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Cults

Cults. What is a Cult. Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics: 1. It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members 2. It forms an elitist totalitarian society.

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Cults

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  1. Cults

  2. What is a Cult Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics: 1. It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members 2. It forms an elitist totalitarian society. 3. Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma. 4. It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds recruit people. 5. Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.

  3. Categories of Cults • Religious Cults • Communal living common. • Members may leave or not join society's workforce. • Average age at the point of recruitment is in the 20's. • Registered as religious groups. • Appear to offer association with a group interested in making the world a better place via political, spiritual or other means.

  4. Categories of Cults • Therapy Cults • Communal Living rare. • Members usually stay in society's workforce. • Average age at the point of recruitment is in the mid 30's • Registered as 'non profit making' groups. • Appear to offer association with a group giving courses in some kind of self improvement or self help technique or therapy.

  5. Who do Cults Recruit? • Cults want people who are: • Intelligent. • Idealistic. • Well educated. • Economically advantaged. • Intellectually or Spiritually curious. • Any age.

  6. How Cults Work 1.  First, there’s usually a charismatic leader (or "teacher") who draws you in. 2.  Next, the leader sets up an in group vs. an out group. 3. Control is maintained: abuse keeps in you line, as well as love and praise. 4. To leave is to be cut off or put into danger.

  7. Why don’t people leave? • Deep within, most adults want to let go and have someone take care of them. It is often unconscious. Adult life is scary; work, bosses, health care etc. • Deep within many people hope that someone will offer protection. These cults often do just that. Despite what you may think, a cult often will offer attention and warmth; at least in the beginning.

  8. How to help Cult Members • DO try to keep in regular contact via mail or telephone even if there is little response. • DO express sincere love for the cult member at every available opportunity. • DO always welcome the cult member back into the family • DO record all the names, addresses and phone numbers of people linked with the cult. • DO NOT say:"You are in a cult; you are brainwashed". • DO NOT give money to the member of the group. • DO NOT antagonize the cult member by ridiculing his/her beliefs.

  9. Leaving a Cult • WALK OUTS • These people simply rebel from the situation and leave. • Unless they shed the mind control, walk-outs may lead destructive or fear-filled lives. • Some adopt the attitude that since they couldn't measure up to the system's requirements, there isn't any hope for them anyway, so they might as well "live it up" while they can. • Some develop patterns of living that they wouldn't have chosen otherwise.

  10. Leaving a Cult • KICKED OUTS • These people are excommunicated [disfellowshipped] or shunned for a variety of reasons. • People who are kicked out of cults are commonly filled with grief and guilt. They are still very loyal to the group's beliefs and its people, even though rejected by the group.

  11. Leaving a Cult • BURN OUTS • These people have been so abused spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally and financially, that they are barely able to function on a normal basis. • Some "burn-outs" exhibit the Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome that is commonly experienced by war survivors. They are usually very confused, perhaps even physically ill, afraid and unable to trust anyone, most of all themselves.

  12. Leaving a Cult • FIND OUTS • These are people who are given, or stumble onto information which explains the situation enabling them to leave the mind control without fear and guilt. • These people usually take several years to work through the adjustment to normal living and attitudes. Education, scriptural as well as secular, cultivating new friends and establishing a new environment and restoring one's God-given personality are most helpful. The more one learns, the greater the healing.

  13. Examples of Cults • Business Cult – Amway • Political Cult – White supremacists • UFO Cult – Raelians • Eastern Religious Cult – Hare Krishna • Christian Cult – People’s Temple

  14. Because I couldn’t resist • Sect of the Gadget Hackwrench • “She is the divine being, the most untouched and perfect sibling of the great God on Earth”, says one of the participants. “Why I love her? It’s stupid question, how I can’t love the Goddess?” “She is strict, cute, optimistic and her level of technical knowledge is unachievable for a mortal being.”Those are just a few of the testimonies of the sect followers.

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