History UsefulNotes / Cult

The stereotypical cult lives in an armored "compound", but this is rarely realistic. Most cults do not build bomb shelters and amass weapons like Elizabeth Clare Prophet's Church Universal and Triumphant. Members may live together in a communal home, but are just as likely to have their own homes. The cult may be a completely ordinary house of worship, even a Christian church. In some instances such as Mountain Rock Church and the Lyman Family, the "compounds" were ordinary remodeled homes in subdivisions.

* [=NoNonsenseSelfDefense=] has articles about [[http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/cults.htm cults in the martial arts scene.]] [[http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/pirates.htm Fraud instructors]] selling seriously flawed and misleading(read: life-endangering) advice only care that it sells, not whether it works in the real situation. [[http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/cultmind.htm There is also a short section on Eric Hoffer's thoughts on mass movements, people often drawn to them and similarities to cultic martial arts groups.]]

It's an unfortunately common misconception that cults merely attract insane people, losers, the desperate, the weak or the gullible. Cults appeal to the emotionally vulnerable, but such weakness isn't necessary. Gullibility is often a huge plus for brainwashing cults, but that isn't necessary, either. Exploitive groups do want to recruit ''successful'' people, both because they'll bring in a lot of money and they'll make the cult look legitimate. They keep their true colors hidden, withholding information that would make anyone think twice about continuing and realizing what they're really getting themselves into. Cult experts like Margaret Singer say it can happen to ''[[ParanoiaFuel anyone]]''. Some people only plan to stay for a while, only to stay for life (or a very long time). On the matter of cults and insane people, there actually have been instances of mentally ill people being ''exploited'' and recruited as well, all under the guise of helping them. There's a mix of many factors involved(often working in favor of a leader), like lack of knowledge and some kind of a need, discontent, longing or desire in a potential convert and withholding of information or deliberate misinformation by cult leaders and well-meaning recruiters alike. Essentially, your goals are exploited in the form of promises leading to increasing demands. Being in a tough time in one's life can also increase the risk of getting lured into a cult. For example, a young adult, who has no readily available apartment, can have nowhere to go. Recruiters of these groups are sent to find those in need. Cults offer security and structure, which can be immensely appealing. Especially if everybody looks happy and peaceful. It may not be immediately obvious that this is StepfordSmiler, but after a time you may see that they all seem to look and behave somewhat alike. Cult expert Steven Hassan reveals, "One reason why a group of [alleged] cultists may strike even a naïve outsider as spooky or weird is that everyone has similar odd mannerisms, clothing styles, and modes of speech. What the outsider is seeing is the personality of the leader passed down through several layers of modeling."

Milieu control is also present. Perhaps that young adult without an apartment finds a place to stay -- and then finds herself staying a lot longer than she'd planned. Maybe a place isn't easy to leave. Keep your wits about you and trust any alarm signals.

Some cults can still be relatively benign. Others can be viciously UsefulNotes/{{abus|e}}ive, which recruited cult members only find out after being immersed. There are just as many disturbing ways in which cults can abuse their members as individuals can act toward other individuals. Some cults are abusive only of their own members, some are violent towards outsiders branded as enemies, some work both ways. Sometimes leaders seem benign but their assistants act as enforcers, making it look like the leader doesn't know (when they really do). It is the inner circle, who's privy to a leader's machinations and often authorized by him/her to act on his/her behalf. Just as well the inner circle (and members, who've advanced to higher levels in a hierarchy) can receive abusive treatment (or the worst of it). All these possibilities are despite different members being differently affected by same mistreatments and different groups not being harmful in the same ways, to the same extent or even necessarily to all members.

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvVHPVe525Q Mind Control Made Easy (or How to Become a Cult Leader)
]]'' Short film explaining how it's done.

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBK5aKOr2Fw How To Start A Cult]]'' Short film explaining how it's done.

