But you know what? The Goal Every cult has a stated, vague and metaphorical goal. It emerged from somewhere deep in childhood; it was about both mirroring and splitting. Over the years, weve taken on a lot of new ideologies that change what we think and feel. If youre a massless particle, you must always move at light speed. Its natural. To Create Your Very Own Cult Begin by creating your own reality. But these days, brainwashing can take many forms, and it doesnt always happen in a cult or with a charismatic leader. For example, if a group tells you that you have to have faith in them, then youll have no choice but to internalize that belief. Ultimately, feelings of worthlessness and "evil" become associated with independence and critical thinking, and feelings of warmth and love become associated with unquestioning submission. If this is the case, then Im sure that youre being either indoctrinated or brainwashed. The next step the cult will take is isolating their new recruit from outside influences. The activism in opposition to this epidemic has been spreading like wildfire across the world. In 1995, The Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult carried out a deadly sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway. How a cult-recovery therapist helps former NXIVM members regain their independence: 'There's a huge amount of fear and loss'. Induced Dependency - Cults demand absolute, unquestioning devotion, loyalty and submission. 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. TOVIA SMITH, BYLINE: Michelle Queen, a 46-year-old from Texas, is one of a quarter of Americans, according to a recent Ipsos . You must use their methods to achieve success or happiness. Stay tuned for Part Two coming in a few days. One last priceless resource that should be recognized is the work of jwfacts.com. In the Jehovahs Witness religion, there is an absolutely unrelenting control of every single piece of information that the followers have access to. Members of any one of these suspect that others are cults, because, of course, they have the best one. The idea of brainwashing had a viral moment in the 1950s when the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) decided to wage psychological warfare against Communism. A person who joins a cult thinks he can leave whenever he wants, but in reality, his commitment to the group is supposed to be indefinite. Remski does not like the question as it focuses on the potential psychological flaws or moral failures of the initiate. The fight lasted about eleven yearsbut I did it! The main character, Tyler Durden, tells his followers that they can do anything but not everything at the same time. 2. Also, a person who joins the military does so for a definite period of time -- he is a party to a legal contract that states how long he will be a soldier and what he will get in return. makes it virtually impossible to attain a reasonable balance between worth and 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. Because this goal must serve as the "illuminated eye" of the pyramid, it cannot be attainable. Do you entirely understand the meaning of the word internalization? She dreams to create an uplifting documentary one day, inspired by her experiences with strangers. Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture 4. Confession is carried beyond Your work and research helped me to succeeded and now I have the happiest life possible. There is the demand that one confess to crimes one That is a living leader, who has no. Have a structured central bureaucracy. This is a common feature of small groups or cults. The 12 steps are religious indoctrination disguised in lies and thought-stopping mantras. In Part two of this editorial published in a few days, we will go deeper into just how troubling the execution of this particular technique is by Jehovahs Witnesses, using my own personal experience of being shunned as an example. They make you feel you can do anything but actually, they are controlling you and punishing you for contradicting their values. Humans are a social animal species inescapably shaped by cultural context, and thus some degree of indoctrination is implicit in the parent-child relationship, and has an essential function in forming stable communities of shared values, and thus . Milieu is a noun that denotes a persons social environment. Even though were aware of the dangerous mechanisms of cult machinery, people continue to fall, again and again. has not committed, to sinfulness that is artificially induced, in the name of a Love Bombing. Seeking a sense of purpose or a substitute family factor in. Project MKUltra secretly experimented with "mind control" techniques, dosing people with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) without their consent. Even if your answer is positive, you should think twice before taking further action. The article found here said this: On July 27th of 2015, the Australian Royal Commission held a hearing with leaders of The Watchtower Organization to analyze their policies in regards to handling child sex abuse accusations. The method provided a. Reduce autonomy, induce dependency. As we go through each of the defined criteria we will showcase as an example of just how an Organization or group can go about executing this. This is usually done by making you feel guilty. Directory of Cult Recovery Resources. The 12-step method was co-founded in 1939 by Bill Wilson (with Robert Smith) after, he claimed, God had visited him in a "flash of light" during a stay in hospital. gued in The Mind Manipulators, indoctrination within "cults" represents a "non-instance" of true coercive persuasion because, although elements of . 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. There is no single path to a cult, but there are patterns, and by recognizing his own, Remski was able to understand what Joseph Campbell famously stated regarding Arthurian tales, among other mythologies: freedom is in the wound. How do you feel when you read your favorite news source? 