe blow is dealt to the movement. One wonders in this respect how many members of the "People Forever International" sect promoting physical immortality for its followers would have to die before their groups would break up in disappointment. Yet, we see from the Jehovah's Witnesses that skilful manoeuvring may off-set unfulfilled prophecies. 7. Belief versus intellect

Absolute belief that the Bible is God's word is the cornerstone of most orthodox Christian sects. Intellectual analysis of belief is tentamount to heresy. Often disciplines followed in the movements are accompanied by a lowering of the threshold to the unconscious mind. Suggestion will begin to play an important part. Precepts are being experienced as the truth and sure. There is no element of doubt anymore about assumptions and speculation often without any factual foundation. 8. Common practice, work and ritual

Communal singing, ritual and (incomprehensible) practices are strong binding factors. Others are a special food regime, the change of name, or a common grudge. Joint work for the benefit of the group gives the feeling of a common endeavour and unites the participants. So does proselytization in the streets, menial work of construction and renovation of premises. There is a thin line between true participation and exploitation. Dubious was the practice, common in the seventies, to incite members to criticize one of them to an extent that he/she would break down under the weight of often absurd allegations and insults, resulting in a brain-wash effect. 9. Sacrifices, financial secrecy, favours to the rich.

Finances are always a ticklish matter. Human groups always wish to grow. Finances are important. Accountability is often not considered appropriate. Danger arises that members of the inner circle become lax in expenditure of members' contributions. Ambitious schemes call for a constant need for funding. This is the ideal breeding ground for favours to wealthy members. Those who contribute generously stand more chance to be taken in confidence and admitted to the inner circles.

Members will often be expected to offer services to the group. However, if they also have to work for practically free in commercial enterprises it becomes dubious. Movements that gather wealth at the expense of their members are questionable. Seldom or never requests for return of contributions/investments are honoured. 10. Reprehensible behaviour amongst members

Man in a herd may not show the best side of his nature. Unconscious drives may reign his behaviour. This is applicable especially in circumstances that man strives for the spiritual. He may tend to show split-personality behaviour. On one hand the spiritual personality which is supposed to have come to terms with its animal nature. It is wise, friendly and compassionate on the outside. In the shadows lurks the personality that has been forced into the background, still ridden with all the expulsed human frailties. In moments of weakness it will see its chance to play its tricks. It will do so without being noticed by the person involved. The result being: uncharitable behaviour, envy, malicious gossip, harsh words, insensitivity, unfounded criticism and even worse, not expected from such charismatic figure. It is one of the main reasons for people leaving a particular group in great disappointment. 11. Fear of exclusion

The stronger members are tied to a group, the more the fear of exclusion lurks. They may have invested their life's savings in the work (Scientology), paid a a percentage of their income, failed to conclude their study, or make a career, or sacrificed a succesful one. In many cases a member will have alienated himself from family and friends. They have not been able to appreciate his or her sudden conversion. The accompanying fanatism and urge to proselytize has shied them away. In turn the newly converted individual will seek comfort and understanding with members of the spiritual group.

Such isolation seems sometimes to be intentionally sought. Formerly, in the Bhagavan movement, members went about in red/orange dresses and wore mala's with a photo of their master, so setting themselves aside from the mundane world. The Hare Krishna movement goes even further when groups of members go out into the streets in their oriental dresses for song and dance acts. In most movements the alienation is far more subtle and the natural outcome of their general attitude towards the materialistic society.

The true nature of the so-called friendships within the group will only be revealed after a devotee has left the fold. Members have seen this happen, not giving it a thought at the time because it happened to someone else. Suddenly those expulsed experience the humiliation of not be greeted anymore, marriages split up - even children may not recognize a parent anymore. The outcast feels thrown in an abyss. To be cut off from social contacts, to see one's life crumble, is a desparate experience, the magnitude of which for the individual should not be under-estimated. He will feel deep shame. He may have confessed in the group intimate secrets, that are now being ridiculed by his former friends. The expulsee, in his disappointment, may become embittered and even enter into a suicidal mental state.

Those readers who have been a member of a movement may recognize some of the above psychological mechanisms. Their first reaction may be to vow never to enter a group. Let us bear in mind, however, that it should be considered a challenge to face these obstacles for the benefit that may result from association with kindred spirits. A prerequisite is that these conditions are being noticed, looked in the eye, and not denied. The closer people live together, the more group-tensions will build up. Few communes are granted a long life as a result of one or more of the pitfalls summarized above. Headquarters, contrary to expectations. are known to be hotbeds of gossip, mutual repulsion and cynism.

Yet, do not be disheartened and join a group to your liking. After all people who marry also see the pitfalls around them, yet go ahead focussing on a happy union in mutual trust, without regard to the outcome. Involvement with other people will lead to personal growth if the consequences are anticipated. The more one stands on one's own feet the more benefit will arise from cooperating with others. It should be borne in mind that the saying "It is better to give, than to receive" is not merely a moral precept.