However, the word "cult" has gotten a more sinister and terrifying meaning, thanks to some very destructive, even deadly groups[[note]]e.g. Jim Jones' People's Temple, Branch Davidians led by David Koresh, Heaven's Gate led by Marshall Applewhite, Aum Shinrikyo led by Shoko Asahara, Elizabeth Clare Prophet's [[http://www.scp-inc.org/publications/newsletters/N2204/endprophet.html Summit Lighthouse/Church Universal and Triumphant]], [[http://webup.com/emf/recovery.html Ramtha]], [[http://web.archive.org/web/20060101044558/http://www.cosmicfool.com:80/ Lazaris]], The Order of the Solar Temple led by the ''de facto'' leader Joseph [=DiMambro=] from the back and the young, charismatic Luc Jouret from the front, The Manson Family[[/note]]. Hence the word is commonly used to refer to a pyramid-structured authoritarian group serving aims of an unscrupulous charismatic leader in guise of a belief system, using deceptively recruiting front groups, insidious thought reform (also known as, y'know, brainwashing) techniques, social isolation and (once again, deceptive) promises of a new, better life. Such a group is ''essentially about unscrupulous exploitation of people''. (For its different meanings, see [[Analysis/{{Cult}} Analysis/Cult]].)

However, the word "cult" has gotten a more sinister and terrifying meaning, thanks to some very destructive, even deadly groups (e.g. Jim Jones' People's Temple, Branch Davidians led by David Koresh, Heaven's Gate led by Marshall Applewhite, Aum Shinrikyo led by Shoko Asahara, Elizabeth Clare Prophet's [[http://www.scp-inc.org/publications/newsletters/N2204/endprophet.html Summit Lighthouse/Church Universal and Triumphant]], [[http://webup.com/emf/recovery.html Ramtha]], [[http://web.archive.org/web/20060101044558/http://www.cosmicfool.com:80/ Lazaris]], The Order of the Solar Temple led by the ''de facto'' leader Joseph [=DiMambro=] from the back and the young, charismatic Luc Jouret from the front, The Manson Family). Hence the word is commonly used to refer to a pyramid-structured authoritarian group serving aims of an unscrupulous charismatic leader in guise of a belief system, using deceptively recruiting front groups, insidious thought reform (also known as, y'know, brainwashing) techniques, social isolation and (once again, deceptive) promises of a new, better life. Such a group is ''essentially about unscrupulous exploitation of people''. (For its different meanings, see [[Analysis/{{Cult}} Analysis/Cult]].)

While the word "cult" has been understood by different people to refer to different kinds of groups and has been understood and can be used in a pejorative way, it's meant as a descriptive term much of the time in public consciousness, even though referring to a very negative and destructive yet very real agent.

Some cults can still be relatively benign. Others can be viciously UsefulNotes/{{abus|e}}ive, which recruited cult members only find out after being immersed. There are just as many disturbing ways in which cults can abuse their members as individuals can act toward other individuals. Some cults are abusive only of their own members, some are violent towards outsiders branded as enemies, some work both ways. Sometimes leaders seem benign but their assistants act as enforcers, making it look like the leader doesn't know. (when they really do.) It is the inner circle, who's privy to a leader's machinations and often authorized by him/her to act on his/her behalf. Just as well the inner circle (and members, who've advanced to higher levels in a hierarchy) can receive abusive treatment (or the worst of it). All these possibilities are despite different members being differently affected by same mistreatments and different groups not being harmful in the same ways, to the same extent or even necessarily to all members.

