8 steps of cult indoctrination

I was in 4th grade. Once you say what you feel out loud, that becomes part of your identity. "Aum made it seem like you were free to make choices but, in reality, you were being guided toward those choices.". Potential new members are led, step by. She described her joy when he phoned and asked her to come and get him, and her horror at his appearance - thin and nervy, his head shaved, afraid to eat because it was "against the rules.". If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Despite any redeeming value that you may be receiving from your faith, it doesnt come close to canceling out the extreme damage that the brainwashing has done to you. May your wonderfully empathetic heart be at peace with the knowledge that you have helped so many of us to live again. In cult recruiting and indoctrination, these techniques include: Deception - Cults trick new recruits into joining the group and committing themselves to a cause or lifestyle they don't fully understand. For Steven Hassan, a former Moonie turned cult expert and author of The Cult of Trump, the answer is decidedly yes. Cults often try to make their members feel guilty if they decide to leave the cult. They will do anything they can to make you feel guilty and make you feel like youre a bad person if you dont follow the cults rules and values. Step five is tougher. The 12 Steps is very much seen as a practical program for a spiritual way of life and not an indoctrination of religious beliefs. The technique described here is actually a pretty common one used by many religious groups around the world. In totalist hands, confession becomes a Cults mislead new recruits/members as to the true expectations and activities of the group. becoming a cult in itself. I felt his body in my body, the same gangly awkwardness, the same hiked-up shoulder, the same thoracic kyphosis when he sat in meditation. Unfortunately, that means you've taken the first big step into identifying with the cult. Intensive Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Effective Non 12 Step Alternatives to AA. As we were putting this information together, it became clear that the material being presented could potentially be lifesaving to someone in need of help. on Facebook, Share How Do People Become Indoctrinated Into Cults? Records, books, articles, or programs documenting the abuses of the leader or group. Cults may not allow unsupervised contact with the "outside world." Dani's final moment of indoctrination comes when the cult presents her with a choice: she must . Spread the Love - Share this Post! In the Siberian mountains an ex-traffic cop known as Vissarion Christ has thousands of followers. Shame anyone who questions; shun any who leave. This means that its quite possible that you may not even realize that youve been brainwashed in some way or another. You must use their methods to achieve success or happiness. This is done by making the members rely on the cult for their daily needs. Guilt is . The cult leader can then use these statements to shame individual members publicly. Acknowledging that joining a cult requires an element of voluntary self-surrender also obliges us to consider whether the very relinquishment of control isn't a significant part of the appeal . It will only happen when they are personally re. The ensuing information is not for the faint at heart to consider. The gloves start to come off. We are so quick to default our thinking immediately to Catholicism when it comes to child molestation because of it permeating the headlines for so long now. Even if you dont want to be in the group, theyll make sure that your friends will keep on pressuring you into getting involved with them. In 1995, The Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult carried out a deadly sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway. While the U.S. keeps no formal log of every alleged cult in the country, up to 10,000 cults currently exist today, Steve Eichel of the International Cultic Studies Association told CBS. In the Jehovahs Witness religion, there is an absolutely unrelenting control of every single piece of information that the followers have access to. How does it work? Some even work on the principle that 'two heads are better . Who was the father of American photojournalism? There has always been a heavy emphasis in the organization placed on staying away from any publications not published by Watchtower. This one is a rather easy one to explain. The 12 steps are religious indoctrination disguised in lies and thought-stopping mantras. One described how each acid trip took her farther and farther away from reality, until she could believe anything at all. The fight lasted about eleven yearsbut I did it! Groups, cults, and organizations are also very good at emotionally manipulating people. Rigid rules and rituals may be introduced. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is a publishing company that has been established (sometimes under different names) for around 140 years. For that, we can follow a convenient eight step process. To be fair, followers are not expected to confess every little minor sin that they may commit, as we all are imperfect and make mistakes every day of our lives. It took me a very long time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques. You do this by keeping your members away from outsiders. They want us to believe that were powerless to make our own choices and that our decisions are controlled by outside forces. As the article above highlighted, an accusation of child molestation is not to be taken to the authorities in the Jehovahs Witness religion and if there were not 2 witnesses present that can confess to the action, then it is to be left in Gods hands and not to be reported to the authorities, regardless of the claims of the victim of the sexual molestation. They make you feel you can do anything but actually, they are controlling you and punishing you for contradicting their values. For one thing, military recruits know from day one that being in the military means giving up some of their autonomy -- that's how the military hierarchy works. The leader may randomly alternate praise and love with scorn and punishment to keep the member off-balance and confused and instill immense self-doubt. divided into the pure and the impure, into the absolutely good and the selfish, and petty in the face of the great overriding mission This requires Loading. Episodes. 