Bayle Shanks's website: notes-cults2

http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/articles/BITE.htm

I. Behavior Control

1. Regulation of individual's physical reality

    a. Where, how and with whom the member lives and associates with
    b. What clothes, colors, hairstyles the person wears
    c. What food the person eats, drinks, adopts, and rejects
    d. How much sleep the person is able to have
    e. Financial dependence
    f. Little or no time spent on leisure, entertainment, vacations

2. Major time commitment required for indoctrination sessions and group rituals

3. Need to ask permission for major decisions

4. Need to report thoughts, feelings and activities to superiors

5. Rewards and punishments (behavior modification techniques- positive and negative).

6. Individualism discouraged; group think prevails

7. Rigid rules and regulations

8. Need for obedience and dependency II. Information Control

1. Use of deception

    a. Deliberately holding back information
    b. Distorting information to make it acceptable
    c. Outright lying

2. Access to non-cult sources of information minimized or discouraged

    a. Books, articles, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio
    b. Critical information
    c. Former members
    d. Keep members so busy they don't have time to think

3. Compartmentalization of information; Outsider vs. Insider doctrines

    a. Information is not freely accessible
    b. Information varies at different levels and missions within pyramid
    c. Leadership decides who "needs to know" what

4. Spying on other members is encouraged

    a. Pairing up with "buddy" system to monitor and control
    b. Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership

5. Extensive use of cult generated information and propaganda

    a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audio tapes, videotapes, etc.
    b. Misquotations, statements taken out of context from non-cult sources

6. Unethical use of confession

    a. Information about "sins" used to abolish identity boundaries
    b. Past "sins" used to manipulate and control; no forgiveness or absolution

III. Thought Control

1. Need to internalize the group's doctrine as "Truth"

    a. Map = Reality
    b. Black and White thinking
    c. Good vs. evil
    d. Us vs. them (inside vs. outside)

2. Adopt "loaded" language (characterized by "thought-terminating clichés"). Words are the tools we use to think with. These "special" words constrict rather than expand understanding. They function to reduce complexities of experience into trite, platitudinous "buzz words".

3. Only "good" and "proper" thoughts are encouraged.

4. Thought-stopping techniques (to shut down "reality testing" by stopping "negative" thoughts and allowing only "good" thoughts); rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism.

    a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking
    b. Chanting
    c. Meditating
    d. Praying
    e. Speaking in "tongues"
    f. Singing or humming

5. No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen as legitimate

6. No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or useful IV. Emotional Control

1. Manipulate and narrow the range of a person's feelings.

2. Make the person feel like if there are ever any problems it is always their fault, never the leader's or the group's.

3. Excessive use of guilt

    a. Identity guilt

        1. Who you are (not living up to your potential)
        2. Your family
        3. Your past
        4. Your affiliations
        5. Your thoughts, feelings, actions

            b. Social guilt
            c. Historical guilt

4. Excessive use of fear

    a. Fear of thinking independently
    b. Fear of the "outside" world
    c. Fear of enemies
    d. Fear of losing one's "salvation"
    e. Fear of leaving the group or being shunned by group
    f. Fear of disapproval

5. Extremes of emotional highs and lows.

6. Ritual and often public confession of "sins".

7. Phobia indoctrination : programming of irrational fears of ever leaving the group or even questioning the leader's authority. The person under mind control cannot visualize a positive, fulfilled future without being in the group.

    a. No happiness or fulfillment "outside"of the group
    b. Terrible consequences will take place if you leave: "hell"; "demon possession"; "incurable diseases"; "accidents"; "suicide"; "insanity"; "10,000 reincarnations"; etc.
    c. Shunning of leave takers. Fear of being rejected by friends, peers, and family.
    d. Never a legitimate reason to leave. From the group's perspective, people who leave are: "weak;" "undisciplined;" "unspiritual;" "worldly;" "brainwashed by family, counselors;" seduced by money, sex, rock and roll.

http://www.carm.org/cults/cultic.htm

1. What is a cult?
1. Generally, it is a group that is unorthodox, esoteric, and has a devotion to a person, object, or a set of new ideas.
1. New Teaching - has a new theology and doctrine.
2. Only True Teaching - often considers traditional religious systems to be apostate and it alone possess the complete truth.
3. Strong Leadership - often an individual or small but powerful leadership group holds control of the group’s teachings and practices.
4. Asset Acquirement - often requires tithing and/or property transfer to the religious system.
5. Isolationist - to facilitate control over the members physically, intellectually, financially, and emotionally.
6. Controlling - exercises control over the members. Sometimes this is through fear, threatening lose of salvation if you leave the group. Sometimes through indoctrination.
7. Indoctrination - possesses methods to reinforce the cult’s beliefs and standards where opposing views are ridiculed and often misrepresented.
8. Apocalyptic - to give the members a future focus and philosophical purpose in avoiding the apocalypse or being delivered through it.
9. Experience - various practices including meditation, repetition of words and/or phrases, and ‘spiritual’ enlightenment with God are used as confirmation of their truth.
1. Depravation - sleep and food deprivation which weakens the will of the subject.
2. This is uncommon, though practiced by more severe cults
10. Persecution - predictions of being persecuted and often combined with claiming any opposing views demonstrated against them as a form of persecution.
2. Many have a non-verifiable belief systems
1. For example, they would teach something that cannot be verified.
1. A space ship behind Hale-Bop comet
2. Or, that God, an alien, or angel appeared to the leader and gave him a revelation
3. The members are seeded angels from another world, etc.
2. Often, the philosophy makes sense only if you adopt the full set of values and definitions that it teaches.
1. With this kind of belief, truth becomes unverifiable, internalized, and easily manipulated through the philosophical systems of its inventor.
3. The Leader of a Cult
1. Often charismatic who is considered very special for varying reasons:
1. The leader has received special revelation from God.
2. The leader claims to be the incarnation of a deity, angel, or special messenger.
3. The leader claims to be appointed by God for a mission
4. The leader claims to have special abilities
2. The leader is often above reproach and is not to be denied or contradicted.
4. Cult ethos
1. Usually seek to do good works, otherwise no one would join them.
2. They are usually moral and possess a good standard of ethical teaching.
3. Many times the Bible is used or additional "scriptures" are penned.
1. The Bible, when used, is always distorted with private interpretations.
4. Many Cults recruit Jesus as one of their own and redefine him accordingly
5. Cult groups vary greatly.
1. From the ascetic to the promiscuous.
2. From esoteric knowledge to very simple teachings.
3. From the rich and power to the poor and weak.
2. Who is vulnerable to joining a cult?
1. Everyone is vulnerable.
1. Rich, poor, educated, non-educated, old, young, previously religious, atheistic, etc.
2. General Profile of cult member (some or all of the following)
1. Disenchanted with conventional religious establishments.
2. Intellectually confused over religious and/or philosophical issues
3. Sometimes disenchanted with society as a whole
4. Has a need for encouragement and support
5. Emotionally needful
6. Needs a sense of purpose.
7. Financially needful
3. Recruitment techniques
1. They find a need and fill it. One of the ways they do this is called
1. "Love Bombing" - Constant positive affection in word and deed.
1. Sometimes there is a lot of physical contact like hugging, pats on the back, and touching.
2. Cult group members will lend emotional support to someone in need.
3. Help them in various ways...whatever is needed.
1. The person then becomes indebted to the cult.
4. Compliment them, reassure them, and make them the center of attention.
2. Many Cults use the influence of the Bible and/or mention Jesus as being one of their own; thereby adding validity to their system.
1. Scripture twisting
1. Those that use the Bible take verses out of context
2. Then mix their misinterpreted verses with their aberrant philosophy.
3. Gradualism
1. Slow altering of thinking processes and belief system through repeated teaching
1. People usually accept cult doctrines one point at a time.
2. New beliefs are reinforced by other cult members.
4. Why would someone join?
1. The cult satisfies various needs:
1. Psychological - Someone could have a weak personality, easily lead.
2. Emotional - Someone could have recently suffered an emotional trauma
3. Intellectual - Someone has questions that this group answers.
2. The cult gives them approval, acceptance, purpose, and a sense of belonging.
3. The cult is appealing for some reason. It could be . . .
1. Moral rigidity and purity
2. Financial security
3. Promises of exaltation, redemption, higher consciousness, or a host of other rewards.
5. How are they kept in the cult?
1. Dependence
1. People often want to stay because the cult meets their psychological, intellectual, and spiritual needs.
2. Isolation
1. Outside contacts are reduced and more and more of the life of the member is built around the cult.
2. It then becomes very easy to control and shape the member.
3. Cognitive Reconstruction (Brainwashing):
1. Once the person is indoctrinated, their thinking processes are reconstructed to be consistent with the cult and to be submissive to its leaders.
2. This facilitates control by the cult leader(s).
4. Substitution
1. The Cult and cult leaders often take the place of mother, father, priest, teacher, and healer.
2. Often the member takes on the characteristics of a dependent child seeking to win the approval of the leader and or group.
5. Indebtedness
1. The member becomes indebted to the group emotionally, financially, etc.
6. Guilt
1. The person is told that to leave is to betray the leader, God, the group, etc.
2. The person is told that leave would mean to reject the love and help the group has given.
7. Threat
1. Threat of destruction by God for turning from the truth.
2. Sometimes physical threat is used, though not often.
3. Threat of missing the apocalypse, or being judged on judgment day, etc.

http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/articles/BITE.htm

 It is not necessary for every single item on the list to be present. Mind controlled cult members can live in their own apartments, have nine-to-five jobs, be married with children, and still be unable to think for themselves and act independently.

