A collection of Facts, Opinions and Comments from survivors of Herbert W. Armstrong, Garner Ted Armstrong, The Worldwide Church of God and its Daughters.
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Religious Charlatans Throughout History "Dear God,
Please Deliver Me From Your Followers..."
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What is a Cult? For those having difficulty understanding what is a cult and what is not, it is best to keep in perspective that cults generally B.I.T.E -- that is, they use behavioral, informational, thought, and emotional control to obtain and maintain their flock. These four components are guidelines. Although most groups practice these four aspects of mind control, not all will practice them to the extreme. On Behavior Control, On Information Control, On Thought Control, On Emotional Control, what is the overall effect? What matters most is the overall impact these thought-stop processes have on a recruit's free will and ability to make personal choices. A person's uniqueness, talents, skills, creativity, and free will should be encouraged and not suppressed in any healthy group. Mind control seeks to mold recruits into the image of the cult leader(s), although recruits may not be aware of this. This process is called "cloning" from a psychological perspective. Recruits' "new identities" within a cult are the result of a systematic process to dissociate them from previous identities, including beliefs and values as well as significant relationships. The end result is the creation of a dual identity: the dominant "cult identity" that is constantly at war with the subconscious old identity. Here is a simple self-test to take to determine whether or not the group in concern is a high-pressure, destructive group, commonly referred to as a "cult". Be fair to yourself and give yourself time to think about each and how the group in question may have implemented these: If you
marked off the majority of the scenarios presented on this form (over
four), then you might seriously consider the possibility that the group
in question is a cult.
Emotional Control Emotional control allows cults to manipulate and narrow the range of a recruit's feelings. The objective of cults is to make recruits think that any doubts about the group is their fault, and never that of the leader(s) or the group. Any negativism toward the group is often misdirected back to the recruit -- causing the recruit to internalize their doubts. This section contains the following: Guilt
Association Guilt AssociationCults exude severe amounts of guilt, typically, in association with the following:
Fear InductionIn order for guilt induction to successfully operate, cults must be able to instill fear in their followers:
ExtremismCults often deal in extremes. Here are a few examples of extremism in cults:
Phobia IndoctrinationPhobia indoctrination is the programming of irrational fears of ever leaving the group or even questioning the leadership's authority. Recruits are manipulated to the extent that they cannot visualize a positive and successful future without being in the group. They are taught that horrific consequences will ensue if they are to leave (i.e., "hell," "demon possession," accidents, suicide, and/or insanity, etc.). Often, former cult members are so confused upon leaving that the group's predictions become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Many former cult members have killed themselves because that was exactly what the group said they would do. Those who leave are often shunned and rejected by the group. From the group perspective, there is never a legitimate reason to leave. Those who leave are perceived as "weak" or "undisciplined," "nonspiritual" or "worldly," "brainwashed by family, friends, counselors" and/or seduced by the world of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll.
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