It's an unfortunately common misconception that cults merely attract insane people, losers, the desperate, the weak or the gullible. Cults appeal to the emotionally vulnerable, but such weakness isn't necessary. Gullibility is often a huge plus for brainwashing cults, but that isn't necessary, either. Exploitive groups do want to recruit ''successful'' people, both because they'll bring in a lot of money and they'll make the cult look legitimate. They keep their true colors hidden, withholding information that would make anyone think twice about continuing and realizing what they're really getting themselves into. Cult experts like Margaret Singer say it can happen to ''anyone''. Some people only plan to stay for a while, only to stay for life (or a very long time). On the matter of cults and insane people, there actually have been instances of mentally ill people being ''exploited'' and recruited as well, all under the guise of helping them. There's a mix of many factors involved(often working in favor of a leader), like lack of knowledge and some kind of a need, discontent, longing or desire in a potential convert and withholding of information or deliberate misinformation by cult leaders and well-meaning recruiters alike. Essentially, your goals are exploited in the form of promises leading to increasing demands. Being in a tough time in one's life can also increase the risk of getting lured into a cult. For example, a young adult, who has no readily available apartment, can have nowhere to go. Recruiters of these groups are sent to find those in need. Cults offer security and structure, which can be immensely appealing. Especially if everybody looks happy and peaceful. It may not be immediately obvious that this is StepfordSmiler, but after a time you may see that they all seem to look and behave somewhat alike. Cult expert Steven Hassan reveals, "One reason why a group of [alleged] cultists may strike even a naïve outsider as spooky or weird is that everyone has similar odd mannerisms, clothing styles, and modes of speech. What the outsider is seeing is the personality of the leader passed down through several layers of modeling."

Some cults can still be relatively benign. Others can be viciously UsefulNotes/{{abus|e}}ive, which recruited cult members only find out after being immersed. There are just as many disturbing ways in which cults can abuse their members as individuals can act toward other individuals. Some cults are abusive only of their own members, some are violent towards outsiders branded as enemies, some work both ways. Sometimes leaders seem benign but their assistants act as enforcers, making it look like the leader doesn't know. (He knows.) It is the inner circle, who's privy to a leader's machinations and often authorized by him/her to act on his/her behalf. Just as well the inner circle (and members, who've advanced to higher levels in a hierarchy) can receive abusive treatment (or the worst of it). All these possibilities are despite different members being differently affected by same mistreatments and different groups not being harmful in the same ways, to the same extent or even necessarily to all members.

* [[http://www.trussel.com/f_mel.htm Mel Lyman: The Lyman Pages]] A folk musician once calmed an angry audience at a concert [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8NRe12a31U with a simple hymn]] -- and came to believe he was God. David Felton summarized the Fort Hill experience in [[http://www.trussel.com/lyman/melmind.htm a two-part ''Rolling Stone'' article]]. Felton's observations were confirmed and clarified in [[http://www.trussel.com/lyman/melpress.htm long-time member Michael Kindman's account]].

It's an unfortunately common misconception that cults merely attract insane people, losers, the desperate, the weak or the gullible. Cults appeal to the emotionally vulnerable, but such weakness isn't necessary. Gullibility is often a huge plus for brainwashing cults, but that isn't necessary, either. Exploitive groups do want to recruit ''successful'' people, both because they'll bring in a lot of money and they'll make the cult look legitimate. They keep their true colors hidden, withholding information that would make anyone think twice about continuing and realizing what they're really getting themselves into. Cult experts like Margaret Singer say it can happen to ''anyone''. Some people only plan to stay for a while, only to stay for life (or a very long time). On the matter of cults and insane people, there actually have been instances of mentally ill people being ''exploited'' and recruited as well, all under the guise of helping them. There's a mix of many factors involved(often working in favor of a leader), like lack of knowledge and some kind of a need, discontent, longing or desire in a potential convert and withholding of information or deliberate misinformation by cult leaders and well-meaning recruiters alike. Essentially, your goals are exploited in the form of promises leading to increasing demands. Being in a tough time in one's life can also increase the risk of getting lured into a cult. For example, a young adult, who has no readily available apartment, can have nowhere to go. Recruiters of these groups are sent to find those in need. Cults offer security and structure, which can be immensely appealing.