I. Behavior Control

1. Regulation of individual's physical reality

    a. Where, how and with whom the member lives and associates with
    b. What clothes, colors, hairstyles the person wears
    c. What food the person eats, drinks, adopts, and rejects
    d. How much sleep the person is able to have
    e. Financial dependence
    f. Little or no time spent on leisure, entertainment, vacations

2. Major time commitment required for indoctrination sessions and group rituals

3. Need to ask permission for major decisions

4. Need to report thoughts, feelings and activities to superiors

5. Rewards and punishments (behavior modification techniques- positive and negative).

6. Individualism discouraged; group think prevails

7. Rigid rules and regulations

8. Need for obedience and dependency II. Information Control

1. Use of deception

    a. Deliberately holding back information
    b. Distorting information to make it acceptable
    c. Outright lying

2. Access to non-cult sources of information minimized or discouraged

    a. Books, articles, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio
    b. Critical information
    c. Former members
    d. Keep members so busy they don't have time to think

3. Compartmentalization of information; Outsider vs. Insider doctrines

    a. Information is not freely accessible
    b. Information varies at different levels and missions within pyramid
    c. Leadership decides who "needs to know" what

4. Spying on other members is encouraged

    a. Pairing up with "buddy" system to monitor and control
    b. Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership

5. Extensive use of cult generated information and propaganda

    a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audio tapes, videotapes, etc.
    b. Misquotations, statements taken out of context from non-cult sources

6. Unethical use of confession

    a. Information about "sins" used to abolish identity boundaries
    b. Past "sins" used to manipulate and control; no forgiveness or absolution

III. Thought Control

1. Need to internalize the group's doctrine as "Truth"

    a. Map = Reality
    b. Black and White thinking
    c. Good vs. evil
    d. Us vs. them (inside vs. outside)

3. Only "good" and "proper" thoughts are encouraged.

    a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking
    b. Chanting
    c. Meditating
    d. Praying
    e. Speaking in "tongues"
    f. Singing or humming

5. No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen as legitimate

6. No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or useful IV. Emotional Control

1. Manipulate and narrow the range of a person's feelings.

2. Make the person feel like if there are ever any problems it is always their fault, never the leader's or the group's.

3. Excessive use of guilt

    a. Identity guilt

        1. Who you are (not living up to your potential)
        2. Your family
        3. Your past
        4. Your affiliations
        5. Your thoughts, feelings, actions

            b. Social guilt
            c. Historical guilt

4. Excessive use of fear

    a. Fear of thinking independently
    b. Fear of the "outside" world
    c. Fear of enemies
    d. Fear of losing one's "salvation"
    e. Fear of leaving the group or being shunned by group
    f. Fear of disapproval

5. Extremes of emotional highs and lows.

6. Ritual and often public confession of "sins".

    a. No happiness or fulfillment "outside"of the group
    b. Terrible consequences will take place if you leave: "hell"; "demon possession"; "incurable diseases"; "accidents"; "suicide"; "insanity"; "10,000 reincarnations"; etc.
    c. Shunning of leave takers. Fear of being rejected by friends, peers, and family.
    d. Never a legitimate reason to leave. From the group's perspective, people who leave are: "weak;" "undisciplined;" "unspiritual;" "worldly;" "brainwashed by family, counselors;" seduced by money, sex, rock and roll.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/cultsign.htm

Apocalyptic Beliefs: o The leader's preaching concentrates heavily on the impending end of the world, often at a great battle (e.g. War of Armageddon). In addition (as in the case of the Solar Temple and Heaven's Gate groups) the leader preaches that through group suicide at a particular instant, they will all be transported to a wonderful place and escape the devastation that is about to come to the earth. o The group is expected to play a major, elite role at the end time.
Charismatic Leadership o They are led by a single male charismatic leader. o The leader dominates the membership, closely controlling them physically, sexually and emotionally.
Social Encapsulation o They are a small religious group, not an established denomination. o The group (or at least the core members) lives together in an intentional community which is isolated from the rest of society. o There is often extreme paranoia within the group; they believe that they are in danger and that they are being closely monitored and heavily persecuted by governments or people outside the group. People on "the outside" are demonized. o Information and contacts from outside the cult are severely curtailed.
Other Factors o The group leadership assembles an impressive array of guns, rifles, other murder weapons, poison, or weapons of mass destruction. They may prepare defensive structures. o They follow a form of Christian theology (or a blend of Christianity with another religion), with major and unique deviations from traditional beliefs in the area of end-time prophecy.

http://web.archive.org/web/20021202170843/http://www.berkshire.net/~ifas/wa/warning.html

Isolation from everyone or everything outside of the group and its control.
A we/they mentality. All those outside the group are somehow negative or not equal; one must be a member. Partial commitment or belief is not tolerated (no shades of grey).
Everything outside of the group is evil, of the devil, or worldly.
Excessive fasting and praying, extreme tension or stress, which may result in eating disorders, chronic depression, acute anxiety, physical exhaustion, or illness.
Hallucinations (i.e. visions or messages from God).
Compulsively talking about the group, its leaders, and its doctrines. Repeatedly quoting certain scriptures emphasized by the group.
Refusing to engage in conversation that may question the group and its leaders. Such criticism may even be characterized as satanic.
Almost complete or total domination of the participant's time by the group. Attending Bible study, crusades, revivals, prayer meetings, services, or other group activities constantly. Little if any time is left for family, old friends, or other interests.
The group discourages questions concerning its leaders or doctrines. Doubt may be equated to an attack by the devil upon the follower's mind.
Compulsively and constantly witnessing their beliefs to everyone, often in a confrontational or extreme manner.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040407210249/http://www.globalideasbank.org/BI/BI-279.HTML

Taboo topics: questions that can't be asked, doubts that can't be shared, misgivings that can't be voiced. For example, 'Where does all the money go?' or 'Does Yogi sleep with his secretary?'
Secrets: the suppression of information, usually tightly guarded by an inner circle. For example, the answers, 'Swiss bank accounts,' or 'Yes, he does - and that's why she had an abortion.'
Spiritual clones: in its minor form, stereotypic behaviour, such as people who walk, talk, smoke, eat and dress just like their leader; in its much more sinister form, psychological stereotyping, such as an entire group of people who manifest only a narrow range of feeling in any and all situations: always happy, or pious, or reducing everything to a single explanation, or sardonic, etc.
Group think: party line that overrides how people actually feel. Typically the cognitive glue that binds the group. Eg 'you're fallen, and Christ is the answer', or 'you're lost in Samsara, and Buddha is the answer', or 'you're impure, and Shiva is the answer'.
The elect: shared delusion of grandeur that there is no way but this one. The corollary: you're lost if you leave the group.
No graduates: members are never weaned from the group. Often accompanies the corollary above.
Assembly lines: everyone is treated identically, no matter what their differences; eg mantras are assigned by dictates of a demographical checklist.
Loyalty tests: members are asked to prove loyalty to the group by doing something that violates their personal ethics; for example, set up an organisation that has a hidden agenda of recruiting others into the group, but publicly represents itself as a public service outfit.
Duplicity: the group's public face misrepresents its true nature, as in the example just given.
Unifocal understanding: single world view is used to explain anything and everything; alternate explanations are verboten. For example, if you have diarrhoea its 'Guru's grace'. If it stops, it's also Guru's grace. And if you get constipated, it's still Guru's grace.
Humourlessness: no irreverence allowed. Laughing at sacred cows is good for your health. Take, for example, Gurdjieff's one-liner: 'If you want to lose your faith, make friends with a priest.'

http://www.letusreason.org/culteac.htm

For abusive cults, the key word is CONTROL CONTROL CONTROL by Submitting to the Leadership - leaders tend to be the absolute end, looked to as prophets of God, as specially anointed apostles. Or they can be a strong, controlling, manipulative personality who demands submission even if he changes his views or conflicts occur in doctrine or behavior. sometimes they can be looked on as God Himself. Often to obey a leader and their teaching is equal to obeying God.

wpe33.jpg (2931 bytes)It can take time for them to gain power over the new convert, but it will eventually be there. Control is usually overwhelming and can cover most aspects of the followers' lives: Dress codes, activities, finances, time, possessions and relationships. They can dictate to the member who to see, what to do, what is the right thing to say, and how to say it. Various degrees of control can be experienced, from subtle manipulation to blatant ordering. They will expect Rigid obedience of the members time and activities - involving their followers in physically and emotionally draining activities leaving little time for privacy and reflection, or questioning their authority. Expecting one to show up when everyone else does, and everything is usually done in groups.

The methods of control which are used is usually FEAR of displeasing God the leader or both. Fear of rejection, punishment, losing ones salvation, missing the rapture, going to hell. Guilt, Fear, intimidation are Weapons used to maintain their loyalty and devotion to the group.

Intimidation and accusation are the most often used. For example, any questioning of authority is treated as rebellion, and not trusting. They suppress questions and conform to the groups behavior. They Discourage Critical or Rational Thought and Questions they will reply with comments like, "Satan is the cause of all doubt; he is keeping you from the Truth," or it will take time to understand the deep things of God. Critical thinking is discouraged being called prideful or sinful or rebellious. No independent thinking is encouraged.

They over simplify answers to life's questions, making everything for all situations as simple as black or white.

COMMAND OVER THE GROUP IN INTIMATE MATTERS: Telling one who to date or who to marry. Decisions are made by the leader as to who, and when your ready (Moonies International churches of Christ). Extremes can be no seeing the opposite sex to promiscuity in sexual relations, (Children of God), group sex (New Age Therapy groups, Some Eastern religious gurus) child sex, adultery, and polygamy (Branch Davidian's, certain Mormon sects, children of God) sex is used as an initiation into the cult (as well as occult and Satanic groups).

Sexual impurity especially among the leaders, can be common and promoted. Doctrinal deception is more than often displayed by moral deception. (Polygamy, spiritual wives, adultery, fornication and sexual sin is acceptable). The leader believes that he is above everyone or is an exception to God's laws so he may not follow his own rules.

GROUP TRUST: Confession Sessions are used to build relationships . Full disclosure of all secret sins, thoughts, temptations, desires are expressed with those you know and may not know to build up your trusting them with your life . These can become a powerful tools to emotionally bond you to the leader or group. They later can be used to manipulate, or blackmail some one if and when they decide to leave.

A DOUBLE STANDARD: There is one standard for the followers and another for the leaders can do almost anything wrong while others will be rebuked and made examples of if they do the same things.

Christ teaches that leaders should be servants of those they lead. Cult leaders exalt themselves, requiring the followers to serve them or the church’s program. Jesus said, "The greatest among you will be your servant" Matthew 23:11. He said of Himself, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" Matthew 20:28. This is a sure way to see what your involved , since what cults practice is backwards.

TAKES LICENSE WITH GOD'S WORD:. The Scripture is not rightly divided. Private revelations and interpretations are added to the Word, and sometimes substitute it. Passages contradictory to the orthodox beliefs are being twisted and taken out of their context. Strong emphasis is placed upon certain passages making them their thrust in ministry. While other pertinent scriptures on essentials and practice are completely ignored. Bible scholars who give a different interpretation from the cultists' are ignored or ridiculed.

MISPLACED LOYALTY Someone involved in an abusive system finds their of loyalty is nurtured and even demanded. Loyalty for Christ is replaced by an organization, church or leader. Because authority is usually from an individual or a group one is asked if they will be loyal to God confusing the member that to be loyal to a person or group means the same. With the Jehovah's Witnesses with their blind loyalty to whatever the Watchtower says.