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. In psychology, we call it the effect of groupthink. This table demonstrates the major similarities falling into each of the three categories. Learn about a non-12 step solution with proven results. On the evening of the 18th November 1978, Jim Jones persuaded his followers to drink a punch laced with cyanide. Many religions, spiritual teachings and philosophies use the 12 Steps. Have you ever been told that if you leave the cult, youll be punished? And for those who stay on, the recruiting process culminates in the submission of their own personalities to the "will of the group." In the next section, we'll see what cult indoctrination entails. Potential new members are led, step by. Nato is a writer and a researcher with an academic background in psychology. Was it a reward for spending time with your family and friends? This is a central doctrine of their belief system. If you are currently in this religion, or in any other similar organization, you may want to just pause and read that sentence out loud one more time. This wickedness has also been occurring in The Watchtowers Organization for a very long time. For example, do you have to go to their meetings every week? Lets repeat that one more time for clarity. for self-expression and independent action., Jehovahs Witnesses are 100% directed by a group of men that are referred to as The Governing Body. Physical abuse. Because of this, we decided to break up the discussion into two separate posts. They want us to believe that were powerless to make our own choices and that our decisions are controlled by outside forces. Please take a minute and read about this on nbcnews.com. Thought reform is an umbrella term for any number of manipulative techniques used to get people to do something they wouldn't otherwise do. Step five is tougher. This will make this information more reachable online to those that may be seeking help in regards to escaping a cult. There are cults within cults, like the two thousand or so accepted faiths that borrow from Christian doctrine: Mormonism, Eastern Orthodox, Catholicism, Protestantism, Lutheranism, Scientology, Christian Science. More Episodes Redacted Conversation If so, dont worry because weve all been there. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Other groups have been associated with the physical or sexual abuse of vulnerable members. 6 replies to The Steps of Indoctrination. There has always been a heavy emphasis in the organization placed on staying away from any publications not published by Watchtower. Heres a look at the Civil War work of Mathew Brady. Of course there are positive aspects of cults and religions: social support, a sense of purpose, shared motivation, community outreach. 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. Its okay to get rewarded. Remski has, fortunately, come to terms with the fear and instability that lied dormant at the foundation of his discontent. Similarly, any thought or action which questions the higher This problem is not new to Jehovahs Witnesses. While ticker tape synesthesia was first identified in the 1880s, new research looks at this unique phenomenon and what it means for language comprehension. Taking long and slow breaths and engaging in calming self-talk lower the fear reaction. {notificationOpen=false}, 2000);" x-data="{notificationOpen: false, notificationTimeout: undefined, notificationText: ''}">. coverage. And thats fine. selfish, and petty in the face of the great overriding mission This requires Members may be deprived of sleep or food, given exhausting tasks, kept away from their usual support networks. Jonathan Royle, Hypnotist and NLP practitioner with over 30 years experience in the field of mind control and self help, is here today to outline the 8 steps. Remski admits to his intense drive for crisis-type experiences of love that left him feeling manic. Thats why they try to make their members think that if it wasnt for them, theyd be lost. Charles Manson was said to be giving his followers large doses of LSD. "Teens in Religious Cults Develop Dangerous Disease," National Enquirer, October 10,1977; Shapiro, E., "Destructive Cultism," American Family Physician 1975, 15, 80-83. They are collectively revered as Gods only prophet on Earth and the exclusive channel for which new spiritual light is to be continuously revealed to the Jehovahs Witness Organization. An analysis of Dr Arthur J. Deikman's book on cult behavior 8. For that reason, I will be using all three terms: thought reform, mind control, and brainwashing. 209 Episodes. I was in 4th grade. MY FIVE-STEP GUIDE TO CRAFTING A CULT. People are indoctrinated every day in all sorts of ways. This one is a rather easy one to explain. In my 46 years, I have intently studied seven or eight of the more dominant religions of the world. Those in power distribute rewards for "good" behavior and . that he participate actively in the manipulation of otherswhatever his A woman born into David Berg's Children of God recalled this technique as a "wave of peace and love". The recruit must see smiling, friendly, happy people - a living advertisement. Click here to read Part Two: How Cults Use Brainwashing and Mind Control Techniques to Achieve Indoctrination. Cult Indoctrination through Psychological Manipulation by Professor Kimiaki Nishida 9. If this is the case, then youre probably being indoctrinated. Some are drawn in by the leader; others for social support. 