Page Last Updated: December 29, 2009.
When you feel totally overwhelmed by a decision you need to make and find yourself wishing that someone would just tell you what to do - When you feel like the world used to make sense and now everything is falling apart around you - When you are hurting (or even when you are not) -YOU ARE VULNERABLE TO DESTRUCTIVE CULT RECRUITMENT! Watch out for the following:
1. Beware of people who are excessively or inappropriately friendly.
2. Beware of people with magical solutions to every problem you have.
3. Beware of groups that recruit you through guilt, sense of obligation.
4. Beware of invitations to isolated weekend workshops with nebulous goals.
5. There is no reason for vagueness unless there is something to hide.
6. Beware of groups that pressure you because "everyone is doing it".
7. There is no magic for loneliness and confusion.
8. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Mind control, deception, fatigue, alienation, change of diet, lack of privacy, exploitation, guilt, totalitarian world view (us vs. them), recruitment is deceptive, members time used in fund raising and recruitment, and elitism.
You should know that the two basic principles of mind control are:
1. If you can get someone to behave the way you want, you can get them to believe the way you want.
2. Sudden, drastic changes in environment lead to heightened suggestibility and drastic changes in beliefs.
Don't go away with a strange group for a weekend or more unless:
1. You know the name of the sponsoring group.
2. You know its beliefs and affiliations.
3. You know what's expected of you.
4. You know you will be free to leave at any time
Next time you feel lonely, hurting, etc., reach out to: A friend that you have known awhile, neighbor, teacher, parent, counselor, crisis hotline, member of the clergy, campus ministry. Or if you know someone who is hurting, take responsibility to help that person.
Page Last Updated: December 29, 2009.