ISOLATION: Information control is practiced where members of the group are not allowed or discouraged to have contact with outside family members, other ministries or Christians that could influence them. This is done to prevent information that may expose what is going on internally. They cut off or denigrating outside sources of information, especially if it is critical of the group. One is not allowed to read or converse with those who say these things or was once part of the group and left for whatever circumstances. Ties are severed with former friends and family and the circle becomes tighter as the only people you are exposed are them. one reads only their books and are discouraged or forbidden to read other books especially if one opposes their views.

If evidence is presented that they have had false prophecies or they are used to make money. The focus is shifted members are taught to question the motives or character of the person and ignore the evidence. So the focus is on the others character and not the proof that they have. They will be called emissaries of Satan so that they can’t be trusted with anything they have.

AN "US AGAINST THEM" ATTITUDE AND PHILOSOPHY: Anyone who challenges the cult's doctrine is automatically branded as an enemy which is usually anyone who disagrees. The cultists feel that they are being persecuted unfairly. On the other hand, true Christians accept persecution, knowing that it tests the genuineness of their faith. New members are told Satan will cause friends and family to say bad things about their group and that they should only trust their new family. We should expect to be persecute for the truth we have. It becomes an 'us against them' mentality. clichés are given, such as "Who is more important, God or school?' or "Don't you love God with all your heart, don’t you trust us, do you know of anyone who cares about you more?" "We are the only ones who have the truth," "don’t you want to be found faithful."

FOCUS ON AN IMAGINED ENEMY: The enemy is seen to be the government, the IRS, the Illuminati new world order UFO’s (or other conspirators) the Jews, Blacks (other ethnic groups if they are politically oriented) certain church denominations are considered the enemy. The focus shifts from inside and instead of God's truth and purpose, keeps the adherents busy towards something outside, It also stops them from looking in and really thinking things through.

END-TIME REVELATION: Special insights into the end of the world and the second coming of Jesus Christ are claimed. The book of revelation is mostly used ,among other immediate prophecies. Koresh claimed an exclusive understanding of the "seven seals" in Revelation, and believed that he was the one ordained to open them. Elizabeth C. Prophet of the church universal has prophecies from ascended masters telling about the end times.

MOTIVATIONAL TEACHING: Techniques designed to stimulate emotions, usually employing loud speaking or music with group participation, group dynamics are used to influence responses. Your overwhelmed with smiling faces and handshakes and hugs with unconditional friendship. Those who were newly invited will be asked how they liked it and told how much fun they have and what they have to offer. They will immediately become your best friend and want to know when your coming back.

RULES OF SILENCE: Their are rules which govern churches which are often not stated or written down. Beware if they say the only statement we have is the Bible. Since the rules are not spoken verbally, you don't find out that the rule (s) exist until you've broken one. It is taken for granted that you should know them. Or you taught them after you have joined.

The unspoken rule may come across like this: Do not disagree with the church authorities -- especially the pastor or your spirituality and loyalty will be questioned. Silence becomes a fortress wall of protection, many will shield the pastor's position of power from any scrutiny or challenge. If one questions what is said or the rules they are seen as being against them and God or divisive.

The can’t talk to others rule is probably the most consistent one used. If you speak about the problem to others, YOU JUST BECOME THE PROBLEM. You must become silent and just ignore it or will be asked to leave. Neither can you discuss things with others who left while you are still in the group or it will be considered betrayal.

CONVERSION TECHNIQUES: Conversion into a cult is done by dynamic interactions. They look for those who are new to the town or school. The easiest to involve someone is when they are weak and vulnerable they instantly become a potential recruit. This vulnerability can be enhanced by transitional situations in life such as divorce, depression, abuse, handicapped, a job or career change, moving away from home or leaving college, few friends, an illness, or death of a loved one, new to an area, loneliness, loss of job, or someone backsliding. Those whom have had numerous bad experiences with love in their lives, feel rejected by people and insecure are attracted to cults. These groups make them instantly feel accepted and superior giving them friendship and acceptance. Many people who become discontent and disappointed in their prior church experiences are open to something new, even something radically different.

The tactics used to convert, indoctrinate the members. Some groups attempt a radical and quick conversion with an intensive weekend retreat or week long seminar such as The Forum or Scientology. Others have a more subtle approach which may take weeks or months such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and International churches of Christ. Although all push for something for quicker decisions to join.

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE: Emotions, intuitions, revelations and mystical insights are promoted over the objective word. They become more important than objective conclusions and what has already been revealed in scripture Critical Thinking is discouraged , independent thought can be looked at as selfish, and rational use of intellect as evil.

MYSTICAL ALTERED STATES: The flesh is considered evil the Sprit is good (Gnosticism). Subjective experiences are accepted more quickly than constructive teaching New age uses Repetition of words, Techniques which include relaxation, chanting, hypnosis, meditation, trance states, guided imagery or visualization, deep breathing exercises - all of these bring a person into an altered state, a highly suggestible state. These techniques can cause psychological imbalance. What is relaxation becomes the opposite promoting anxiety.Many cannot handle stilling the mind or visualizing. The affects are not immediately noticed and usually catch up later

LEADERS HAVE A PRIDEFUL UNTEACHABLE SPIRIT: The attitude that "no one can Judge me or tell me what to do" is fostered by pride the leader is in deception and promotes deception to the followers. The leader becomes untouchable by anyone. He is accountable to God only and everyone must obey what he says like it is Gods words. Included in this is the attitude that 'we are always right" from the leadership. When Hobart Freeman began Faith Assembly, loyalty to him and his teachings were to be accepted without question. To question Freeman, a self-acknowledged "prophet of God" was to risk the charge of blasphemy. Many people died including himself from his teaching on healing. This continues today by the word/faith movement and believing for your healing. All false doctrine has pride as its catalyst and arrogance as its practice. A good example of this is the phrase don’t touch the Lords anointed According to John Avanzini and Paul crouch, Dr. Walter Martin (a cult apologist) died because he spoke out against the Word-Faith teachers and their messages. (John Avanzini with Paul Crouch, Spring 1990 Praise-a-thon, Trinity Broadcast Network.)

PRIDE OF THE GROUP: We are the only ones who are right. If you are not one of us, then you are destined for hell. Correct doctrine is used by them alone to the exclusion of any others, they alone have the truth so one must join them to be saved. they have an us against them attitude which can be very dangerous.

They appoint new "inside" meanings to ordinary words or the use of an exclusive vocabulary subtly moving a person to want to become a member. A appearance of false Spirituality is given from the language. What was formerly known by a certain phrase or word now has a new meaning behind it.

BRAINWASHING: New inductees are brainwashed increment by increment, until the convert identifies with the Church and its leaders and ties with family society are broken. Many claim no one can be brainwashed if they don’t want to be. But who ever wanted to be unless they were convinced first it is a good thing. So it is disguised as what is right and true. While there are some subtle differences between mind control and brainwashing the results are the same, obedience. A systematic teaching indoctrinates members into the beliefs of the cult. This is a methodical process of seducing and deceiving. A lie is told over and over until it is accepted and believed. A reprogramming of the conscience is done by other members and systematic teachings . Certain techniques used for what is called thought reform and mind conditioning. Members are kept under physical, mental and emotional pressure they can become too fatigued to resist or think for themselves, or they become to busy as they can comply with all the groups activities.

DEVOTION TO CONVERT OTHERS TO THEIR GROUP AND ITS BELIEF SYSTEM: Cults demand a strong commitment from their members. They promise rewards for being faithful to their leaders and organization. EX: one can be kept out of the tribulation if found doing God's work (JW).

Service to the church is understood as service to God. Meetings are mandatory. In the I.C.C., one's meetings will keep them so busy they will no longer have time for their friends and family, job or hobbies. They are replaced with a new family and friends and a new view of life.

The priority, rather than bringing others into a saving relationship with Christ is to have them gain membership. Flattery is used, they can be very are crafty and everything is done with an objective. Instead of plainness, openness and honesty. They hide their real motives and teachings until they know one is ready. When they are convinced that you will do anything for God and their group, it is then that they will disclose the full extent of their teachings and mission.

DISTORTED TITHING OR EXCESSIVE GIVING: Certain members Keep track of your commitment of what your to give. they may have you write down what you can give and keep you to the obligation. More and more money is needed to attain higher degrees of spirituality (word faith, International churches of Christ), or complete submission to God requires one to give up everything to the group or leader for the cause. Give to get back from God, the more you give the more God will give back.

We must be ready to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1), and to "beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's (Christian) clothing" (Matthew 7:15). The key to discernment is awareness (Hosea 4:6), for how can one beware unless one is first aware. We become aware by first by familiarizing one self with the truth, but also become aware how the enemy distorts the truth to attract and snare us.

ATTEMPTING TO BRING IN THE KINGDOM NOW: It is up to us to change society and government. Force may even be promoted. Distrust and paranoia may empower the Cult as they could feel that they are threatened and subject to attack. This causes them to stockpile food and weapons and take extreme measures to insure protection from their imagined enemies. In Christianity some want to take over the world and Christianize the government and the people so that after it is done Christ will come back.

TOTAL COMMITMENT: is expected of the followers to the leader[s]. Their commitment requires that property and money be given in the hands of the leader[s]. Ones time, talent, and money are all at the disposal of the church or leaders. It is all focused on their mission which is interpreted as Gods. While many do use the great commission as a basic concept they change it to mean something than it actually does.

INDIVIDUALITY IS SACRIFICED FOR THE GROUP: The group's concerns supersede an individual's goals, needs, aspirations, Conformity is the key. The end Justifies the Means - Any action or behavior is justifiable as long as it furthers the group's goals. To lie to others outside the group is ok since they are serving Satan.

INCONSISTENT DISCIPLINED LIFE: very strict rules in some areas and completely loose in others. Will make up extra rules to either forbid things normally done (legalism such as movies male or female swimming) or will allow total freedom to the extreme such as in the family and sex for Jesus. There is no balance but only extremes.

MARTYRDOM COMPLEX: Cultists may be willing to die for what they believe to he true, out of loyalty to the man or God they follow. Even to the point of mass suicide as we have seen with Jim Jones, Koresh, Heavens Gate, etc. Others such as the Christian Science and Jehovah Witnesses convince individuals of suicide by denying medical treatment or blood for their life.