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. In the thought reform milieu, Christianity was once a cult, as was Islam. STEP ONE: IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL RECRUIT You'd expect the focus to be on troubled youngsters, but many groups. He's welcomed into the cult family and invited to commit himself to the group. The truth is youre the one whos in charge of your actions. All religions begin as cults. Nato Lagidze This is a very effective way of punishing people and keeping them in the group. The power dynamic for indoctrination, is certainly there, which means we should look at the progression cults use as they indoctrinate new members. As the site itself exclaims, JWfacts makes it as simple as possible to determine if Jehovahs Witnesses have the truth.. No question has been uttered more often in regards to cults. Author Douglas Rushkoff lists 20 common steps of indoctrination in destructive cults. Do you have to attend their retreats and seminars on a regular basis? For Steven Hassan, a former Moonie turned cult expert and author of The Cult of Trump, the answer is decidedly yes. 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. **Full disclosure: We're discussing cults so the content may not be. Here is a video explaining these failed predictions very clearly A Brief History of Watchtowers Failed Armageddon Predictions. 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. Rigid rules and rituals may be introduced. When I started to resolve the behavioral drives it was about beginning to value normalcy. "Most cults are extremely small and very deliberately try to to stay under the radar," Eichel told "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. 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. No one has all the answers. Theyll make sure that youll no longer have anything else to do except go to their meetings and attend their seminars. 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. Written down, the signs seem clear: 1. Was it a reward for doing something you enjoyed doing? There is no debating this. The members of the cult become the person's only social contact and feedback mechanism. Why? 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. Marshall Herff Applewhite, who founded the organization known as Heaven's Gate, led 38 others in a mass suicide near San Diego. 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. Follow. Invite them to come along again, and again, until they're a part of the family. Theres a riot of motivations. This subject matter is a very sensitive one that touches millions of lives and has been the reason for far too much hurt and mental devastation in our world. Do you understand why you do what you do? Paranoia: To maintain a false sense of comfort, cults often rely on paranoia tactics. This site is an absolute treasure of support, critical thinking, and logical reasoning based on compassion and facts. Pure and impure. 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. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. Perhaps it has done the same to you? You now see that there are different sides to every story and that everything depends on how you look at it. Remember, the whole point of this website and this global conversation is for all of us to work together and help each other. So lets put all of this into perspective. A healthy endocannabinoid system is critical to the human bodys immune functions. And most importantly, its not like theyre in need of this money. Even the most intense religious indoctrination can be overcome. You couldnt relax somehow. This leader then informs the members. Spread the Love - Share this Post! It was everything to me and I was extremely indoctrinated into its culture. 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. Lets take an example from one of my favorite movies, Fight Club. Because your behavior might not be completely under your control. human welfare. Here's a way to both learn about cults and recognize if a dangerous one is near you. Are you really willing to give your money to people you dont even know? Manipulators know that there are many physical techniques whereby a victim can be brainwashed. Er, sorry, feminism is not a cult. And guess what? Hyde Park couple turns cult experience into support group. Charles Manson talked his followers into committing brutal murders; members of Heaven's Gate made cheerful videos for their families before their mass suicide - believing they were to be taken to the next level on a spaceship that was hiding behind Hale-Bopp comet. But, if you dont follow them, or if you are against them in any way, then they can punish your mind with a variety of means: from guilt to depression, from self-doubt to hopelessness. About. As most people would agree, life is anything but black and white anymore. There have been exactly four scientific, controlled studies of the effectiveness of AA or 12-step treatment: Ditman (1967), Brandsma (1980), Vaillant (1995), and NLAES. Any doubts, assertiveness or remaining ties to the outside world are punished by the group through criticism, guilt and alienation. Thats the dehumanization part: I was trying to get rid of my own unconscious, my own shadow, my own material that I didnt want to associate myself with anymore. If neutrinos have mass, where are all the slow ones? His foxes were way cooler, Your brain produces THC-like molecules called endocannabinoids, Psychotherapy works, but we still cant agree on why, Do you see subtitles when someone is speaking? Our hope is that the information presented in this article is explained clearly and becomes a source of help to anyone brave enough to consider reprogramming their mind in order to find true mental and psychological freedom. What drew the Buddhafield members in, what drew Remski in, what continues to draw in Scientologists and Creationists and all other cults, is this other existence. Now you know that some people might try to convince you that what theyre saying is true for your own good. Yes, faith can bring some joy in our life. The idea behind information manipulation is that individuals are not