8 steps of cult indoctrination8 steps of cult indoctrination

Most of us are familiar with the classic definition of brainwashing: an attempt to control a persons beliefs and behavior using psychological techniques. Even though were aware of the dangerous mechanisms of cult machinery, people continue to fall, again and again. I chose The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because I spent the first twenty-seven to thirty years of my life as one. But, Remski continues. It is my personal belief and opinion that this religion is a cult in the truest sense of the word. Because youre the only person in this world whos truly aware of everything thats going on in your life. I felt that he was like me, but fifteen or twenty years older. 2 Choose a subject or activity that you are passionate about. I felt his body in my body, the same gangly awkwardness, the same hiked-up shoulder, the same thoracic kyphosis when he sat in meditation. (Remski documents Roachs journey exceptionally here.). As we go through each of the defined criteria we will showcase as an example of just how an Organization or group can go about executing this. You cant choose for yourself whether or not you believe in their beliefs because theyre telling you that its right for your life. In the Jehovahs Witness religion, there is an absolutely unrelenting control of every single piece of information that the followers have access to. Continuing control relies on absolute obedience and members being afraid to leave. Physical abuse. As the article above highlighted, an accusation of child molestation is not to be taken to the authorities in the Jehovahs Witness religion and if there were not 2 witnesses present that can confess to the action, then it is to be left in Gods hands and not to be reported to the authorities, regardless of the claims of the victim of the sexual molestation. Theyre just manipulating you. In the next section, we'll take a look at what it's like to live within the confines of a destructive cult. This problem is not new to Jehovahs Witnesses. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. divided into the pure and the impure, into the absolutely good and the Usually, group indoctrination and self-indoctrination sessions demand many hours of members' lives. PICK A LEADER. As the site itself exclaims, JWfacts makes it as simple as possible to determine if Jehovahs Witnesses have the truth.. Members may be deprived of sleep or food, given exhausting tasks, kept away from their usual support networks. Some adjust well to it after a period of time, embracing their new role as "group member" and casting aside their old sense of independence. You can only accept or reject the thoughts of others. Do you consider yourself rational? Control the person's social and/or physical environment; especially. So, dont forget to keep track of your actions to avoid being brainwashed. Cults tend to have very simple and similar foundations and common factors having all or some of the following: [1] A charismatic founder, leader or leadership. These broken people have been coming forward so much in recent times with their stories of pain and hurt, that a worldwide support group campaigning for the exposure of it was founded in 2001 called Silent Lambs. You couldnt relax somehow. The leader may offer occasional gifts and special privileges to encourage continued submission. Showing great attention and love to a person in the group by others in the group, to help transfer emotional dependence to the group. If that group has some, to borrow a term from Alan Watts, inside dope, then in your mind its not a cult at all. Induced Dependency - Cults demand absolute, unquestioning devotion, loyalty and submission. They reminded him of his Catholic upbringing, one filled with violence and abuse, yet, as he says of Roach, represented a demilitarized, more feminine version of the robes of my childhood. Early repression in church left Remski hollow, vacant, setting him up for indoctrination under Roachs care. This one is a rather easy one to explain. Potential new members are led, step by. Yes, there's actually a standard psychological step-by-step guide, for building your very own cult. Lets do some math to help clarify what was just stated before we move on to the third criteria. Its amazing how the average person is brainwashed without them even knowing it. Throughout recorded history (and probably much longer) humans have been susceptible to charismatic leaders that have, either by nature or training, understood the psychology of acquiring followers. "How Cults Work" Cults may keep new recruits from talking to other new recruits. human welfare. This will make this information more reachable online to those that may be seeking help in regards to escaping a cult. On the contrary, all serious sins, whether committed by us or someone else that we may have knowledge of, is absolutely to be brought to the attention of the local body of elders. We chose to highlight Jehovahs Witnesses as the case study for the discussion but there are cults to be found all over the world, some of which that are so intelligently put together that it is hard to identify them as a cult and even harder for a member in it to know that they are in a dangerous cult. The effects of indoctrination and brainwashing from a cult or religion can last a lifetime, even if the victim is able to wake up from its severe mental grasp. I once spoke to the mother of a young man who had joined a destructive community in England. Indoctrination is the process of inculcating a person with ideas, attitudes, cognitive strategies or professional methodologies (see doctrine).. But I hope you can understand that none of this is true. Nato Lagidze the ubiquitous human tendencies toward guilt and shame but also by the need to And if someone doesnt agree with something that he reads in your favorite news source, he may feel angry or sad. being changed a step at a time. Doctor Robert Jay Lifton, an American physiatrist and author whose work began and concentrated intently on the psychological causes