CURSES and THREATS: Are put on those who leave the group or oppose them afterwards. They are told there is no where else to go. Threats are made subtly or to their face. Once one is in there is no easy way out. The hardest part is when friends and family are involved. One will often have to give up their friendships and their family if they want to keep a good standing. That should be a red flag for anyone who hears this kind of talk.

http://www.caic.org.au/general/brainwsh.htm

Refuting Jehovah's Witnesses

The techniques used by the Watchtower are typical of modern cults. For one, their approach is subtle. Through the use of halftruths in explaining their position, misquotes of secular authorities, redefinition of the English language and even altering their own history, they succeed in convincing their followers that they are the only true religion. The WT organization is referred to in their publications as the "mother":

If we are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our father but his organization as our "mother." WT, May 1957, p. 274

The book 1984 by George Orwell is a testimony to how subtle thought control can be. Certain excerpts from 1984 have been chosen to make a point.

Orwell's book begins by describing a major world power that juggles with truth and historical records in order to make themselves look as if they are always "right." Oceana is the world power, and Eurasia is its rival. In the quotes, you will notice mention of "Big Brother," or the "Society." Take the time to think about the similarities of such a political system with the "Mother" organization of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, also commonly referred to as the "Society" (a term used both in the WT as well as the Communist world to cover the truth that the real rulership is in the hands of a few men).

The WT knows that in order to control the future, they must have control over the past. How? In basically four ways: By preventing the average JW from accessing their past mistakes or deceptions, by coloring their history, by passing off the past as irrelevant, or by actually changing the historical writings themselves.

To the WT, reality is whatever they are teaching as current light from the "faithful and discreet slave" (meaning themselves). Whatever they taught in the past is not to even be believed any longer; indeed, it would amount to apostasy to go back to believing former views (old light). This means that they must gain a series of "victories" over their memory; what was taught ten years ago is not to be remembered at present, for it would confuse the understanding of present truth. If it be necessary to explain the past teachings to someone, they may use complicated explanations as to how truth is really only relative to the progression of the organization. They must be ready to deny the past, yet subconsciously acknowledge it and compensate for it in their thinking; all the while being careful not to be conscious of fooling themselves.

To know, for instance, that the WT actually did lead their people to believe that the end of the world was coming in 1975; yet to deny that and actually believe their denial of it to be truthful; to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies . . . to forget that the WT had predicted the end of the world in 1914 rather than the invisible return of Christ (which was held to have taken place in 1874 and believed all the way up till 1929); to forget this when it was necessary to forget, then when cornered to draw it back into memory and call it a mistake; only to later deny itthat is the ultimate subtlety! And then, to point to other religious groups who predict the future and accuse them of being false prophetsis using two ways (standards) of thinking, hence the similarity to Orwell's expression "doublethink." Notice the Governing Body's own words:

True, there have been those in times past who predicted an "end to the world," even announcing a specific date. . . . The "end" did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them. (Oct. 8, 1968 Awake! p.23)

How can the Watchtower make a statement like this in view of their own record of predictions? It can be easily documented right out of their own books that they predicted the end of the world several times! It is as Orwell says, " . . . to forget whatever it is necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again and then to forget it again . . . and to apply the same process to the process itself (to be unaware of this whole facade, in other words), that was the ultimate subtlety." (1984, p. 32,33) Doublethink is an appropriate word for the WT's treatment of past prophecies.

Selfdeception is a difficult thing to uncover. It is very complex, much like making up one lie to cover over another. How different this is from just plainly and simply telling the truth! How often people get annoyed with JWs because they won't directly answer questions like, "Who will be saved at Armageddon?" or, "What is needed to understand the Bible?" One notices that they cannot speak independently of the organization. Note the similarities in Orwell's world:

A Party member is required to have not only the right opinions, but the right instincts. Many of the beliefs and attitudes demanded of him are never plainly stated, and could not be stated without laying bare the contradictions inherent in Ingsoc. If he is a person naturally orthodox (in Newspeak, a goodthinker), he will in all circumstances know, without taking thought, what is the true belief or desirable emotion. But in any case, an elaborate mental training, undergone in childhood and grouping itself round the Newspeak words crimestop, blackwhite, and doublethink, makes him unwilling and unable to think too deeply on any subject whatever. (1984, p. 174)

From personal experience in serving six years at the WT headquarters, both as an elder and a factory overseer, and being wellknown as an "organization man," the author sought diligently to be the epitome of what a JW was supposed to be. In reality, this could only be accomplished, not by reading the WT, but by knowing in total how the system works, and how those in charge really think; knowing what their motivations are and what makes them "tick." If one just read the WT, without actually associating with JWs, one would get an inaccurate picture of the actual mentality of the organization. The author spent much time with the older members of the headquarters staff, and worked daily with those who had been there for 30 years and more, even some of the Governing Body.

Just as in political organizations, understanding the mentality of those you are dealing with is the key factor in your moving up in the system. You soon discover why decisions are made and who makes them. You understand why certain policies are adopted and not others. You also realize why new "rules" are made, but not actually put into print, or if they are, they may be couched in "double language." The result is that the printed expression will be interpreted by two types of minds in two different ways. For instance, by the naive JW, a statement like

Would it be wise for a brother to wear a beard in an area where this is not common? Having a Bibletrained conscience might move him to consider the feelings of others.

. . . might be interpreted as it is written; as just a matter of conscience. But an elder or an organizationallyminded JW would clearly understand it to be a doctrinal position taken by the WT, meaning that if you expected to be treated as a brother, or if you desired any responsibility in the congregation, you had better not grow a beard! (Or if you had one, you had better shave it off!)

Questioning the system can undermine one's mental programming, as doubts can creep in, causing the JW to think for himself. The Governing Body knows that these doubts must be avoided at all costs to maintain their control. Note the similarity in Orwell's 1984:

. . . The speculations which might possibly induce a skeptical or rebellious attitude are killed in advance by his earlyacquired inner discipline. The first and simplest stage in the discipline, which can be taught even to young children, is called, in Newspeak, crimestop. Crimestop means the faculty of stopping short, as though by instinct, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. It includes the power of not grasping analogies, of failing to perceive logical errors, of misunderstanding the simplest arguments if they are inimical to Ingsoc, and of being bored or repelled by any train of thought which is capable of leading in a heretical direction. (p. 174, 175)

The JW learns early in the game to kill his speculations if they veer into dangerous territory. He either senses that they will be dangerous to his relationship to other Witnesses (who will view him with suspicion), or he finds out the hard way by voicing his dissent and either being chastised or humiliated. He learns early on that he must walk in the present light, not allowing his mind to move ahead of the organization. He is not to think independently of the organization. The Governing Body will now represent his mind on all important matters. It is the only "safe" way.

A Witness automatically learns to put aside disturbing thoughts, such as might develop if they were to go to a door where a person would take the Witnesses' Truth That Leads To Eternal Life book out of their hands and opens it to page 13 where it says,

We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God's Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination. It should be the sincere desire of every one of us to learn what God's will is for us, and then to do it.

The householder (person at the door) might try to reason with the Witness using the logic presented in their own book, saying, "Why don't we examine the record of the Watchtower over the past 100 years?" The JW usually responds with a blank stare or a response such as, "Were you ever a Witness before?" In other words, "How come you know so much about us?" This is thereby an unconscious refusal to follow through on a logical argument initiated by others, while at the same time attempting to initiate logical arguments themselves. When on the defensive, JWs will often misunderstand or draw a blank on the simplest of arguments. They will get bored or repelled at any train of thought not initiated by themselves that could prove to be dangerous to their organizational security. Compare Orwell's world:

Crimestop, in short, means protective stupidity. But stupidity is not enough. On the contrary, orthodoxy in the full sense demands a control over one's own mental processes as complete as that of a contortionist over his own body. Oceanic society rests ultimately on the belief that Big Brother is omnipotent and that the Party is infallible. But since in reality Big Brother is not omnipotent and the Party is not infallible, there is need for an unwearying, momenttomoment flexibility in the treatment of facts. The key word here is blackwhite. Like so many Newspeak words, this word has two mutually contradictory meanings. Applied to an opponent, it means the habit of impudently claiming that black is white, in contradiction of the plain facts. Applied to a Party member, it means a loyal willingness to say that black is white when Party discipline demands this. But it means also the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know that black is white, and to forget that one has ever believed to the contrary. This demands a continuous alteration of the past, made possible by the system of thought which really embraces all the rest, and which is known in Newspeak as doublethink. (1984, p. 175)

http://www.caic.org.au/general/totalism.htm

Cognitive Dissonance

Leon Festinger is a psychologist who studied groups that predicted the end of the world. He found that most members became stronger than ever when the prophecy failed. His investigation revealed that members had to find a way to cope psychologically with the failure. They needed to maintain order and meaning in their life. They needed to think they were acting according to their self-image and values. Festinger described this contradiction which they had to overcome as what has become known as the “COGNITIVE DISSONANCE THEORY” The three components he described are: “Control Of Behaviour” - “Control Of Thoughts” - “Control Of Emotions”

Each component has a powerful effect on the other two: CHANGE ONE AND THE OTHERS WILL TEND TO FOLLOW. When all three change the individual undergoes a complete change. Festinger summarised the basic principle:

“If you change a person’s behaviour, his thoughts and feelings will change to minimise the dissonance.”

When there is a conflict between thoughts, feelings or behaviour, then those in conflict will change to minimise the contradiction. This is because a person can only tolerate a certain amount of discrepancy between these components which make up his identity. In cults this dissonance is created to exploit and control them.

Steven Hassan, author of Combating Cult Mind Control, added a fourth component to Festinger’s: “Control Of Information”

By controlling the information one receives you can control and restrict the individual’s ability to think for himself. You limit what he is able to think about.

1. MILIEU CONTROL -

Control of the Environment and Communication

The control of human communication is the most basic feature of the thought reform environment. This is the control of what the individual sees, hears, reads, writes, experiences and expresses. It goes even further than that, and controls the individuals communication with himself - his own thoughts.

Everything other than their beliefs is excluded. The organisation appears to be omniscient. They seem to know everything that is going on. Reality is their exclusive possession. In this environment the individual is deprived of the combination of external information and internal reflection required to test reality and to maintain a measure of identity separate from his environment. The individual can feel victimised by his controllers and feel the hostility of suffocation - the resentful awareness that his striving toward new information, independent judgment and self-expression are being thwarted.

