What is a Cult and how does Cults work?

[InCiDeR]

What is a cult?

I think the meaning of cult is time dependent. In the Roman Empire, Christians were sometimes considered a cult because they worshiped Jesus rather than the Roman gods.

In modern time I see a shift from religion oriented movement towards spiritual, and even further more to companies. In my point of view religious belief system or ideas must not necessarily be a part of a cult. One of the more "invisible" cults are actually companies, therefore my post about IKEA.


So when do a cult become "no cult"?

I believe there has to be some kind of acceptens threshold in peoples mind and/or amount of members that has to be overcome. What that would be or how large, I have no idea. 1%? 5% 10%... of the population in a certain area, country, world?

If the government acknowledge the "cult" or not is not that important in my opinion.

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I also consider friendship a sort of cult in miniatyr. Like minded people often develop a special communication style and humour, which people outside the group not always follows or understand.

Sooner or later an unofficial leader emerge. A person members have confident in and often turns to with questions. In the group there are often consensus, even though not all group members agree, they rarely speak up. Mind control light?

The above would also suit a supporter team in sports pretty well. But in this case the forces within the group are stronger and they all have a common, fixed and easily spotted goal. Victory for "their" team by all means necessary...

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What is the core of a cult, why does it work?

Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused.

The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may be helpful in assessing a particular group or relationship.

In my opinion this are the 6 major:

1. Exclusive. They may say, "We're the only ones with the truth; everyone else is wrong; and if you leave our group your salvation is in danger." Use of unique abbreviations and specific language.
   
   
2. Secretive. Certain teachings are not available to outsiders or they're presented only to certain members, sometimes after taking vows of confidentiality.
   
   
3. Authoritarian. A human leader expects total loyalty and unquestioned obedience.
   
   
4. Manipulative. Demanding total commitment and loyalty from its followers.
   
   
5. Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
   
   
6. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

Then of course there are other important factors, I list them here in unsorted order:
‪

• The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
  
  
• The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
  
  
• 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 (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
  
  
• ‪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 (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
  
  
• The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin 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 bringing in new members.
  
  
• The group is preoccupied with making money.
  
  
• Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
  
  
• Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
  
  
• ‪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.

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Which of all the above that are active in a specific cult are dependent on its goals and achievements. In my opinion it is not static and it change over time.

The hardest part is that cult members themselves are totally unaware what is going on and lack self-awareness!

*It is impossible to reflect those that have no mirrors*...


SO... DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A CULT LEADER?.. .

[InCiDeR]

I think this should go here as well. A post made previously by our lovely Paula:

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Eight Traits of the Disinformationalist
by H. Michael Sweeney <HMS@proparanoid.com> 
copyright (c) 1997, 2000 All rights reserved 

(Revised April 2000 - formerly SEVEN Traits) 
 




1) Avoidance. They never actually discuss issues head-on or provide constructive input, generally avoiding citation of references or credentials. Rather, they merely imply this, that, and the other. Virtually everything about  their presentation implies their authority and  expert knowledge in the matter without any further justification for credibility. 




2) Selectivity. They tend to pick and choose opponents carefully, either applying the hit-and-run approach against mere commentators supportive of opponents, or focusing heavier attacks on key opponents who are known to directly address issues. Should a commentatorbecome argumentative with any success, the focus will shift to include the commentator as well.




3) Coincidental. They tend to surface suddenly and somewhat coincidentally with a new controversial topic with no clear prior record of participation in general discussions in the particular public arena involved. They likewise tend to vanish once the topic is no longer of general concern. They were likely directed or elected to be there for a reason, and vanish with the reason.




4) Teamwork. They tend to operate in self-congratulatory and complementary packs or teams. Of course, this can happen naturally in any public forum, but there will likely be an ongoing pattern of frequent exchanges of this sort where professionals are involved. Sometimes one of the players will infiltrate the opponent camp to become a source for straw man or other tactics designed to dilute opponent presentation strength. 




5) Anti-conspiratorial. They almost always have disdain for 'conspiracy theorists' and, usually, for those who in any way believe JFK was not killed by LHO. Ask yourself why, if they hold such disdain for conspiracy theorists, do they focus on defending a single topic discussed in a NG focusing on conspiracies?

One might think they would either be trying to make fools of everyone on every topic, or simply ignore the group they hold in such disdain.Or, one might more rightly conclude they have  an ulterior motive for their actions in going out of their way to focus as they do. 




6) Artificial Emotions. An odd kind of 'artificial' emotionalism and an unusually thick skin -- an ability to persevere and persist even in the face of overwhelming criticism and unacceptance. This likely stems from intelligence community training that, no matter how condemning the evidence, deny everything, and never become emotionally involved or reactive.

The net result for a disinfo artist is that emotions can seem artificial. Most people, if responding in anger, for instance, will express their animosity throughout their rebuttal. But disinfo types usually have trouble maintaining the 'image' and are hot and cold with respect to pretended emotions and their usually more calm or unemotional communications style.

It's just a job, and they often seem unable to 'act their role in character' as well in a communications medium as they might be able in a real face-to-face  conversation/confrontation. You might have outright rage and indignation one moment, ho-hum the next, and more anger later -- an emotional yo-yo. With respect to being thick-skinned, no amount of criticism will deter them from doing their job, and they will generally continue their old disinfo patterns without any adjustments to criticisms of how obvious it is that they play that game -- where a more rational individual who truly cares what others think might seek to improve their communications style, substance, and so forth, or simply give up. 