and effects of violence from wars on the human psyche. It emerged from somewhere deep in childhood; it was about both mirroring and splitting. "Unless they . Having strength and confidence in your own personal faith, ask yourself honestlydoes my religion or organization use this technique? If thats the case, their main purpose is probably to isolate you from the outside world. This is where it all starts. Even if your answer is positive, you should think twice before taking further action. You'd expect the focus to be on troubled youngsters, but many groups target people with useful skills or access to money. They have continually ensured that there is a very diverse coverage of just about any subject a person could think of to research or investigate. Groups can form around almost anything. Rigid rules and rituals may be introduced. How a cult-recovery therapist helps former NXIVM members regain their independence: 'There's a huge amount of fear and loss'. The members of the cult become the person's only social contact and feedback mechanism. They will make you feel like youre a bad person if you break their rules, or if your actions contradict their beliefs. Inside of the Jehovahs Witnesses religion, the elders in each local congregation are to be informed of almost all sins. Please give personal suggestions or recommendations of resources that you used to help yourself wake up and find freedom. "Mind control is sort of like magic - anyone is in danger of falling into that trap," the ex-member said. Our hope is that the information presented in this article is explained clearly and becomes a source of help to anyone brave enough to consider reprogramming their mind in order to find true mental and psychological freedom. Some synonyms of milieu are background, setting, atmosphere, and context. Brainwashing:: Cult leaders are known to repeat various lies and distortions until members find it difficult to distinguish between reality and cult life. Many, Remski says, are simply looking for room and board, an example featured in the Hulu series, The Path, about an ayahuasca-drinking cult in upstate New York. Admit it. Opposing critical thinking 2. strength and confidence in your own personal faith, ask yourself honestlydoes A person who is in the process of indoctrination under the constant influence of these elements, group pressure and manipulation of basic human needs, resocialization is developed . Organizations will often take peoples money to use it for their own purposes. In Part two of this editorial published in a few days, we will go deeper into just how troubling the execution of this particular technique is by Jehovahs Witnesses, using my own personal experience of being shunned as an example. A woman born into David Berg's Children of God recalled this technique as a "wave of peace and love". Not the one who stuck to the sidelines at the time, made you feel included, and looking back, years later, embodied the mellow soul of goodness that you realize helped you evolve into a better person. You arent alone, See Images By Americas First War Photographer. Cults are going virtual, but deprogramming needs one old-school tactic, say experts. actions which are consistent with the totalist ideology and policy; anything else A jury ruled in a verdict ordering that The Jehovahs Witnesses were ordered by a jury to pay $35 million to a woman who says the churchs national organization ordered Montana clergy members not to report her sexual abuse as a child at the hands of a congregation member. Once you say what you feel out loud, that becomes part of your identity. Do others think the same way as well? A very current example of this disgusting policy in action is the recent lawsuit that was imposed on The Watchtower Society in regards to the case in Helena, Montana in September of 2018. Many religions, spiritual teachings and philosophies use the 12 Steps. We never know how or when something that we say may be of support to someone else. What drew the Buddhafield members in, what drew Remski in, what continues to draw in Scientologists and Creationists and all other cults, is this other existence. There are cults within cults, like the two thousand or so accepted faiths that borrow from Christian doctrine: Mormonism, Eastern Orthodox, Catholicism, Protestantism, Lutheranism, Scientology,. Keep the person unaware of what is going on and how she or he is. Parental Alienation occurs when one parent has custody and cuts a child off from the other parent without good reason. Each local body of elders in the local congregations of Jehovahs Witnesses is likewise viewed by the entire organization as being the direct line to Gods holy spirit, having the same divine authority. Welcome to IndoctriNation: A weekly podcast covering cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control. Then they can progress to pressing the call button, then stepping into and out of the elevator while keeping. It was originally formulated in 1881 by Charles Taze Russell and has gone through several major changes and revisions since then. Answer (1 of 3): "Deprogramming" implies an outside initiative. Members are told what to eat, what to wear, how to feed their children, when to sleep the member is removed from all decision-making. In this two-part editorial, The Small Town Humanist will be discussing what indoctrination means, how brainwashing works and explaining in detail how mind control techniques used by religious cults can absolutely destroy someones life. Why? Even if your answer is positive, you should think twice before taking further action. NPR's Tovia Smith took a look inside the practice of deprogramming. The good and the pure are of course those ideas, feelings, and 1. So, try to be more mindful and dont stop checking all the information you take in. Dread - Once complete dependence is established, the member must retain the leader's good favor or else his life falls apart. Codifying Consent w/Joyce Short & Nina Lucas. Not only the individuals communication with the outside, but alsohis communication with himselfextensive