EXAMPLE - Jehovah’s Witnesses are a classical example of a closed community living within and mixing with the wider community. Because they are so well known we have used them as an example.

e.g. - In Jehovah’s Witnesses

You could “go beyond the ‘truth’ - beyond what they taught. This showed you were thinking for yourself and put yourself above leadership. Those moving ahead of the Organisation are counselled
No gatherings other than those allowed or organised by organisation (1982).
Not making comments from your own thoughts at the meetings. Only comments from the study articles are permitted. No independent thinking is permitted.
The organization always seemed to know what was going on in your congregation and article appeared in Watchtower publications just at the right time (“food at the proper time”). This was done through Circuit Servants reports to Headquarters.
Use of ‘publisher record cards’ etc. to monitor activities of members. Watchtower is aware of trends etc. by strict reporting and control of individual Witnesses activities.
Report on fellow brothers & sisters (cannot get away from organisation)
Monitoring or observation of disfellowshipped or marked people.
Non Witnesses are viewed as ‘bad association’
Worldly education discouraged - better to go door-to-door
Employment that takes up time which should be devoted to Watchtower activities is also discouraged.
Should be ‘buying out the opportune time’ in ‘theocratic activities’.
Taught to indoctrinate self!
‘Shepherding’ of those who fall behind.

2. Mystical Manipulation -

The Mystique of the Organisation

This seeks to provoke specific patterns of behaviour and emotion in such a way that these will appear to have arisen spontaneously from within the environment. For the manipulated person this assumes a near-mystical quality. This is not just a power trip by the manipulators.

They have a sense of “higher purpose” and see themselves as being the “keepers of the truth.” By becoming the instruments of their own mystique, they create a mystical aura around the manipulating institution - the Party, the Government, the Organisation, etc. They are the chosen agents to carry out this mystical imperative.

The pursuit of this mystical imperative supersedes all considerations of decency of immediate human welfare. The end justifies the means. You can lie, deceive or whatever to those outside the organiz- ation. Association with the “outside” is only to benefit their own cause in some way. Some cults like Moonies and Hare Krishna’s call their deception “heavenly deception” or “transcendental trickery”. Members believe in the ideology to such a degree that they rationalize these deceptions. Members are kept in a frenzy of cult related activities. There is little time or energy to think about their lifestyle.

“The psychology of the pawn” - This person feels unable to escape from forces he sees more powerful than himself. His way of dealing with this is to adapt to them. He learns how to anticipate problems with the organisation and to manipulate events to avoid incriminating himself.This is the person who has been in the organisation long enough, knows something is wrong, is on the verge of leaving then suddenly becomes very loyal. They sell out to the organisation and will turn in friends who may have confided in them.

e.g. - In Jehovah’s Witnesses

“Theocratic strategy” - If you don’t have a right to know the truth it is OK to lie to you. (See “Insight” under ‘Lie’)
Avoid telling prospects - No blood, holidays, family, friends,
etc
Bring someone new each time they call so prospect gets to know the people at the Kingdom Hall when they attend. (Planned spontaneity)
The ideology supersedes the welfare of the individual. They are not involved in charities outside the group [or in the group].
Not helping fellow memmbers to the detriment of promoting the ideology. This is more important than helping the sick & elderly.
Prayers are general - for the organisation not the needs of the individual. See God as not interested in you as a person.
Blessed only for effort in promoting the Kingdom.
Ability of organisation to accomplish the ‘preaching work’ seen as evidence of Jehovah’s blessing, direction and angelic help
Jehovah ‘sifts out’ those not truly ‘in the truth’, those without ‘the right heart condition’ which is why people leave or must be disfellowshipped. No one leaves legitimately.

3. Demand For Purity -

Everything is black & white

Pure and impure is defined by the ideology of the organization. Only those ideas, feelings and actions consistent with the ideology and policy are good. The individual conscience is not reliable. The philosophical assumption is that absolute purity is attainable and that anything done in the name of this purity is moral. By defining and manipulating the criteria of purity and conducting an all-out war on impurity (dissension especially) the organisation creates a narrow world of guilt and shame. This is perpetuated by an ethos of continuous reform, the demand that one strive permanently and painfully for something which not only does not exist but is alien to the human condition.

Under these conditions the individual expects humiliation, ostracism and punishment because of his inability to live up to the criteria and lives in a constant state of guilt and shame. Since the organisation is the ultimate judge of good and evil, this guilt and shame is used to manipulate and control members. The organization becomes an authority without limit in the eyes of members and their power is nowhere more evident that in their capacity to “forgive”.

All impurities are seen to originate from “outside” (the world). Therefore, one of the best ways to relieve himself of the burden of guilt is to denounce these with great hostility. The more guilty he feels, the greater his hatred, the more hostile is his denouncement. Organizationally this eventually leads to purges of heretics, mass hatred and religious holy wars. The group will point to the mistakes of all other belief systems while promoting their own purity. This gives the impression that their organisation is perfect, clean and pure as a people or group.

e.g. - In Jehovah’s Witnesses

Dress and grooming have been laid down at various times.
No pantsuits for ladies No beards or moustaches
Short hair on men No coloured shirts for men
No gold rimmed glasses Certain styles of clothing

These rules change at the whim of the leaders.

Only 2 organisations: Jehovah’s and Satan’s. You cannot be part of both.
World has no conscience - all dishonest
Must keep clear of worldly celebrations (Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, Mother’s & Father’s Day, Thanksgiving etc)
Loyalty displayed through meeting attendance and participation, field service, choice of marriage partners [strong ‘in the truth’], shunning disfellowshipped relatives and friends.

4. Cult Of Confession -

Reporting to leadership

This is closely related to the demand for purity. Confession is carried beyond the ordinary religious, legal and therapeutic expressions to the point of becoming a cult in itself. In totalist hands, confession becomes a means of exploiting, rather than offering solace for these vulnerabilities.

Totalist confession is an act of self-surrender, the expression of the merging of the individual and environment. There is a dissolution of self, talents and money. Conformity.

The cult of confession has effects quite the reverse of its ideal of total exposure; rather than eliminating personal secrets, it increases and intensifies them.

The individual becomes caught up in continuous conflict over which secrets to preserve and which to surrender, over ways to reveal lesser secrets can be revealed and ways to protect more important ones.

The cult of confession makes it virtually impossible to attain reasonable balance between worth and humility.

e.g. In Jehovah’s Witnesses

Confessing infringements to an Elder.
Putting in field reports (test of spirituality) [A monthly report of one’s activities for that month. How many hours door-knocking; number of books and magazines sold; number of people one studied doctrine with etc]
Accept orders without question. Ask “How high” when told to jump.
Any who are aware of another’s sin must put this one in to the elders or the guilt will rest on their shoulders.
Congregation is made aware of the sin through talks and restrictions placed on guilty ones.

5. Sacred Science -

Absolute “Truth”

Their “truth” is the absolute truth. It is sacred - beyond questioning. There is a reverence demanded for the leadership. They have ALL the answers. Only to them is given the revelation of “truth”.

The ultimate moral vision becomes the ultimate science and the person who dares to criticise it, or even think criticism, is immoral, irreverent and “unscientific”.

The assumption here is not so much that man can be God, but rather that man’s IDEAS can be God.

This gives sense of security to the member. They are confident they can get the answer to the most difficult problem or question.

e.g. In Jehovah’s Witnesses you can be disfellowshipped (kicked out) for daring to question what is taught in their publications.

Watchtower demands full devotion of members. Must not question the Organization (= questioning God)
There is an answer to everything, if you cannot find it in the publications you must ‘wait on Jehovah’ and not ‘push ahead’.
Organisation itself will survive Armageddon but individual Jehovah’s Witnesses have no such assurance.

6. Loading The Language -

Thought terminating cliches

Everything is compressed into brief, highly reductive, definitive-sounding phrases, easily memorised and easily expressed.

There are “good” terms which represents the groups ideology and “evil” terms to represent everything outside which is to be rejected. Totalist language is intensely divisive, all-encompassing jargon, unmercifully judging. To those outside the group this language is tedious - the language of non-thought.

This effectively isolates members from outside world. The only people who understand you are other members. Other members can tell if you are really one of them by how you talk.

This narrowness of the language is constricting. The individual is linguistically deprived because language is central to the human experience and his capacities for thinking and feeling are immensely restricted.

While initially this loaded language can give a sense of security to the new believer, an uneasiness develops over time. This uneasiness may result in a withdrawal into the system and he preaches even harder to hide his problem and demonstrate his loyalty. It may also produce an inner division and the individual will publicly give the right performance while privately have his own thoughts.

Either way, his imagination becomes increasingly disassociated from his actual life experiences and may even tend to atrophy from disuse.

e.g. - In Jehovah’s Witnesses

Theocratic strategy - “ark of salvation” - “new light”
“meat in due season” - “faithful & discreet slave” - “apostate”
“The anointed” - Book study - Christendom
“Christ Jesus” instead of “Jesus Christ”
‘back calls’ now called ‘return visits’ (terminology changes indicate who might be falling behind or who is not really a member)
“Jehovah will take care of it in his due time.”
“It’s the truth” - doesn’t matter if they make a mistake
Where else is there to go?
Worldly - Governing Body - New System of Things

7. Doctrine Over Person -

Doctrine supersedes human experience

The ideological myth merges with their “truth” and the resulting deduction can be so overpowering and coercive that is simply replaces reality. Consequently past events can be altered, rewritten or even ignored to make them consistent with the current reality. This alteration is especially lethal when the distortions are imposed on the individual’s memory.

They demand character and identity of a person be reshaped to fit their clone of mentality. The individual must fit the rigid contours of the doctrinal mould instead of developing their own potential and personality.

The underlying assumption is that the doctrine - including its mythological elements - is ultimately more valid, true and real than is any aspect of actual human character or human experience. The individual under such pressure is propelled into an intense conflict with his own sense of integrity, a struggle which take place in relation to polarised feelings if sincerity and insincerity.

Absolute sincerity is demanded by the group yet this must be put to one side when changes take place the individual has to deny the original belief ever existed. Personal feelings are suppressed and members must appear to be contented and enthusiastic at all times.

Some cults believe that all illness is a result of lack of faith and evidence of sin in your life. These things have to be prayed away and medical attention is ignored as a “sign of faith.”

e.g. - In Jehovah’s Witnesses

“There is no life outside the organisation” so when they see people who have made a life outside they revert back to doctrine over what they see.
If an experience doesn’t fit, it must be demons.
Will ignore needs of others because doctrine overrides human experience. i.e. will ignore needs of disfellowshipped or marked persons no matter how serious those needs are.
Those who were JW’s before 1975 and are still JW’s will deny they ever believed Armageddon was due that year - even those who sold homes, delayed medical treatment etc.
Watchtower has final authority even over personal experience. Blood transfusions, etc. Conscience matters are discussed only in the light of Watchtower doctrine (not left to individuals’ consciences).

8. Dispensing Of Existence -

Who is worthy to live

They have the right to decide who is worthy of life and who isn’t. They also decide which history books are accurate and which are not.

Those in the organisation are worthy of life; those outside worthy of death. The outsiders can be permitted to live if they change and become an insider. Members live in fear of being pronounced “dead”. They have a fear of annihilation or extinction. The emotional conflict is one of “being vs nothingness”.