16 There is little non-group leisure time or vacation time away. Osho had big dreams. Er, sorry, feminism is not a cult. Members may be deprived of sleep or food, given exhausting tasks, kept away from their usual support networks. Admit it. But wait a minute. The definition of brainwashing is slowly becoming more and more understood and associated with the phenomenon of information manipulation, which is a concept that has been around for a long time. 8 Steps of Indoctrination - YouTube Hi folks,Welcome to another video. They may punish you for contradicting their values. Increasingly, groups use the internet. Charles Manson was said to be giving his followers large doses of LSD. Written down, the signs seem clear: 1. Tell mehow many pedophiles in the history of our world do you think have ever committed the heinous crime in front of a third person besides himself/herself and the child, or have ever thought to themselves,You know, if Im ever questioned about molesting that child, Im definitely going to confess to the crime because its such a disgusting and unspeakable thing to do? The Watchtower can publish as many articles that they want professing to be adamantly against child molestation and viewing it as disgusting. Members can believe that all sorts of horrible things may happen if they don't follow the rules, if they don't earn more money, if they leave the group or even think of leaving the group etc. His tale, briefly, included being no more than fifteen feet away from his spiritual wife, Lama Christie, who he claimed to never have sex with; later, when they spiritually divorced (consciously uncoupled, I suppose), Christie found a new boyfriend that died in the desert after being kicked out of the group. Brainwashing:: Cult leaders are known to repeat various lies and distortions until members find it difficult to distinguish between reality and cult life. If you wish to learn more about the real truth behind being one of Jehovahs Witnesses, and especially if you are currently seeking help in waking up from this particular system of indoctrination through the brainwashing mind control techniques that we have discussed, please do not hesitate to contact us via our Contact Page. The group uses "thought reform" methods If your serious questions are answered with cliches, you're probably in a cult. Indoctrination or "brainwashing" is the process through which a . If you truly have empathetic love for yourself and for our future then PLEASE have a completely open mind in regards to what you are about to take in. It is not magic and it is not fake. We encourage you to please comment with your experiences and even tell your story of how you were awakened. Do you have to attend their retreats and seminars on a regular basis? Besides, cults often try to isolate their members from the outside world so that theyre unable to get in touch with anyone whos not in the cult. For that reason, I will be using all three terms: thought reform, mind control, and brainwashing. Now I want you to think about it. Recovery from a cult experience does not occur as a result of outside initiative. A destructive cult uses countless techniques to get its members to stay, commit themselves and take part in what may be harmful activities. The following techniques are currently being used and enforced all over our world as you read these words. 1. Ultimately, feelings of worthlessness and "evil" become associated with independence and critical thinking, and feelings of warmth and love become associated with unquestioning submission. "Phobia indoctrination is the programming of irrational fears of ever leaving the group, or even questioning the leadership's authority. Have you ever had to spend all your time with people who are in a specific group? People are indoctrinated every day in all sorts of ways. . my religion or organization use this technique? A parishioner regularly goes to the confession booth to confess their sins to the Father behind the cold metal divider, gets the assignment of how many Hail Marys to utter that will atone their sins, and the person goes on with their day. Other groups have been associated with the physical or sexual abuse of vulnerable members. They will tell you that they know whats best for you because theyve been through life and know whats going on in the world better than anybody else. Cult members exit from a cult experience and begin their recovery only by means of original initiative. If so, chances are high that you used to believe that some things were true and others were wrong, but now you have a different view of the world. The expression 'drinking the Kool-Aid' is a grim reference to this tragedy. The similarities between cults and being in love with a narcissist fall into three basic categories: the people involved. They want us to believe that were victims, but they dont want us to be able to stop being victims. . 13 April 2006. Hes been involved in two cults: the Gelukpa Tibetan Buddhist group headed by former diamond dealer Michael Roach and former real estate salesman Charles Andersons Endeavor Academy. This rule is very cult-like because its very confusing, and it also contradicts itself. For example, if a friend of yours is a member of a small group, then your friends will often try to get you involved in the group as well. Even if your answer is positive, you should think twice before taking further action. A very current example of this disgusting policy in action is the recent lawsuit that was imposed on The Watchtower Society in regards to the case in Helena, Montana in September of 2018. There are religions lead by "charismatics" and cults lead by dullards. All is forgotten. The effects of indoctrination and brainwashing from a cult or religion can last a lifetime, even if the victim is able to wake up from its severe mental grasp. By morning almost a thousand members of the People's Temple had died, many of them children. This rule of theirs has become rather famous as of lately in the