* Flo Conway & Jim Siegelman, ''Snapping''. The "snap" refers to the experience of sudden enlightenment or ecstasy (like a light switch snapping on), similar to ''satori'' or cosmic consciousness, which believers may experience after a period of focused spiritual exercises or meditation. It isn't supposed to last, but believers who don't know this may get "hooked" on it in a way and will do anything to get it back and cult leaders exploit this.

* [[http://www.tyob.info The Year of Obedience]] Hilarion Lynn's website. Raised in [[http://www.csj.org/pub_csj/csjbookreview/csjbkrev122lambs.htm Elizabeth Clare Prophet]]'s Church Universal and Triumphant, Lynn now collects any and all material about it, background information, articles and books by former members and outsiders, and is amassing a library of Prophet's own newsletters and literature given only to insiders.

However, the word "cult" has gotten a more sinister and terrifying meaning, thanks to some very destructive, even deadly groups (e.g. Jim Jones' People's Temple, Branch Davidians led by David Koresh, Heaven's Gate led by Marshall Applewhite, Aum Shinrikyo led by Shoko Asahara, Elizabeth Clare Prophet's [[http://www.scp-inc.org/publications/newsletters/N2204/endprophet.html Summit Lighthouse/Church Universal and Triumphant]], [[http://enlightenmefree.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=290 Ramtha]], [[http://www.cosmicfool.com/lazaris/summary.html Lazaris]], The Order of the Solar Temple led by the ''de facto'' leader Joseph [=DiMambro=] from the back and the young, charismatic Luc Jouret from the front, The Manson Family). Hence the word is commonly used to refer to a pyramid-structured authoritarian group serving aims of an unscrupulous charismatic leader in guise of a belief system, using deceptively recruiting front groups, insidious thought reform (also known as, y'know, brainwashing) techniques, social isolation and (once again, deceptive) promises of a new, better life. Such a group is ''essentially about unscrupulous exploitation of people''. (For its different meanings, see [[Analysis/{{Cult}} Analysis/Cult]].)

It's an unfortunately common misconception that cults merely attract insane people, losers, the desperate, the weak or the gullible. Cults appeal to the emotionally vulnerable, but such weakness isn't necessary. Gullibility is often a huge plus for brainwashing cults, but that isn't necessary, either. Exploitive groups do want to recruit ''successful'' people, both because they'll bring in a lot of money and they'll make the cult look legitimate. They keep their true colors hidden, withholding information that would make anyone think twice about continuing and realizing what they're really getting themselves into. Cult experts like Margaret Singer say it can happen to ''anyone''. Some people only plan to stay for a while, only to stay for life (or a very long time). On the matter of cults and insane people, there actually have been instances of mentally ill people being ''exploited'' and recruited as well, all under the guise of helping them. There's a mix of many factors involved(often working in favor of a leader), like lack of knowledge and some kind of a need, discontent, longing or desire in a potential convert and withholding of information or deliberate misinformation by cult leaders and well-meaning recruiters alike. Being in a tough time in one's life can also increase the risk of getting lured into a cult. For example, a young adult, who has no readily available apartment, can have nowhere to go. Recruiters of these groups are sent to find those in need. Cults offer security and structure, which can be immensely appealing.

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydHRESPjBxg Jonestown: The Life & Death of Peoples Temple]]''

The stereotypical cult lives in an armored "compound", but this is rarely realistic. Most cults do not build bomb shelters and amass weapons like Elizabeth Clare Prophet's Church Universal and Triumphant. Members may live together in a communal home, but are just as likely to have their own homes. In some instances such as Mountain Rock Church and the Lyman Family, the leader asks members to build or remodel houses in a subdivision, then has them live in said houses and pay rent to him.

* [[http://jszimhart.com/home Joe Szimhart's pages]] include useful information and his personal experiences. He's an old-fashioned {{deprogram}}mer who's written extensively about [[http://www.scp-inc.org/publications/newsletters/N2204/endprophet.html Elizabeth Clare Prophet]] and the theatrical cult run by [[http://jszimhart.com/cult_101/theater_cult Wayne Allen Geis]].