Existence comes to depend upon creed (I believe, therefore I am), upon mission (I obey, therefore I am) and beyond these, upon a sense of total merger with the organisation. Should he stray from the “truth” his right to exist may be withdrawn and he is pronounced “dead”.

e.g. - In Jehovah’s Witnesses

“Sheep and goats” - how one responds to “Christ’s brothers” decides their future. (“Christ’s brothers” are those who rule the organisation. How you respond to their message as carried by their messengers decides your eternal future).
Elders decide who is worthy of life at Judicial Committee meetings.
They decide who is worthy of a resurrection - (Sodom & Gommorah).
Disfellowshiping ‘sinners’ denies them any hope for a future outside the Organisation.
They will blatently lie to achieve goals and consider this to be “theocratic strategy”.
Any information contrary to the Watchtower ‘system’ is not considered worth listening to or reading.
Witnesses are forbidden to discuss such information, especially if is considered ‘apostate’ [put together by former members]

http://www.caic.org.au/general/dddsynd.htm

Although the process here described is complex and varied, the following appears to occur in the prototypical cult conversion:

      A vulnerable prospect encounters a cultic group.

      The group (leader[s]) deceptively presents itself as a benevolent authority that can improve the prospect's well-being.

      The prospect responds positively, experiencing an increase in self-esteem and security, at least some of which is in response to what could be considered "placebo" The prospect can now be considered a "recruit".

      Through the use of "sharing" exercises, "confessions," and skillful individualized probing, the group [leader(s)] assesses the recruit's strengths and weaknesses.

      Through testimonies of group members, the denigration of the group's "competitors" (e.g., other religious groups, other therapists), the tactful accentuation of the recruit's shameful memories and other weaknesses, and the gradual indoctrination of the recruit into a closed, nonfalsifiable belief system, the group's superiority is affirmed as a fundamental assumption.

      Members' testimonies, positive reinforcement of the recruit's expressions of trust in the group, discrete reminders about the recruit's weaknesses, and various forms of group pressure induce the recruit to acknowledge that his/her future well-being depends upon adherence to the group's belief system, more specifically its "change program."

      These same influence techniques are joined by a subtle undermining of the recruit's self-esteem (e.g., by exaggerating the "sinfulness" of experiences the recruit is encouraged to "confess"), the suppression or weakening of critical thinking through fatiguing activity, near-total control of the recruit's time, trance-induction exercises (e.g., chanting), and the repetitive message that only disaster results from not following the group's "change program." These manipulations induce the recruit to declare allegiance to the group and to commit to change him/herself as directed by the group. He or she can now be considered a convert embarking on a path of "purification," "enlightenment," "self-actualization," "higher consciousness," or whatever. The recruit's dependency on the group is established and implicitly, if not explicitly, acknowledged. Moreover, he/she has accepted the group's authority in defining what is true and good, within the convert's heart and mind as well as in the world.

      The convert is next fully subjected to the unrealistically high expectations of the group. The recruit's "potential" is "lovingly" affirmed, while members testify to the great heights they and "heroic" models have scaled. The group's all-important mission, e.g., save the world, justifies its all-consuming expectations.

      Because by definition the group is always right and "negative" thinking is unacceptable, the convert's failures become totally his or her responsibility, while his or her doubts and criticisms are suppressed (often with the aid of trance-inducing exercises such as meditation, speaking in tongues, or chanting) or redefined as personal failures. The convert thus experiences increasing self- alienation. The "pre-cult self" is rejected; doubts about the group are pushed out of consiousness; the sense of failure generated by not measuring up to the group's expectations is bottled up inside. The only possible adaptation is fragmentation and compartmentalization. It is not surprising, then, that many clinicans consider dissociation to lie at the heart of cult-related distress and dysfunction (Ash, 1985).

      The convert's self-alienation will tend to demand further psychological, if not physical, alienation from the non-group world (especially family), information from which can threaten to upset whatever dissociative equilibrium the convert establishes in an attempt to adjust to the consuming and conflicting demands of the group. This alienation accentuates the convert's dependency on the group.

      The group supports the convert's dissociative equilibrium by actively encouraging escalating dependency, e.g., by exaggerating the convert's past "sins" and conflicts with family, by denigrating outsiders, by positively reinforcing chanting or other "thought-stopping" activities, and by providing and positively reinforcing ways in which the convert can find a valued role within the group (e.g., work for a group-owned business, sell magazines on the street).

      The group strengthens the convert's growing dependency by threatening or inflicting punishment whenever the convert or an outside force (e.g., a visit by a family member) disturbs the dissociative equilibrium that enables him or her to function in a closed, nonfalsifiable system (the "dread" of DDD). Punishment may sometimes by physical. Usually, however, the punishment is psychological, sometimes even metaphysical. Certain fringe Christian groups, for example, can at the command of the leadership immediately begin shunning someone singled out as being "factious" or possessed of a "rebellious spirit." Many groups also threaten wavering converts with punishments in the hereafter, for example, being "doomed to Hell." It should be remembered that these threats and punishments occur within a context of induced dependency and psychological alienation from the person's former support network. This fact makes them much more potent than the garden-variety admonistions of traditional religous, such as "you will go to hell if you die with mortal sin."

http://www.caic.org.au/general/culthyp.htm

   1. Confinement (communal) + thought reform practices
   2. Self Hypnosis/Meditation + thought reform practices
   3. Deprivation + thought reform practices
   4. Prolonged sensitivity training + thought reform practices
   5. Intense repetition & physical/emotional exhaustion + though reform practices

Added to this environment is the peer pressure which manipulates the recruit into compliance. This is done through psychological and/or physical rewards for conforming to the group ideal and some form of punishment for not conforming.

It can be argued that these techniques are legally defined as UNDUE INFLUENCE. According to Black’s Law Dictionary;

    Undue Influence: Persuasion, pressure, or influence short of actual force, but stronger than mere advice, that so overpowers the dominated party’s free will or judgment that he or she cannot act intelligently and voluntarily, but acts, instead, subject to the will or purposes of the dominating party. (page 1528)

http://www.caic.org.au/general/charcult.htm

1. Authoritarian pyramid structure with authority at the top

2. Charismatic or messianic leader(s) (Messianic meaning they either say they are God OR that they alone can interpret the scriptures the way God intended.....the leaders are self-appointed.

3. Deception in recruitment and/or fund raising

4. Isolation from society -- not necessarily physical isolation like on some compound in Waco, but this can be psychological isolation -- the rest of the world is not saved, not Christian, not transformed (whatever) -- the only valid source of feedback and information is the group

5. Use of mind control techniques (we use Dr. Robert Jay Lifton's criteria from chapter 22 of his book Thought Reform & the Psychology of to compare whether the eight psychological and social methods he lists are present in the group at question)

Mileu Control: Control of the environment and communication within the environment

Mystical Manipulation: Seeks to promote specific patterns of behavior and emotion in such a way that it appears to have arisen spontaneously from within the environment, while it actually has been orchestrated totalist leaders claim to be agents chosen by God, history, or some supernatural force, to carry out the mystical imperative the "principles" (God-centered or otherwise) can be put forcibly and claimed exclusively, so that the cult and its beliefs become the only true path to salvation (or enlightenment)

Demand for Purity: The world becomes sharply divided into the pure and the impure, the absolutely good (the group/ideology) and the absolutely evil (everything outside the group) one must continually change or conform to the group "norm"; tendencies towards guilt and shame are used as emotional levers for the group's controlling and manipulative influences

Confession: Cultic confession is carried beyond its ordinary religious, legal and therapeutic expressions to the point of becoming a cult in itself sessions in which one confesses to one's sin are accompanied by patterns of criticism and self-criticism, generally transpiring within small groups with an active and dynamic thrust toward personal change

Sacred Science: The totalist milieu maintains an aura of sacredness around its basic doctrine or ideology, holding it as an ultimate moral vision for the ordering of human existence questioning or criticizing those basic assumptions is prohibited a reverence is demanded for the ideology/doctrine, the originators of the ideology/doctrine, the present bearers of the ideology/doctrine offers considerable security to young people because it greatly simplifies the world and answers a contemporary need to combine a sacred set of dogmatic principles with a claim to a science embodying the truth about human behavior and human psychology

Loading the Language: Words are given new meanings -- the outside world does not use the words or phrases in the same way -- it becomes a "group" word or phrase

Doctrine Over Person: If one questions the beliefs of the group or the leaders of the group, one is made to feel that there is something inherently wrong with them to even question -- it is always "turned around" on them and the questioner/criticizer is questioned rather than the questions answered directly the underlying assumption is that doctrine/ideology is ultimately more valid, true and real than any aspect of actual human character or human experience and one must subject one's experience to that "truth" the experience of contradiction can be immediately associated with guilt one is made to feel that doubts are reflections of one's own evil when doubt arises, conflicts become intense

Dispensing of Existence: Since the group has an absolute or totalist vision of truth, those who are not in the group are bound up in evil, are not enlightened, are not saved, and do not have the right to exist; impediments to legitimate being must be pushed away or destroyed one outside the group may always receive their right of existence by joining the group; fear manipulation -- if one leaves this group, one leaves God or loses their salvation/transformation, or something bad will happen to them; the group is the "elite", outsiders are "of the world", "evil", "unenlightened", etc.

http://www.caic.org.au/general/singerne.htm

Keep the person unaware of what is going on and how she or he is being changed a step at a time.

            Potential new members are led, step by step, through a behavioral-change program without being aware of the final agenda or full content of the group. The goal may be to make them deployable agents for the leadership, to get them to buy more courses, or get them to make a deeper commitment, depending on the leader’s aim and desires.

Control the person’s social and/or physical environment; especially control the person’s time.

            Through various methods, newer members are kept busy and led to think about the group and its content during as much of their waking time as possible.

Systematically create a sense of powerlessness in the person.

            This is accomplished by getting members away from the normal social support group for a period of time and into an environment where the majority of people are already group members.

            The members serve as models of the attitudes and behaviors of the group and speak an in- group language.

            Strip members of their main occupation (quit jobs, drop out of school) or source of income or have them turn over their income (or the majority of) to the group.

            Once stripped of your usual support network, your confidence in your own perception erodes.

            As your sense of powerlessness increases, your good judgment and understanding of the world are diminished. (ordinary view of reality is destabilized)

            As group attacks your previous worldview, it causes you distress and inner confusion; yet you are not allowed to speak about this confusion or object to it -- leadership suppresses questions and counters resistance.

            This process is speeded up if you are kept tired -- the cult will keep you constantly busy.