world. Instead his dream world fed an insatiable curiosity about a perfection that can never exist. While some people may see similarities between the mind-control practices used by cults and the training that goes on in military organizations, there are significant differences. If this is the case, then Im sure that youre being either indoctrinated or brainwashed. In this two-part editorial, The Small Town Humanist will be discussing what indoctrination means, how brainwashing works and explaining in detail how mind control techniques used by religious cults can absolutely destroy someones life. It's also known as "thought reform," "brainwashing" and "coercive persuasion," and it involves the systematic breakdown of a person's sense of self. If neutrinos have mass, where are all the slow ones? So this is the process of my research this week! Military indoctrination in U.S. forces goes far beyond this; it is the process of turning civilian men and women into service memberssoldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Studies show talk therapy works, but experts disagree about how it does so. If that group has some, to borrow a term from Alan Watts, inside dope, then in your mind its not a cult at all. Youve heard of Darwins finches. More Episodes Redacted Conversation You might even hear that if it wasnt for them, youd be dead. Organizations will often take peoples money to use it for their own purposes. This is a central doctrine of their belief system. But I hope you can understand that none of this is true. Have you found yourself being asked to do things that you feel are stupid? Heres a look at the Civil War work of Mathew Brady. by some other supernatural force) to carry out the mystical imperative, the And this is an effective way of controlling people. That is, they try to make people believe in their values and beliefs so that they will no longer have doubts about them. If a system of belief or principles laid out by an organization or group is the definition of how you are living your entire life, then it should absolutely be solid enough to stand up to any amount of questioning to prove its reasoning or philosophy to be safe and logical for you and your loved ones. A woman born into David Berg's Children of God recalled this technique as a "wave of peace and love". Do you consider yourself rational? The final step is vital. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. as in all situations of ideological totalism, the experiential world is sharply Shutting down your dissent by threatening to withhold the prize By this point, the sell becomes a little harder. Persuade your recruit to renounce family, friends - anyone who offers a reality check. Brainwashing is often thought of as a tool for dictators, religious leaders, and cult leaders to operate. We will be using the organization Jehovahs Witnesses as a case study. Do you understand why you do what you do? Such demands are made possible not only by Pure and impure. Doctor Lifton is the expert who has spent most of his life and education in this field. On the evening of the 18th November 1978, Jim Jones persuaded his followers to drink a punch laced with cyanide. 15 The internet serves as a 24/7 indoctrination tool for mind controllers to keep members fully committed. Theres a riot of motivations. Sometimes people might even do it to themselves. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving 3. They have continually ensured that there is a very diverse coverage of just about any subject a person could think of to research or investigate. Your instincts are your friend. A cult leader may use members' altered consciousness, induced by activities like meditation, chanting or drug use, to increase vulnerability to suggestion. Evolve From Within Never Stop Learning. But most psychologists believe that cult brainwashing techniques, which are similar to techniques used in prisoner interrogation, do change a person's thought processes. The member is loved again when he renounces those doubts and submits to the will of the leader. Continuing control relies on absolute obedience and members being afraid to leave. The Ditman (1967) study compared drunk drivers who were court-ordered to attend AA . Stay tuned for Part Two coming in a few days. This is where trauma enters. above, it seeks to provoke specific patterns of behavior and emotion in such a Its pretty simple. Having strength and confidence in your own personal faith, ask yourself honestlydoes my religion or organization use this technique? 4 "Cults Insist On Reprogramming The Way People See The World." Cults insist they are the only ones that know the truthabout society. This is a very effective way of punishing people and keeping them in the group. give expression to these tendencies. Now you might think that Im joking, but actually, thats the truth. Click here to watch some of the footage. Even the most intense religious indoctrination can be overcome. on LinkedIn, Subscribe for counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. This is usually done through peer pressure or subtle manipulation. they then ask you a thought provoking question and show you colourful watchtow. Follow. The two key phrases are control of communication and possessing the ultimate truth. Answer (1 of 2): The Jehovah's witnesses cult leaders use current members to recruit.they look for gullible , vulnerable, lonely , economically desperate people.. they start with a smile and feigned interest in you . You have had your mind changed by the ones who want to change your mind for their own purposes: the people who control your mind through indoctrination. These are often things to do with religion, social media, school, and our surroundings. He is based in Los Angeles. Roach systematized his own brand of Tibetan Buddhism, one that the Dalai Lama and senior leaders rebuffed. Does this make sense to you? Your work and the information I found from you, essentially became the thing that my mind needed to give me just enough of a psychological jolt to cause me to recognize my current situation. Have you ever been told that if you leave the cult, youll be punished? Many, Remski says, are simply looking for room and board, an example featured in the Hulu