While the word "cult" has been understood by different people to refer to different kinds of groups and has been understood and can be used in a pejorative way, much of the time it's meant as a descriptive term, even though refering to a very negative and destructive yet very real agent.

It's an unfortunately common misconception that cults merely attract insane people, losers, the desperate, the weak or the gullible. Cults want to recruit ''successful'' people, both because they'll bring in a lot of money and they'll make the cult look legitimate. They keep their true colors hidden, withholding information that would make anyone think twice about continuing and realizing what they're really getting themselves into. Cults appeal to the emotionally vulnerable, but such weakness isn't necessary. Gullibility is often a huge plus for brainwashing cults, but that isn't necessary, either. Cult experts like Margaret Singer say it can happen to ''anyone.'' ''There's a mix of many factors involved, like lack of knowledge of recruits, some kind of a need, discontent, lack or desire in a potential convert, deliberate misinformation perpetrated by cult leaders and omission of information by well-meaning recruiters convinced they're helping people get on the right path. These help cult leaders exploit people.'' Many unwary people only plan to stay for a while, only to stay for life.

On the matter of cults and insane people, there actually have been instances of mentally ill people being ''exploited'' and recruited as well, all under the guise of helping them.

Being in a tough time in one's life can also increase the risk of getting lured into a cult. For example, a young adult, who has no readily available apartment, can have nowhere to go. Cult recruiters are sent to prey on those in need. Cults offer security and structure, which can be immensely appealing.

Milieu control is also present. Perhaps that young adult without an apartment finds a place to stay -- and then finds herself staying a lot longer than she'd planned. Maybe a place isn't easy to leave. Keep your wits about you and trust any alarm signals. Plan escape routes.

** CESNUR (the Center for Studies on New Religions) has [[http://www.cesnur.org/2017/ted_answer.htm replied]] to TED's video. The undersigned scholars express concern for religious movements getting unfairly stigmatized by "the cavalier use of the word "cult" for all groups whose lifestyle is different from the mainline’s". The letter disagrees with certain characteristics like separation from mainstream society, deification of a leader or a lifestyle demanding sacrifices being automatic alarm signs.

** [[http://inform.ac/node/1598 The information network on religious movements; Guidelines for seekers(and other people tempted to join a group)]] and [[http://inform.ac/node/12 people close to them]]

Even though the term "new religious movement" is used to include and refer euphemistically to cults, not all religious movements are cultic and cults needn't have religious trappings at all. They can as well exert influence over individuals by promising a better life (for example, spiritual growth, financial prosperity or personal transformation, with vague, lofty words leaving others' minds a lot to fill in). There have been cults started around theatrical groups, rock bands, newspapers, business seminars and physical therapy institutes. Individuals can also behave in a cult-leader-like fashion with friends or family members. "Cult" describes ''a certain set of attitudes and practices,'' not a religion.

Some cults can still be relatively benign. Others can be viciously UsefulNotes/{{abus|e}}ive, which recruited cult members only find out after being immersed. Some cults are abusive only of their own members, some are violent towards outsiders branded as enemies, some work both ways. Sometimes leaders seem benign but their assistants act as enforcers, making it look like the leader doesn't know. (He knows.) There are many disturbing ways in which cults can abuse their members. This is despite different groups not being harmful in the same ways, to the same extent or even necessarily to all members.

* [[http://jszimhart.com/home Joe Szimhart's pages]] include useful information and his personal experiences. He's an old-fashioned {{Deprogram}}mer who's written extensively about [[http://www.scp-inc.org/publications/newsletters/N2204/endprophet.html Elizabeth Clare Prophet]] and the theatrical cult run by [[http://jszimhart.com/cult_101/theater_cult Wayne Allen Geis]].

* [[http://inform.ac/node/1598 The information network on religious movements; Guidelines for seekers(and other people tempted to join a group)]] and [[http://inform.ac/node/12 people close to them]]
** [[http://inform.ac/node/13 Some groups target travelers; What to keep in mind]] British site but helpful no matter where you live. See also [[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/oct/01/students.familyandrelationships Lynn Wallis on the cults that target students]].