Manipulate a system of rewards, punishments and experiences in such a way as to inhibit behavior that reflects the person’s former social identity.

            Manipulation of experiences can be accomplished through various methods of trance induction, including leaders using such techniques as paced speaking patterns, guided imagery, chanting, long prayer sessions or lectures, and lengthy meditation sessions.

            Your old beliefs and patterns of behavior are defined as irrelevant or evil. Leadership wants these old patterns eliminated, so the member must suppress them

            Members get positive feedback for conforming to the group’s beliefs and behaviors and negative feedback for old beliefs and behavior.

Manipulate a system of rewards, punishments, and experiences in order to promote learning the group’s ideology or belief system and group-approved behaviors.

            Good behavior, demonstrating an understanding and acceptance of the group’s beliefs, and compliance are rewarded while questioning, expressing doubts or criticizing are met with disapproval, redress and possible rejection. If one expresses a question, he or she is made to feel that there is something inherently wrong with them to be questioning.

            The only feedback members get is from the group, they become totally dependent upon the rewards given by those who control the environment.

            Members must learn varying amounts of new information about the beliefs of the group and the behaviors expected by the group.

            The more complicated and filled with contradictions the new system in and the more difficult it is to learn, the more effective the conversion process will be.

            Esteem and affection from peers is very important to new recruits. Approval comes from having the new member’s behaviors and thought patterns conform to the models (members). Members’ relationship with peers is threatened whenever they fail to learn or display new behaviors. Over time, the easy solution to the insecurity generated by the difficulties of learning the new system is to inhibit any display of doubts -- new recruits simply acquiesce, affirm and act as if they do understand and accept the new ideology.

Put forth a closed system of logic and an authoritarian structure that permits no feedback and refuses to be modified except by leadership approval or executive order.

            The group has a top-down, pyramid structure. The leaders must have verbal ways of never losing.

            Members are not allowed to question, criticize or complain -- if they do, the leaders allege that the member is defective -- not the organization or the beliefs.

            The individual is always wrong -- the system, its leaders and its belief are always right.

            Conversion or remolding of the individual member happens in a closed system. As members learn to modify their behavior in order to be accepted in this closed system, they change -- begin to speak the language -- which serves to further isolate them from their prior beliefs and behaviors.

http://www.caic.org.au/general/phobia2.htm

The first step that the Watch Tower takes in their indoctrination of their followers is to develop the concept of the “universal war” that all people are inevitably caught up in, namely, that Satan has declared war on Jehovah, and we are automatically on one side or the other; there are no fence-sitters. If you are not doing all that the organization asks, you are on the side of the devil. Everything outside of the Watch Tower is controlled by the devil, and all persons who are not Witnesses are misled by the devil and are bad or dangerous to associate with. An unbalanced fear of the supernatural is encouraged.

http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=777&Itemid=9&limit=1&limitstart=281

Charismatic Leadership: Claiming divinity or special knowledge and demanding unquestioning obedience with power and privilege. Leadership may consist of one individual or a small group of core leaders.

I don't think there is one person that they have at Free Enterprise Day that isn't charismatic, just drumming one of two things into your mind. First is how successful they are, and second is that they were successful by following the examples and instructions of their leaders. Time after time we hear examples of how they ran into a problem, and ran to their leadership who solved everything. Time after time we hear how they were down on their luck, but they persevered, and made it through, and now look at where they are at. Time after time, we are reminded that if we are good little worker bees, that eventually we can be on top too...

Deception: Recruiting and fundraising with hidden objectives and without full disclosure of the use of mind controlling techniques; use of "front groups."

Deception? Don't think there's deception in Amway? First thing they teach you about contacting new prospects: Don't tell them it's Amway. They even coach you on how to avoid the question of "Is it Amway"... some responses are "Why do you think it would be Amway?", "What have you heard about Amway?", "Why, do you know someone who has been successful in Amway?". And of course, "our group is different" from INA, or World Wide Dream Builders, or * or * or *. We support you, and bring you into our happy family. 2nd thing they teach you is not to tell anyone how long you have been in, how much (little) money you make, etc. Talk in vague concepts "because we don't want to violate the law"... which in reality to say that you don't want people to think of you as LESS successful than what you really are.

Exclusivity: Secretiveness or vagueness by followers regarding activities and beliefs.

Again leading back to the exclusivity of follow the instructs of your upline, and don't do what INA does, do what we have done, as we know it's successful. Noneone has the miracle soap we do. Noone has the marketing plan we do (look at the FTC item that says we are a better MLM than everyone out there... (which reminds me, Steve, has anyone tried to find out about this thing? and if so, why does the FTC keep going after Amway?). Don't try anything new, just do what we tell you to. And the first few times you show the plan, someone else has to do it... you have to learn... OK, that's fine for the first few times, and then after you show the plan about a half dozen times with your upline, you can also branch on off and show it on your own, but make sure that those people see the nightly "big plan" being shown at your local hotel meeting place, or whatever, so that they can see the big picture, and learn new things that you don't know yet.

Alienation: Separation from family, friends and society, a change in values and substitution of the cult as the new "family;" evidence of subtle or abrupt personality changes.

"If they can't see the benefit to the plan, then they are just going to hold you back. This is so simple, anyone can make money at, and if they can't make money at it, they aren't worth your time." This is the sort of alienation that lost me one friend, almost lost me my wife, and also damaged other relationships. I know now that some of my friends think of me as a guy out to get a quick buck, and as a soap salesman. I left Amway over 4 years ago, and I still have this stigma over my head with some of my friends. Alienation is an understatement.

Exploitation: Can be financial, physical or psychological; pressure to give money, to spend a great deal on courses or give excessively to special projects and to engage in inappropriate sexual activities, even child abuse.

Countless tales of the pressure to go to functions, buy tapes, be "core", read the book, show the plan 5 to 7 times a week, can show that this is exploitative. You are a loser if you aren't core. You are a loser if you don't go to FED(or the monthly seminars, or the various nightly seminars on your nights when you aren't showing a plan). You are a loser if you don't have 100% personal usage. I remember when we started to back away, we mentioned that the tape costs were killing us, and the response was not to back off, but instead, listen to the tapes more, and listen to more of them.

Totalitarian Worldview (we/they syndrome): Effecting dependence, promoting goals of the group over the individual and approving unethical behavior while claiming goodness.

http://www.caic.org.au/general/mindcon1.htm

I. Behavior Control

1.Regulation of individual's physical reality

      a.Where, how and with whom the member lives and associates with

      b.What clothes, colors, hairstyles the person wears

      c.What food the person eats, drinks, adopts, and rejects

      d.How much sleep the person is able to have

      e.Financial dependence

      f.Little or no time spent on leisure, entertainment, vacations

2. Major time commitment required for indoctrination sessions and group rituals

3.Need to ask permission for major decisions

4.Need to report thoughts, feelings and activities to superiors

5.Rewards and punishments (behavior modification techniques- positive and negative).

5.Individualism discouraged; group think prevails

6.Rigid rules and regulations

7.Need for obedience and dependency

II. Information Control

1.Use of deception

      a.Deliberately holding back information

      b.Distorting information to make it acceptable

      c.Outright lying

2.Access to non-cult sources of information minimized or discouraged

      a.Books, articles, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio

      b.Critical information

      c.Former members

      d.Keep members so busy they don't have time to think

3.Compartmentalization of information; Outsider vs. Insider doctrines

      a.Information is not freely accessible

      b.Information varies at different levels and missions within pyramid

      c.Leadership decides who "needs to know"what

4.Spying on other members is encouraged

      a.Pairing up with "buddy"system to monitor and control

      b.Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership

5.Extensive use of cult generated information and propaganda

      a.Newsletters, magazines, journals, audio tapes, videotapes, etc.

      b.Misquotations, statements taken out of context from non-cult sources

6.Unethical use of confession

      a.Information about "sins"used to abolish identity boundaries

      b.Past "sins"used to manipulate and control; no forgiveness or absolution

III. Thought Control

1.Need to internalize the group's doctrine as "Truth"

      a.Map = Reality

      b.Black and White thinking

      c.Good vs. evil

      d.Us vs. them (inside vs. outside)

2.Adopt "loaded"language (characterized by "thought-terminating cliches").reduce complexities of experience into trite, platitudinous "buzz words".

3.Only "good"and "proper"thoughts are encouraged.

4.Thought-stopping techniques (to shut down "reality testing"by stopping "negative"thoughts and allowing only "good"thoughts); rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism.

      a.Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking

      b.Chanting

      c.Meditating

      d.Praying

      e.Speaking in "tongues"

      f.Singing or humming

5.No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen as legitimate

6.No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or useful

IV. Emotional Control

1.Manipulate and narrow the range of a person's feelings.

2.Make the person feel like if there are ever any problems it is always their fault, never the leader's or the group's.

3.Excessive use of guilt

      a.Identity guilt

            1.Who you are (not living up to your potential)

            2.Your family

            3.Your past

            4.Your affiliations

            5.Your thoughts, feelings, actions

            b.Social guilt

            c.Historical guilt

4.Excessive use of fear

      a.Fear of thinking independently

      b.Fear of the "outside"world

      c.Fear of enemies

      d.Fear of losing one's "salvation"

      e.Fear of leaving the group or being shunned by group

      f.Fear of disapproval

5.Extremes of emotional highs and lows.

6.Ritual and often public confession of "sins".

7.Phobia indoctrination : programming of irrational fears of ever leaving the group or even questioning the leader's authority. The person under mind control cannot visualize a positive, fulfilled future without being in the group.

      a.No happiness or fulfillment "outside"of the group

      b.Terrible consequences will take place if you leave: "hell"; "demon possession"; "incurable diseases"; "accidents"; "suicide"; "insanity"; "10,000 reincarnations"; etc.

      c.Shunning of leave takers. Fear of being rejected by friends, peers, and family.

      d.Never a legitimate reason to leave. From the group's perspective, people who leave are: "weak"; "undisciplined"; "unspiritual"; "worldly"; "brainwashed by family, counselors"; seduced by money, sex, rock and roll.

http://www.caic.org.au/general/mindcon2.htm

1) INFORMATION CONTROL:

Important information which is available to the general public is withheld from members and potential members.
Deception is the basic feature of all cult recruitment. It is also what keeps people inside cults.
Information is one of the best weapons against cults.
In cults information about the cult's history, purposes, doctrines, financial disclosures, methods of dealing with problems, counseling, training, and discipline for offenses are kept as confidentail as possible.
Only those members with trusted status are allowed inside information.