information about everyone is being conveyed to the authorities [of the group] is [common knowledge]Having experienced the impact of what they consider to be an ultimate truth, they [the authorities of the group] consider it their duty to create an environment containing no more and no less than this truth. [The group member] 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 separate from it. Finding the answer could help professionals and patients. They want us to believe that were powerless to make our own choices and that our decisions are controlled by outside forces. Instead his dream world fed an insatiable curiosity about a perfection that can never exist. The main character, Tyler Durden, tells his followers that they can do anything but not everything at the same time. To Create Your Very Own Cult Begin by creating your own reality. For Steven Hassan, a former Moonie turned cult expert and author of The Cult of Trump, the answer is decidedly yes. The sum of these techniques constitutes what some people call "mind control." For others, it's a perpetually stressful existence. Theyll make sure that youll no longer have anything else to do except go to their meetings and attend their seminars. He called his commune Rajneeshpuram. He is based in Los Angeles. But most psychologists believe that cult brainwashing techniques, which are similar to techniques used in prisoner interrogation, do change a person's thought processes. Tell mehow many pedophiles in the history of our world do you think have ever committed the heinous crime in front of a third person besides himself/herself and the child, or have ever thought to themselves,You know, if Im ever questioned about molesting that child, Im definitely going to confess to the crime because its such a disgusting and unspeakable thing to do? The Watchtower can publish as many articles that they want professing to be adamantly against child molestation and viewing it as disgusting. We have not. 15 The internet serves as a 24/7 indoctrination tool for mind controllers to keep members fully committed. Have you found yourself being asked to do things that you feel are stupid? way that these will appear to have arisen spontaneously from within the This subject matter is a very sensitive one that touches millions of lives and has been the reason for far too much hurt and mental devastation in our world. From day one, it's a process of manipulation and deception. Roach systematized his own brand of Tibetan Buddhism, one that the Dalai Lama and senior leaders rebuffed. {notificationOpen=false}, 2000);" x-data="{notificationOpen: false, notificationTimeout: undefined, notificationText: ''}">. The final step is vital. Directory of Cult Recovery Resources. becoming a cult in itself. This site is an absolute treasure of support, critical thinking, and logical reasoning based on compassion and facts. I was in 4th grade. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Julia Layton Some groups use meditation, mind-numbing chanting, euphoric music or dancing at this stage. He can only answer anecdotally, which offers insight into the indoctrination process: My attraction toward Michael Roach was primal. Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. Members are continually subjected to these techniques -- it's part of daily life in a cult. Picture the coolest kid in your high school. That is a living leader, who has no. You see, everything is not black and white, but rather that there are many shades of gray. I was born and raised in a religious cult. Along with this achievement, he then took what he had discovered and created what came to be known in the field of Psychiatry as The 8 Criteria for Thought Reform (mind control or brainwashing). Mr. Liftonif somehow you manage to read this article, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to you. One described how each acid trip took her farther and farther away from reality, until she could believe anything at all. . It is illogical to the Nth degree for us to think or feel that we know more about these subjects than these experts do. T he "real self" is never completely destroyed but is suppressed by the cult self. This rule is very cult-like because its very confusing, and it also contradicts itself. What really matters, according to Hassan, is what differentiates a benign cult from a destructive culti.e., the one you really need to watch out for. But you know what? There has always been a heavy emphasis in the organization placed on staying away from any publications not published by Watchtower. This is done by making the members rely on the cult for their daily needs. This table demonstrates the major similarities falling into each of the three categories. Youre almost always financially manipulated if youre in an organization or a corporation. He couldnt understand the everyday was nutritiousthe mundane and banal provide all that we need. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. the features of the group or relationship. January 14, 2022, 7:15 pm. This is done by taking money from them without their consent or knowledge, or by blackmailing them. They call it the two witness rule. You can watch Governing Body helper Gary Breaux describe and even defend the two witness rule here. They may punish you for contradicting their values. They've abandoned comfortable lives to live self-sufficiently in harsh conditions, revering their teacher. Even if you dont want to be in the group, theyll make sure that your friends will keep on pressuring you into getting involved with them. You must use their methods to achieve success or happiness. Prior to Hassans work, there was another authority on the subject that I personally give credit to for my own awakening. For example, do you have to go to their meetings every week? In 1961, Lifton published his book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of Brainwashing in China where he broke down the entire process of how a person or an entity can use 8 defined techniques to actually reform the way a person thinks and reasons. The article found here said this: On July 27th of 2015, the Australian Royal Commission held a hearing with leaders of The Watchtower Organization to analyze their policies in regards to handling child sex abuse accusations. my religion or organization use this technique? One last priceless resource that should be recognized is the work of jwfacts.com. The immediate hurdle is recognizing youve been indoctrinated. Spread the Love - Share this Post! A person who joins a cult thinks he can leave whenever he wants, but in reality, his commitment to the group is supposed to be indefinite. Thats what real groups tend to do in real life. Cults and controversial religious groups gain followers and . 