* Simple [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnNSe5XYp6E video introductions]] to cultism, including [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-dJaCXAxA how people end up converting the first place as told by Janja Lalich]]

** [[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c34.html It is of note when scholars compromise their objectivity and end up publishing biased, misleading research. This gives a falsely favorable impression of dangerous groups that exploit and abuse people.]]

* The Wellspring Retreat (link below), a site worth looking at in its own right, also includes [[http://wellspringretreat.org/index.php/links links to many other cult-information sites]].

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqPjsAzLTBQ Join Us]]'' A film by Ondi Timoner. Members of what looks like an ordinary church -- but isn't -- escape and attend the [[http://wellspringretreat.org/ Wellspring Retreat]] where cult behavior is explained.

However, thanks to some very destructive, even deadly groups (e.g. Jim Jones' People's Temple, Branch Davidians led by David Koresh, Heaven's Gate led by Marshall Applewhite, Aum Shinrikyo led by Shoko Asahara, Elizabeth Clare Prophet's [[http://www.scp-inc.org/publications/newsletters/N2204/endprophet.html Summit Lighthouse/Church Universal and Triumphant]], [[http://enlightenmefree.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=290 Ramtha]], [[http://www.cosmicfool.com/lazaris/summary.html Lazaris]], The Order of the Solar Temple led by the ''de facto'' leader Joseph [=DiMambro=] from the back and the young, charismatic Luc Jouret from the front, The Manson Family), the word "cult" has gotten a more sinister and terrifying meaning. (For its different meanings, see [[Analysis/{{Cult}} Analysis/Cult]].) The word is commonly used to refer to a pyramid-structured authoritarian group serving aims of an unscrupulous charismatic leader in guise of a belief system, using deceptively recruiting front groups, insidious thought reform (also known as, y'know, brainwashing) techniques, social isolation and (once again, deceptive) promises of a new, better life.

It's an unfortunately common misconception that cults merely attract insane people, losers, the desperate, weak or gullible. Cults want to recruit ''successful'' people, both because they'll bring in a lot of money and they'll make the cult look legitimate. They keep their true colors hidden, withholding information that would make anyone think twice about continuing and realizing what they're really getting themselves into. Cults appeal to the emotionally vulnerable, but such weakness isn't necessary. Gullibility is often a huge plus for brainwashing cults, but that isn't necessary, either. Cult experts like Margaret Singer say it can happen to ''anyone.'' ''It's simply a mix of lack of knowledge of recruits and deliberate misinformation perpetrated by cult leaders that helps cult leaders exploit people.'' Many unwary people only plan to stay for a while, only to stay for life.

One of the many damaging aspects is convincing members that friends, family members, relatives and other sources are not to be listened to -- obviously because they could possibly take away a new member. Disconnecting from social lives completely is encouraged and prompted. Critical thinking is frowned upon, discouraged, even punished; any signs of such are seen as deviation. (Thinking is sometimes disparaged in favor of ''feeling''.) A recruitee can be lovebombed -- showered with lavish demonstrations of affectionate attention -- by a leader and by other brainwashed cultists, only to have that affection cut off once you're in, causing you to work twice as hard trying to get it back. Isolation makes it easier for cultic beliefs and thought processes to get reinforced, unchallenged. Thought control is utilized to ward off homesickness.

Cults can be relatively benign or they can be viciously UsefulNotes/{{abus|e}}ive, which recruited cult members only find out after being immersed. Some cults are abusive only of their own members, some are violent towards outsiders branded as enemies, some work both ways. Sometimes leaders seem benign but their assistants act as enforcers, making it look like the leader doesn't know. (He knows.) There are many disturbing ways in which cults can abuse their members. This is despite different groups not being harmful in the same ways, to the same extent or even necessarily to all members.