7) Inconsistent. There is also a tendency to make mistakes which betray their true self/motives. This may stem from not really knowing their topic, or it may be somewhat 'freudian', so to speak, in that perhaps they  really root for the side of truth deep within.


8) BONUS TRAIT: Time Constant. Recently discovered, with respect to News Groups, is the response time factor. There are three ways this can be seen to work, especially when the government or other empowered player is involved in a cover up operation:
[continued here]

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Twenty-Five Ways To Suppress Truth:   

The Rules of Disinformation  (Includes The 8 Traits of A Disinformationalist)  

by H. Michael Sweeney
 copyright (c) 1997, 2000 All rights reserved
 (Revised April 2000)



Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation 

Note: The first rule and last five (or six, depending on situation) rules are generally not directly within the ability of the traditional disinfo artist to apply. These rules are generally used more directly by those at the leadership, key players, or planning level of the criminal conspiracy or conspiracy to cover up. 



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Thank you Paula for this great post!

[Padmé]

A.J.Miller...

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ML2Oa4Oigvo

[markpierre]

No experience comes unbidden. What we refer to commonly as 'cultist', is a microcosm of larger society. If you've given your autonomy
and power to anything outside of yourself, or smaller than your Source, you're practicing that behavior. Well, we all do that.
And the need to belong to something in an intimate way is as old as that opportunity becoming lost in our loss of 'tribe', and diminishing sense of family. 2 distinct issues.

It's not such a bad way to discover 'what isn't', and probably much faster than standing outside of it both in comprehension and experience and judging it,
while continuing to participate in the larger cult we call acceptable human behavior and calling that 'what is'.
Look at some of the abhorrent things that we accept as reasonable and rational.
'Judgement' is a good example.

[greybeard]

One of the biggest influences in my life was the saying attributed to the Buddha.

"Put no head above your own"

People are drawn into cults because they feel a lack---an inability to "fix" their lives or accept what is.
A lack of self, personal led direction.
The true teacher guru does not look for followers, or personal gain in any way.
He/she points to the Truth which is contained within every conscious being.

No body can give you what you already have


The Truth requires work to uncover it within-- a teacher can point the way but its up to the self to find the Self within.

Chris

[Kraut]

Here are some personal observations about typical cult aspects. These are gained from having been a Watchtower peddler for most of my life, for a long time being a full believer. Religious cults will convince you that they alone have the truth or the way to salvation and enlightenment and that all other religions or spiritual groups are in darkness and have nothing to offer, so you have to avoid them at all costs, so as not to become tainted. A really detrimental thing is that they will condition you to develop a strong "us vs. them" attitude, so you will always see non cult members with suspicion or worse look down on them.

Another dangerous factor is that the cult will subtly influence your intake of information. This happens in a subtle way, they may not tell you "don't read this..." but will make you believe that certain information is not good for you and may be dangerous, so you start limiting your sources of information yourself, without really being aware of it. So you, your views, your hopes, your likes, everything is shaped by the cult and it's standards of what is good and bad. In time you loose complete sense of who you are, or should you have been born into such a cult you may never have figured out who you are in the first place.

[InCiDeR]

I just finished watching "Kumare". A wonderful, but also revealing documentary about human psyche and how we all looking for answers.
Thank you RMorgan for pointing this movie out!


Kumare

A documentary about a man who impersonates a wise Indian Guru and builds a following in Arizona. At the height of his popularity, the Guru Kumaré must reveal his true identity to his disciples and unveil his greatest teaching of all.

IMDb

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Die Welle

A high school teacher's unusual experiment to demonstrate to his students what life is like under a dictatorship spins horribly out of control when he forms a social unit with a life of its own.

Based on a true story.

IMDb

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Das Experiment

The movie is based on the infamous "Stanford Prison Experiment" conducted in 1971. A makeshift prison is set up in a research lab, complete with cells, bars and surveillance cameras. For two weeks 20 male participants are hired to play prisoners and guards. The 'prisoners' are locked up and have to follow seemingly mild rules, and the 'guards' are told simply to retain order without using physical violence. Everybody is free to quit at any time, thereby forfeiting payment. In the beginning the mood between both groups is insecure and rather emphatic. But soon quarrels arise and the wardens employ ever more drastic sanctions to confirm their authority.

IMDb

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This might come in handy if you interested in above movies!

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I guess all the above movies shows in different ways how a "cult" is born.

They all leaves me with following answer:

BE WHAT YOU ARE. BE YOUR OWN CULT LEADER

[DeDukshyn]

I find the similarities between "cult" and "culture" fascinating. Scale seems to be the main difference from a function standpoint.

[InCiDeR]

For you that more like to listen and watch than to read:


MIND CONTROL: How people become trapped in Cults

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=8aw_5cmCwoc

How normal people like you and I can easily become gradually duped over a period of time into becoming deceived by a destructive cult!

This video also reveals another frightening scenario: how a handful of corrupt people in positions of authority in the military could issue unjust unconstitutional orders to their subordinates to carry out acts of violence against their fellow countrymen, citizens who are guilty of nothing more than exercising their God-given Constitutional rights to keep and bear arms and protect their lands and their homes and the lives of themselves and their families!

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The Marks of a Cult

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=M4oglJuF5aE

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I Escaped a Cult (Nat Geo 2012)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kc7_032DRWc

The courageous stories of three people who escaped the clutches of abuse, mind control, and fear in two dangerous religious cults.

Original aired on National Geographic April 2012. Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, Warren Jeffs, Aggressive Christianity Missionary Training Corps.