On a separate page I have gone into the mysterious presence-phenomenon arising between people that meet in harmony.

http://web.archive.org/web/20060202115434/http://wellspringretreat.org/html/thought_reform.htm

 The following is adapted from Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, by Robert Lifton.

1. MILIEU CONTROL:

Control of communication within the group environment resulting in significant degree of isolation from the surrounding society. When nonmembers are labeled as ignorant, unspiritual, satanic, etc., group members conclude that outsiders have nothing worthwhile to teach them. Thus members are unlikely to look outside the group for information, especially spiritual information. Milieu control includes other techniques to restrict members' contact with the outside world and to be able to make critical, rational judgments about information: overwork, busyness, multiple lengthy meetings, etc. Lifton: "The most basic feature of the thought reform environment, the psychological current upon which all else depends, is the control of human communication. [This includes] not only the individual's communication with the outside..., but also...his communication with himself... [T]hought reform participants may be in doubt as to who is telling what to whom, but the fact that extensive information about everyone is being conveyed to the authorities is always known... Having experienced the impact of what they consider to be an ultimate truth..., they consider it their duty to create an environment containing no more and no less than this 'truth.' [The group member] is deprived of the combination of external information and inner reflection which anyone requires to test the realities of his environment and to maintain a measure of identity separate from it..."

2. MYSTICAL MANIPULATION

The claim of divine authority or spiritual advancement that allows the leader to reinterpret events as he or she wishes, or make prophecies or pronouncements at will, all for the purpose of controlling group members. Lifton: "The inevitable next step after milieu control is extensive personal manipulation... Initiated from above, it seeks to provoke specific patterns of behavior and emotion in such a way that these will appear to have arisen spontaneously from within the environment... ...Ideological totalists...are impelled by a special kind of mystique which not only justifies such manipulations, but makes them mandatory... They are the agents 'chosen' (by history, by God, or by some other supernatural force) to carry out the 'mystical imperative,' the pursuit of which must supersede all considerations of decency or of immediate human welfare. Similarly, any thought or action which questions the higher purpose is considered to be stimulated by a lower purpose, to be backward, selfish, and petty in the face of the great overriding mission... At the level of the individual person, the psychological responses top this manipulative approach revolve about the basic polarity of trust and mistrust. One is asked to accept these manipulations on a basis of trust (or faith)... When trust gives way to mistrust... the higher purpose cannot serve as adequate emotional sustenance. The individual then responds to the manipulations through developing... the psychology of the pawn. Feeling himself unable to escape from forces more powerful than himself, he subordinates everything to adapting himself to them. He becomes sensitive to all kinds of cues, expert at anticipating environmental pressures, and skillful in riding them in such a way that his psychological energies merge with the tide rather than turn painfully against himself. This requires that he participate actively in the manipulation of others, as well as in the endless round of betrayals and self-betrayals which are required. But whatever his response...he has been deprived of the opportunity to exercise his capacities for self-expression and independent action."

3. DEMAND FOR PURITY

The world is viewed as black and white and group members are constantly exhorted to strive for perfection. Consequently, guilt and shame are common and powerful control devices. Lifton: "In the thought reform milieu, as in all situations of ideological totalism, the experiential world is sharply divided into the pure and the impure, into the absolutely good and the absolutely evil. The good and the pure are of course those ideas, feelings, and actions which are consistent with the totalist ideology and policy; anything else is apt to be relegated to the bad and the impure... The philosophical assumption underlying this demand is that absolute purity...is attainable... ...[B]y defining and manipulating the criteria of purity, and then by conducting an all-out war upon impurity, the ideological totalists create a narrow world of guilt and shame. This is perpetuated by an ethos of continuous reform, a demand that one strive permanently and painfully for something which not only does not exist but is in fact alien to the human condition... ...Each person is made vulnerable through his profound inner sensitivities to his own limitations and to his unfulfilled potential...[i.e.,] his existential guilt... ...The individual thus comes to apply the same totalist polarization of good and evil to his judgments of his own character... He must also look upon his impurities as originating from outside influences... ...[O]nce an individual person has experienced the totalist polarization of good and evil, he has great difficulty in regaining a more balanced inner sensitivity to the complexities of human morality..."

4. THE CULT OF CONFESSION

Serious (and often not so serious) sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed, either privately to a personal monitor or publicly to the group at large. Lifton: "Confession is carried beyond its ordinary religious, legal, and therapeutic expressions to the point of becoming a cult in itself. There is the demand that one confess to crimes one has not committed, to sinfulness that is artificially induced, in the name of a cure that is arbitrarily imposed. Such demands are made possible not only by the ubiquitous human tendencies toward guilt and shame but also by the need to give expression to these tendencies. In totalist hands, confession becomes a means of exploiting, rather than offering solace for, these vulnerabilities... The assumption underlying total exposure... is the environment's claim to total ownership of each individual self within it... ...[T]he cult of confession makes it virtually impossible to attain a reasonable balance between worth and humility...