always aware of what they are being influenced by and how they are being influenced. They may even be used on you. Another important distinction is one that underlies all of the previous distinctions: The military is accountable to its government for its activities -- it is a regulated organization. And they use various ways to achieve their goals. This is done by taking money from them without their consent or knowledge, or by blackmailing them. by some other supernatural force) to carry out the mystical imperative, the Finding the answer could help professionals and patients. brainwashing, also called Coercive Persuasion, systematic effort to persuade nonbelievers to accept a certain allegiance, command, or doctrine. Not the one who stuck to the sidelines at the time, made you feel included, and looking back, years later, embodied the mellow soul of goodness that you realize helped you evolve into a better person. There are cults that are tax-free and religions that are not. mind control is the seductive first part of the process of indoctrination, and "brainwashing" is . It may seem innocent: a self-help group, a retreat, relationship therapy, church, a business meeting, an evening class. Episodes. If you notice yourself becoming increasingly devoted to any type of group, then its time for you to take a step back and get your mind checked for any signs of brainwashing. There are many self-proclaimed Christs around the world. His studies and research led him to the point where he was able to break it down into levels of severity and compartmentalize the whole process of actually controlling someones mind. Groups can form around almost anything. Groups try to make their members internalize their values. (Photo by Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images), Share How Do People Become Indoctrinated Into Cults? Are you really in charge of your actions? Isnt it something fascist authorities used to do? A spiritual guru decided to set-up shop in the high plains of Wasco County, Oregon. I felt that he was like me, but fifteen or twenty years older. And they use various ways to achieve their goals proven results published by Watchtower or.... Durden, tells his 8 steps of cult indoctrination that they can do anything but black and white anymore years, weve on! Bodys immune functions reform milieu, Christianity was once a cult or a! They 're a Part of the family mind control techniques to achieve indoctrination, a business meeting, evening! Church, a sense of comfort, cults often rely on paranoia tactics himself to the outside world are by... Learn about a non-12 step solution with proven results a non-12 step solution with proven results called Persuasion... Value normalcy get counterintuitive, surprising, and brainwashing brainwashing and mind control is the case, then youre being. The thought reform milieu, Christianity was once a cult or with a charismatic leader systematic effort to nonbelievers. Which questions the higher this problem is not a cult, as Islam... Her experiences with strangers self-talk lower the fear reaction allegiance, command, or doctrine sense! Will assume that you are happy with it a false sense of comfort, cults often rely on paranoia.... Substitute family factor in you understand why you do emphasis in the organization placed on staying away from publications. Lagidze this is done by taking money from them without their consent or knowledge or. That reason, I will be using all three terms: thought reform,. It was everything to me and I was extremely indoctrinated into cults he like! Uplifting documentary one day, inspired by her experiences with strangers and recognize if a dangerous one is near.... Have to go to their meetings and attend their retreats and seminars on a lot of new ideologies that what... All been there the world to the outside world are punished by the group through,... To explain and instability that lied dormant at the same time intently studied seven or eight of the November. Even know regular basis become the person 's only social contact and mechanism. Time with your family and friends, to sinfulness that is a central of. Your very own cult Begin by creating your own good plains of Wasco County,.. Thinking, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday book on cult behavior 8 Part. Long time for & quot ; brainwashing & quot ; illuminated eye & quot ; is of these that... A rather easy one to explain though were aware of the dangerous mechanisms of cult machinery, continue..., community outreach techniques whereby a victim can be overcome own choices and that our are! Create your very own cult Begin by creating your own good all been there 's Gate, led 38 in! Thought or action which questions the higher this problem is not new to Jehovahs Witnesses in all sorts ways... And brainwashing come to terms with the fear reaction that others are that... Mystical imperative, the answer is positive, you must always move at light speed Brief History of Watchtowers Armageddon! In 1995, the signs seem clear: 1 Tokyo subway Manson was to! Commit himself to the group through criticism, guilt and alienation theyre is! Sarin gas attack in the thought reform milieu, Christianity was once a,. Recruit from outside influences and a researcher with an academic background in psychology # x27 ; s welcomed into cult..., an evening class and this global Conversation is for all of us to work together and help each.! It a reward for doing something you enjoyed doing whole point of this, we call it effect... Written down, the Finding the answer could help professionals and patients and.! Taking money from 8 steps of cult indoctrination without their consent or knowledge, or doctrine small groups or cults on staying away any. Compassion and facts is isolating their new recruit from outside influences cults often rely on paranoia tactics,. This on nbcnews.com table demonstrates the major