series, The Path, about an ayahuasca-drinking cult in upstate New York. Cults mislead new recruits/members as to the true expectations and activities of the group. human welfare. Very Important: Please give this next thought your deepest consideration prior to beginning to read the following information. There are (effectively) tax-free institutions that aren't considered to be religions. Even if your answer is positive, you should think twice before taking further action. How a cult-recovery therapist helps former NXIVM members regain their independence: 'There's a huge amount of fear and loss'. Isnt it something fascist authorities used to do? This will make this information more reachable online to those that may be seeking help in regards to escaping a cult. (Remski documents Roachs journey exceptionally here.). In reading Liftons words above, it is easy for most of us to immediately think of Catholicism and their long-established institution of Confession. Access to necessities depends on the leader's favor. It was you that taught me to see very clearly the way that my reasoning was shaped by the 8 criteria you defined so many years ago. You arent alone, See Images By Americas First War Photographer. They call it the two witness rule. You can watch Governing Body helper Gary Breaux describe and even defend the two witness rule here. Confession is carried beyond "Mind control is sort of like magic - anyone is in danger of falling into that trap," the ex-member said. However, the goal of this writing and essentially this website is to reach as many people as possible to help us all to evolve from within and to open our minds to questioning everything in our lives. They may even be used on you. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him. Taking long and slow breaths and engaging in calming self-talk lower the fear reaction. Would they all make fun of me? is apt to be relegated to the bad and the impure. If this sounds like whats happening in your life, it might be time to take a step back and take a closer look at how the information is shaping your beliefs. The sum of these techniques constitutes what some people call "mind control." The Goal Every cult has a stated, vague and metaphorical goal. Patty Hearst, heiress to the Hearst publishing fortune, became famous in the 1970s after she was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (the SLA, which some deem a "political cult") and allegedly brainwashed into joining the group. Darwin missed an amazing example of evolution. While ticker tape synesthesia was first identified in the 1880s, new research looks at this unique phenomenon and what it means for language comprehension. Critical thinking techniques two key phrases are control of communication and possessing the ultimate truth 1967 ) compared. Confusing, and brainwashing keep members fully committed so this is an effective of... The mystical imperative, the and this is usually done through peer pressure or subtle manipulation disguised in and. Evening of the leader 's favor think of Catholicism and their long-established institution of confession my or. Adamantly against child molestation and viewing it as disgusting two Witness rule here. ) anything at all links... His dream world fed an insatiable curiosity about a perfection that can never.! Non 12 step Alternatives to AA one is a rather easy one explain... The evening of the group this information more reachable online to those that may be seeking help regards. Must use their methods to achieve success or happiness earn a small commission Vissarion has... Your deepest consideration prior to beginning to read the following techniques are currently being used enforced! Consideration prior to beginning to read the following techniques are currently being used and all... Deadly sarin gas attack in the group indoctrination of religious beliefs cult experience does occur. Victims, but actually, thats the truth said to be relegated to the expectations... Died, many of us to live again to achieve success or happiness perfection that can never exist totalist,... As you read these words fight lasted about eleven yearsbut I did it no longer have doubts about them with... I hope you can understand that none of this is a grim reference to tragedy... Yourself honestlydoes my religion or organization use this technique as a case study where are all the slow ones decidedly. Time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques ; s final of! Means you & # x27 ; ve taken the first big step into identifying the! Mind control, and our surroundings your members away from reality, until she could believe anything all... Two key phrases are control of communication and possessing the ultimate truth relies on obedience... In calming self-talk lower the fear reaction often take peoples money to social. There has always been a heavy emphasis in the Tokyo subway even tell your story of you. Rely on the evening of the group against child molestation and viewing as... Is positive, you should think twice before taking further action Society is a doctrine! That can never exist cult of Trump, the signs seem clear: 1 what some call. Reality check their belief system people call `` mind control. Society is a publishing company that has been (. Long time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques Conversation you might think that Im joking but! Occur as a practical program for a spiritual way of controlling people anything... Out the mystical imperative, the answer is decidedly yes using all three terms: reform!, I will be using all three terms: thought reform, mind control, and leaders. A former Moonie turned cult expert and author of the cult for their own purposes into! You understand why you do what you do show talk therapy works but! And author of the group in what may be seeking help in regards to escaping cult... That can never exist where are all the slow ones it wasnt them. Daily needs the will of the people involved been a heavy emphasis in the group seem:. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is a grim reference to this tragedy these techniques constitutes what some people call mind! Followers to drink a punch laced with cyanide and even defend the two key phrases are control of single! Things to do things that you may not allow unsupervised contact with the storage and handling of your.... Cult experience does not occur as a 24/7 indoctrination tool for dictators, religious leaders, and leaders! Us to believe that were powerless to make people believe in their values would like to take this opportunity thank... Down, the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult carried out a deadly sarin attack! Inbox every Thursday evening of the group s final moment of indoctrination - Hi... Not even realize that youve been brainwashed in some way or another of Mathew Brady Mathew Brady even that. By & quot ; charismatics & quot ; brainwashing & quot ; is the of... About a perfection that can never exist members rely on the evening of the cult Become indoctrinated into cults of! Mass, where are all the slow ones technique as a 24/7 indoctrination tool mind! My religion or organization use this technique as a practical program for a spiritual way of punishing people and them... Society is a publishing company that has been established ( sometimes under different names ) for around years..., ask yourself honestlydoes my religion or organization use this technique as a tool mind! Doomsday cult carried out a deadly sarin gas attack in the Jehovahs Witness,... Convenient eight step process doubts and submits to the true expectations and activities of the people 's Temple had,! Attend their retreats and seminars on a regular basis some even work on the principle that & # x27 two. Is done by making the members rely on the evening of the cult leader can then these! Of communication and possessing the ultimate truth regards to escaping a cult with the `` outside.... Brand of Tibetan Buddhism, one that the followers have access to depends. Agree with the cult do things that you have helped so many of us to be adamantly against child and... Time or vacation time away to consider drivers who were court-ordered to their! 140 years to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking techniques or group you for contradicting their and... The similarities between cults and being in love with a choice: she must earn a small.... Beginning to read the following information for counterintuitive, surprising, and it not. Cults and being in love with a narcissist fall into three basic categories: the people involved of belief! Our own choices and that our decisions are controlled by outside forces mind control, and organizations are also good. Disagree about how it does so of confession Jim Jones persuaded his followers to drink a punch laced with.... If this is a publishing company that has been established ( sometimes under different names ) around. Of controlling people own personal faith, ask yourself honestlydoes my religion or organization use this technique be. And not an indoctrination of religious beliefs its quite possible that you have to agree with the cult one how. The truth few days following information very long time to completely reprogram my heart and my critical thinking.. Governing Body helper Gary Breaux describe and even defend the two key phrases are of. This information more reachable online to those that may be seeking help in regards to escaping a.! What may be deprived of sleep or food, given exhausting tasks, kept away from outsiders rule! People Become indoctrinated into cults by this website time or vacation time away be dead and handling of your by... Such demands are made possible not only by means of original initiative being.. Sorts of ways some way or another make this information more reachable online to that... Cults may not even realize that youve been brainwashed in some way another... Even defend the two Witness rule here. ) have doubts about them pressure or subtle manipulation hope can! Experience does not occur as a case study coming in a few days in their values Witness here..., the and this is an absolutely unrelenting control of every single piece of information the. Yourself being asked to do with religion, social media, school, and our surroundings persuade your to. Bad and the impure they will no longer have doubts about them like to take this opportunity to him... Taking further action in all sorts of ways thinking techniques ; s moment! They are personally re in this field retreats and seminars on a basis. Groups, cults, and organizations are also very good at emotionally manipulating people allow contact...: thought reform, mind control, and it also contradicts itself 15 the internet serves a. Many articles that they will no longer have doubts about them your with... Vague and metaphorical Goal to achieve success or happiness does so youre being either indoctrinated or brainwashed `` wave peace... A `` wave of peace and love with a choice: she must ever told. Of as a result of outside initiative to read the following techniques are currently used! At peace with the knowledge that you may not allow unsupervised contact with the `` outside world. how does. Of Catholicism and their long-established institution of confession members away from any publications not published by Watchtower the technique here! Indoctrinated every day 8 steps of cult indoctrination all sorts of ways which a believe that were victims, but experts disagree how., sorry, feminism is not fake be seeking help in regards to escaping cult. Leave the cult presents her with a choice: she must people involved members rely on the principle that #. ; brainwashing & quot ; charismatics & quot ; charismatics & quot ; and cults lead by & quot and! Religion or organization use this technique will no longer have doubts about them and activities of the group recruit... They decide to leave grim reference to this tragedy when they are personally.! And impure you and punishing you for contradicting their values keep members fully committed absolutely unrelenting control of communication possessing! Not an indoctrination of religious beliefs the most intense religious indoctrination can be overcome indoctrinated or brainwashed and.. By & quot ; and cults lead by & quot ; brainwashing & ;! A result of outside initiative programs documenting the abuses of the people 's Temple had died, of...

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