2) THOUGHT CONTROL:

"Truth" and reality are distorted for those inside the group by subtly changing the definitions of common terms with new meanings through the use of code words, cliches, and slogans.
Different words make the members feel special and separate from outsiders.
These different words confuse outsiders who want to understand what the group believes and talks about.
The change in definitions of significant words keeps even the members from understanding their own beliefs.
Leaders of cults repress questions by conditioning their members to employ "thought-stopping" statements, prayers, hymns, Bible verses, mantras, tongues or rituals to drown out doubt, questions, anxiety or uncertainty. "I can't think about that." "How can you question (the leaders) after all they have done?" etc. The intention is to stop questions regarding the system or leaders.
The word "faith" is employed in a negative sense. Members are conditioned to view "faith" in terms of blind submission to the leaders, rather than positive certainity in God's love.
Members are conditioned to feel guilty for any curiosity about what is going on within the group; curiosity is a lack of faith. (Therefore, even after some people leave a mind control group, they may be afraid to examine information which explains the background of their old belief system.)
Typically, the word "grace" has a different meaning from the Biblical use. The "God" of the group is also different from the God of the Bible. God is defined by, and eventually becomes the group.

3) EMOTION CONTROL:

Guilt, fear and shame are projected onto the members, prompting blame toward themselves for their depression, lack of understanding, anxiety, or inability to cope, rather than examining the leaders, the group's policies, history, doctrines, scandals, and at times, even crimes.
Phobic attitudes or behaviors are sometimes noticeable when attempts are made to converse with members regarding their belief in the group or its leaders.
Fear, anger, rage or repetitious statements which only go in circles keep the members from thinking through to any rational conclusions.
Fear of confrontation with family is common, resulting in very few people being rescued.

4) BEHAVIOR CONTROL:

Tight control of behavior secures the leaders' position of authority and importance.
The behavior control impresses members and outsiders to view the group as especially spiritual or successful.
The leaders link the required behavior to their special "revelation" of a text of scripture. However the required behaviors are usually superficial controls, affecting appearances and outward activity rather than inward character. These can include grooming, daily activities, career choices, clothing, specific technology, posture, speech mannerisms, food choices, recreation, education, even decisions about marriage, sex and children. (They usually do not deter moral sin.)
If a person does not conform, he may be urged to become more like an older group member; to follow the leaders' "example".
OBEDIENCE TO THE HUMAN LEADERS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON TO LEARN.
The leaders cannot totally control one's inner thoughts, but if they can command behavior, hearts and minds will usually follow.
The behavior control isolates the members from society even more effectively.

http://www.caic.org.au/general/rev-cult.htm

    1. MILIEU (ENVIRONMENTAL) CONTROL.
    Involves "control of human communication."

        a. controls communication from without - news, who you speak with. b. controls what you think about internally (i.e. rejection of doubts, inducing fear when thoughts of doing "wrong" occur).

    "He is deprived of the combination of external information and inner reflection which anyone requires to test the realities of his environment and to maintain a measure of identity seperate from it. Instead, he is called upon to make an absolute polarization of the real (the prevailing ideology) and the unreal (everything else)" (p.421).

2. MYSTICAL MANIPULATION. Designed to produce "planned spontaneity". The followers create a mystique around the group and its goals- it is portrayed as an ultimate truth that comes directly from God, or some such claim. The group and its goals are seen as more important than anything else. "any thought or action which

questions the higher purpose is considered to be stimulated by a lower purpose" (p.422).

3. DEMAND FOR PURITY. The world is sharply divided between the pure and the impure. Pure things are those which conform to or are included in group policy. All impurity must be eliminated. "the underlying assumption is that absolute purity is attainable, and anything done to anyone in the name of this purity is ultimately moral" (p.423). Of course, no one can actually acheive absolute purity, so shame and guilt result. The group is where you gain "forgiveness" from this guilt. Guilt comes from contact with the impure world, so one withdraws more and more into the group exclusively.

4. CULT OF CONFESSION.

    Confession is the method used to get rid of impurity.
    a. you must go to the group for cleansing. b. you must open your mind to the group to get cleansed. c. your mind becomes the property of the group. d. confession becomes a skill after a time. e. one learns how to keep secrets in order to maintain some identity. but this leads to tension and guilt.

5. THE "SACRED SCIENCE". Group ideals claim absolute scientific precision- there is no doubt that its claims are True. To doubt is to be "unscientific" or crazy. There is no need for a search for truth, and in fact such a search is a straying from the Truth and a denial of it (one can see here why there is little regard for

education).

6. LOADING THE LANGUAGE.

    "The most far-reaching and complex of human problems are compressed into brief, highly reductive, definitive-sounding phrases, easily memorized and easily expressed" (p.429).
    a. used to mark membership in the group- you "know the lingo". b. constricts thought by dismissing problems through cliches. For example, "John is a `lukey'" (meaning a lukewarm christian) answers all necessary questions about why John doesn't pay tithes, even though he prayed fervently to God about his terminally ill daughter and believed that God allowed him to use all his resources for a hopeful operation.

7. DOCTRINE OVER PERSON. Personal history becomes reworked in light of group doctrine. Everyone must fit the doctrinal mode. If some humanexperience seems to contradict the doctrine an elaborate rationalization will explain the discrepancy and prove that the doctrine is right and the experience wrong. An excellent example of this comes from 1844. William Miller had convinced thousands that Christ would return on October 22. The believers donned white robes and ascended hills to await His coming. When Christ did not return, Miller admitted he was in error, apologized, and never preached again. But Ellen G. White, a Miller follower, declared that Christ had indeed made a great move- He had gone on that day into the Heavenly library to begin the judicial inquiry into the fate of the dead. From this rationalization sprang the 7th Day Adventist Church.

8. DISPENSING OF EXISTENCE. Outsiders are somehow not wholely people. They are missing some aspect in their life that the group people have. So there is hope for outsiders if they will come to the group, unless they have already come and rejected the message. The group decides who is a real person and who is not.

    "Ideological totalism... evokes destructive emotions, produces intellectual and psychological constrictions, and deprives men of all that is most subtle and imaginative-under that false promise of eliminating those very imperfections and ambivalences which help to define the human condition" (p. 436).

https://www.asimovs.com/aspnet_forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=221

Separatism: Members are isolated from non-members. At the most extreme this means they move to a commune in an isolated location. In less extreme cases it means communication with non-members is restricted mostly to evangelism and practical needs.
Unequal ethics: Non-members do not need to be treated by the same ethic as members. They can "be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed." (Quoting from Hubbard's notion on "Fair Game", although he was speaking of treatment of those hostile to the group) In the case of groups with a charismatic leader, which is most of them, the leader does not have to obey the rules his or her followers do. (Although he or she may choose to do so)
Dependency: Members are encouraged to be highly dependent on the leader or group for emotional and physical needs. At the most extreme any independent action might be discouraged or forbidden.
Paranoia: The group believes that there are enemies who are out to destroy them. Or they hold a host of other conspiratorial beliefs.
Conformism: Those who fail to conform can be shamed. There maybe "mutual criticism sessions" or "public confession" to assure conformity.
Punishing apostates: Those who leave might be separated from family, made a "hate object" within the group, or even killed.

Granted I think many groups that hold a few of these characteristics are not cults. A group that has them all I think is probably a cult, but even then I wouldn't say it's a 100% certain. (Although if they hold the most extreme version of all of them then they are almost certainly a cult IMO)

Additional factors that are sometimes present include:

The use of sleep deprivation or psychoactive drugs on new members.
Sexual demands by the leader.
Sexual favoritism. (As in those the leader has sex with are in a better position in the group and if he no longer has sex with a certain member it's a bad sign for them)
Physical violence or stockpiling of weaponry.
A casual attitude about suicide or murder.

the list from http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html is particularly good:

Internal Control: Amount of internal political and social power exercised by leader(s) over members; lack of clearly defined organizational rights for members.
External Control: Amount of external political and social influence desired or obtained; emphasis on directing members’ external political and social behavior.
Wisdom/Knowledge Claimed by leader(s); amount of infallibility declared or implied about decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations; number and degree of unverified and/or unverifiable credentials claimed.
Wisdom/Knowledge Credited to leader(s) by members; amount of trust in decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations made by leader(s); amount of hostility by members towards internal or external critics and/or towards verification efforts.
Dogma: Rigidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexibility or “fundamentalism;” hostility towards relativism and situationalism.
Recruiting: Emphasis put on attracting new members; amount of proselytizing; requirement for all members to bring in new ones.
Front Groups: Number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group, especially when connections are hidden.
Wealth: Amount of money and/or property desired or obtained by group; emphasis on members’ donations; economic lifestyle of leader(s) compared to ordinary members.
Sexual Manipulation of members by leader(s) of non-tantric groups; amount of control exercised over sexuality of members in terms of sexual orientation, behavior, and/or choice of partners.
Sexual Favoritism: Advancement or preferential treatment dependent upon sexual activity with the leader(s) of non-tantric groups.
Censorship: Amount of control over members’ access to outside opinions on group, its doctrines or leader(s).
Isolation: Amount of effort to keep members from communicating with non-members, including family, friends and lovers.
Dropout Control: Intensity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts.
Violence: Amount of approval when used by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s).
Paranoia: Amount of fear concerning real or imagined enemies; exaggeration of perceived power of opponents; prevalence of conspiracy theories.
Grimness: Amount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).
Surrender of Will: Amount of emphasis on members not having to be responsible for personal decisions; degree of individual disempowerment created by the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).
Hypocrisy: amount of approval for actions which the group officially considers immoral or unethical, when done by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s); willingness to violate the group’s declared principles for political, psychological, social, economic, military, or other gain.

The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. ‪ The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel. ‪ The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members. ‪ Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities. ‪ The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. ‪* The leader is not accountable to any authorities. ‪ The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group. ‪ Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. ‪ The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion. ‪ Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. ‪ The group is preoccupied with making money. ‪ The most loyal members (the "true believers") feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.

-- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5579738

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" If, on appropriate occasions, the members tell, enjoy, trade, and/or devise transgressively funny jokes about their denomination, it’s a church.

    If such jokes reliably meet with stifling social
    disapproval, it’s a cult."

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https://libcom.org/history/the-third-wave-1967-account-ron-jones

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https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/is-nxivm-a-cult-what-we-know-w512261

" Alexandra Stein, who has a PhD? in the sociology of cults and wrote a book called Terror, Love and Brainwashing....her five-point definition: it has a charismatic, authoritarian leader; it's "steeply hierarchical" in format, with possible front groups; it bears a "total, absolute ideology;" it uses coercive persuasion or brainwashing to isolate members from family; and it exploits followers and shows "potential for violence." "

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