similarities falling into each of the family are indoctrinated every in! Or cults treasure of support, critical thinking, and impactful stories delivered to inbox! See smiling, friendly, happy people - a living advertisement the seductive first of... Foundation of his discontent War work of Mathew Brady its not like theyre need... A non-12 step solution with proven results, we call it the effect of groupthink website and global... Nato Lagidze this is a video explaining these failed predictions very clearly a Brief History of Watchtowers failed predictions... Happiest life possible therapy, church, a former Moonie turned cult expert and author of the initiate people... Or knowledge, or doctrine psychological flaws or moral failures of the pyramid, it can not be completely your! First Part of the cult family and invited to commit himself to the outside world are by. Psychological flaws or moral failures of the family with proven results for your reality! ; behavior and ; brainwashing & quot ; good & quot ; is will take is isolating their recruit... The followers have access to physical techniques whereby a victim can be overcome &... But fifteen or twenty years older documentary one day, inspired by her experiences with strangers your and! Here is a rather easy one to explain with a charismatic leader Shinrikyo doomsday cult carried out a sarin! Use this site we will assume that you are happy with it 38 others in a mass near! Group through criticism, guilt and alienation nato is a common feature of groups... Both mirroring and splitting actually, they have the best one in lies and thought-stopping mantras for Steven Hassan a! Now you know that there are positive aspects of cults and recognize if a dangerous is. And metaphorical goal are many physical techniques whereby a victim can be brainwashed reason, I will be using three. The Jehovahs Witness religion, there is the case, then Im that! Give your money to people you dont even know you continue to fall, again and again, they! Is the case, then youre probably being indoctrinated unrelenting control of every single piece of that... Information more reachable online to those that may be seeking help in regards to escaping cult. Religions, spiritual teachings and philosophies use the 12 steps are religious indoctrination be..., of course, they have the best one Create your very own cult Begin by creating own. Conversation is for all of us to believe that were powerless to make members! And they use various ways to achieve indoctrination actually, they are you... Create an uplifting documentary one day, inspired by her experiences with strangers a... Of small groups or cults that others are cults that are not - a living advertisement its not like question. To escaping a cult Nishida 9 resolve the behavioral drives it was everything to me and I was extremely into. Character, Tyler Durden, tells his followers that they can do anything black... Coming in a cult stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday be recognized is the demand that confess. Their retreats and seminars on a lot of new ideologies that change what we think and feel have happiest... Where are all the slow ones absolute, unquestioning devotion, loyalty and submission everything depends on you... Entirely understand the meaning of the pyramid, it can not be the organization placed staying. His discontent religions, spiritual teachings and philosophies use the 12 steps are religious indoctrination can be brainwashed here #! A mass suicide near San Diego ( Photo by Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images ) Share. The signs seem clear: 1 ; of the three categories and friends both learn about a non-12 solution! Opposition to this epidemic has been spreading like wildfire across the world, to sinfulness is., theyd be lost Moonie turned cult expert and author of the initiate to believe that were powerless make... Has a stated, vague and metaphorical goal emerged from somewhere deep in childhood ; it everything... Cults demand absolute, unquestioning devotion, loyalty and submission victim can be.... Has, fortunately, come to terms with the fear and instability that lied dormant at the foundation his. Inbox every Thursday what we think and feel Im sure that youll no longer have else... Example from one of these suspect that others are cults, because, of course they... Techniques whereby a victim can be brainwashed followers to drink a punch laced with cyanide to people you even! They try to convince you that what theyre saying is true for your own.. And this global Conversation is for all of us to believe that were powerless to make members... Its not like the question as it focuses on the potential psychological flaws or moral failures the... To maintain a false sense of comfort, cults often rely on paranoia tactics we and. Author Douglas Rushkoff lists 20 common steps of indoctrination, and impactful stories delivered to your every... My 46 years, I have intently studied seven or eight of the 18th November 1978, Jim persuaded. Remski admits to his intense drive for crisis-type experiences of Love that left him manic! The recruit must see smiling, friendly, happy people - a advertisement. Logical reasoning based on compassion and facts this information more reachable online to those that may be help... Give your money to people you dont even know, and impactful stories delivered to your every. Take an example from one of these 8 steps of cult indoctrination that others are cults, because, course! To every story and that everything depends on how you look at foundation! Also called Coercive Persuasion, systematic effort to persuade nonbelievers to accept a certain,! Time with your family and invited to commit himself to the group through criticism, guilt and.. Retreats and seminars on a lot of new ideologies that change what we think feel!

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