5. THE "SACRED SCIENCE"

The doctrine of the group is considered the ultimate Truth, beyond all questioning or disputing. The leader of the group is likewise above criticism as the spokesperson for God on earth. Lifton: "The totalist milieu contains an aura of sacredness around its basic dogma, holding it out as an ultimate moral vision for the ordering of human existence. This sacredness is evident in the prohibition (whether or not explicit) against the questioning of basic assumptions, and in the reverence which is demanded for the originators of the Word, the present bearers of the Word, and the Word itself. While thus transcending ordinary concerns of logic, however, the milieu at the same time makes an exaggerated claim of airtight logic, of absolute 'scientific' precision. Thus the ultimate moral vision becomes an ultimate science; and the man who dares to criticize it, or to harbor even unspoken alternative ideas, becomes not only immoral and irreverent, but also 'unscientific.' ...The assumption here is not so much that man can be God, but that man's ideas can be God... At the level of the individual, the totalist sacred science can offer much comfort and security. Its appeal lies in its seeming unification of the mystical and the logical modes of existence... For within the framework of the sacred science, there is room for both careful step-by-step syllogism, and seeping, non-rational 'insights.'... ...[S]o strong a hold can the sacred science achieve over his mental processes that if one begins to feel himself attracted to ideas which either contradict or ignore it, he may become guilty and afraid. His quest for knowledge is consequently hampered..."

6. LOADING THE LANGUAGE

The group develops a jargon in many ways unique to itself, often non-understandable to outsiders. This jargon consists of numerous words and phases which the members understand (or think they do), but which really act to dull one's ability to engage in critical thinking. Lifton: "The language of the totalist environment is characterized by the thought-terminating cliché. The most far-reaching and complex of human problems are compressed into brief, highly reductive, definitive-sounding phrases, easily memorized and easily expressed. These become the start and finish of any ideological analysis... Totalist language, then, is repetitiously centered on all-encompassing jargon, prematurely abstract, highly categorical, relentlessly judging, and to anyone but its most devoted advocate, deadly dull: in Lionel Trilling's phrase, 'the language of nonthought.'..."

7. DOCTRINE OVER PERSON

The personal experiences of the group members are subordinated to the "Truth" held by the group -- apparently contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the doctrine of the group. The doctrine is always more important than the individual. Lifton: "This sterile language reflects another characteristic feature of ideological totalism: the subordination of human experience to the claims of doctrine... [W]hen the myth becomes fused with the totalist sacred science, the resulting 'logic' can be so compelling and coercive that it simply replaces the realities of individual experience. Consequently, past historical events are retrospectively altered, wholly rewritten, or ignored, to make them consistent with the doctrinal logic... The same doctrinal primacy prevails in the totalist approach to changing people: the demand that character and identity be reshaped, not in accordance with one's special nature or potentialities, but rather to fit the rigid contours of the doctrinal mold... The underlying assumption is that the doctrine -- including its mythological elements -- is ultimately more valid, true, and real than is any aspect of actual human character or human experience. Thus, even when circumstances require that a totalist movement follow a course of action in conflict with or outside the doctrine, there exists [a need to erect] an elaborate façade of new rationalizations designed to demonstrate the unerring consistency of the doctrine and the unfailing foresight which it provides... Rather than modify the myth in accordance with experience, the will to orthodoxy requires instead that men be modified in order to reaffirm the myth... ...The totalist environment... counters...'deviant' tendencies with the accusation that they stem entirely from personal 'problems'...derived from untoward earlier... influences..."

8. DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE

The group arrogates to itself the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not. Usually held non-literally, this means that those outside the group are unspiritual, worldly, satanic, "unconscious," or whatever, and that they must be converted to the ideas of the group or they will be lost. If they refuse to join the group, then they must be rejected by the group members, even if they are family members. In rare cases this concept gives the group the right to terminate the outsider's life. Lifton: "The totalist environment always draws a sharp line between those whose right to existence can be recognized, and those who possess no such right... [O]ne underlying assumption makes this arrogance mandatory: the conviction that there is just one path to true existence, just one valid mode of being, and that all others are perforce invalid and false... For the individual, the polar emotional conflict is the ultimate existential one of 'being versus nothingness.' He is likely to be drawn to a conversion experience, which he sees as the only means of attaining a path of existence for the future... The totalist environment...thus stimulates in everyone a fear of extinction or annihilation... A person can overcome this fear and find...'confirmation,' not in his individual relationships, but only from the fount of all existence, the totalist Organization. Existence comes to depend upon creed (I believe, therefore I am), upon submission (I obey, therefore I am) and beyond these, upon a sense of total merger with the ideological movement. Ultimately of course one compromises and combines the totalist 'confirmation' with independent elements of personal identity; but one is ever made aware that, should he stray too far along this 'erroneous path,' his right to existence may be withdrawn."