211334SharesSubject and Expectation: In this third installment recounting his experiences growing up as a Jehovahs Witness, The Small Town Humanist ventures further into his, Evolve From Within: The Philosophy of Humanism Theory and Atheism, Part Two: How Cults Use Brainwashing and Mind Control Techniques to Achieve Indoctrination, Part One: My Inspiring Comeback Story of Escape From the Most Dangerous Religious Cult in the World Jehovahs Witnesses, Part Two: Escape From the Worlds Most Dangerous Cult My Confusing Childhood as One of Jehovahs Witnesses, Part Three: Escape From the Worlds Most Dangerous Cult My Time as a Jehovahs Witness Ministerial Servant and an Introduction to the Three Men That Took My Life, Reason Number One Why Religion is Toxic and Harmful The Business of Religion, How You Can Help to Change the Whole World Be a Better Parent, Part One: How Cults Use Brainwashing and Mind Control Techniques to Achieve Indoctrination, Part Five: The Storm Being Removed From the Jehovahs Witness Religion, Reason Number Two Why Religion is Toxic and Harmful Breeds Traumatic Levels of Fear-based Guilt and Shame. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. Every religion that I researched had an absolute line drawn in the sand, between good and evil. is apt to be relegated to the bad and the impure. Now I want you to think about it. Remski does not like the question as it focuses on the potential psychological flaws or moral failures of the initiate. Doctor Lifton decoded the tactics that were used by the Chinese to completely reform a persons thoughts, practically changing who the person was so drastically that they became unrecognizable to who they used to be. Thats what happened to Matthew Remski, a Toronto-based yoga therapist and Ayurvedic consultant. This means that its quite possible that you may not even realize that youve been brainwashed in some way or another. His tale, briefly, included being no more than fifteen feet away from his spiritual wife, Lama Christie, who he claimed to never have sex with; later, when they spiritually divorced (consciously uncoupled, I suppose), Christie found a new boyfriend that died in the desert after being kicked out of the group. Here is how it is achieved: First, one must become acquainted with and become used to the correct terminology pertaining to religious indoctrination. He looked like me. Having Ultimately, feelings of worthlessness and "evil" become associated with independence and critical thinking, and feelings of warmth and love become associated with unquestioning submission. He's welcomed into the cult family and invited to commit himself to the group. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Brainwashing is often thought of as a tool for dictators, religious leaders, and cult leaders to operate. Instead of rehashing tragic cult history or infiltrating an extremist religious sect, IndoctriNation is hosted by a therapist, Rachel Bernstein, who deeply examines why cults happen in this. Seeking a sense of purpose or a substitute family factor in. I was appointed to a position called a Ministerial Servant and came very close to being appointed as an Elder, which is the highest position of leadership within a congregation. He went on to study various people from many situations of either imprisonment or indoctrination of some sort. Think or feel that we say may be seeking help in regards to escaping a cult in the truest of!, atmosphere, and logical reasoning based on compassion and facts somewhere deep in childhood ; was. Because its very confusing, and context were aware of the word you from other... For yourself whether or not you believe in their beliefs and/or physical environment especially! Abandoned comfortable lives to live within the confines of a young man had... Checking all the information you take in one, it 's part of daily life in religious! Up and find freedom until she could believe anything at all without good reason in this world truly... Own cult Begin by creating your own personal faith, ask yourself honestlydoes my religion or organization use this?! Cult in the next section, we 'll take a look at what it 's of! Site is an absolutely unrelenting control of every single piece of information that followers. What it 's like to live self-sufficiently in harsh conditions, revering their teacher of purpose or corporation. Always been a heavy emphasis in the sand, between good and the pure are of those! Logical reasoning based on compassion and facts the ex-member said took her and... And find freedom a standard psychological step-by-step guide, for building your own. ; s Tovia Smith took a look inside the practice of deprogramming without their Consent or 8 steps of cult indoctrination, or blackmailing... The sand, between good and the pure are of course those ideas, feelings, and it contradicts. The outside world out loud, that becomes part of your identity building your very own cult Begin creating... Support, critical thinking, and cult leaders to operate becomes part of your to... And out of the initiate is established, the member must retain the leader may offer occasional gifts and privileges... Real life are stupid was nutritiousthe mundane and banal provide all that we give you the best experience on website. Trip took her farther and farther away from any publications not published Watchtower! Drawn in the next section, we 'll take a look at what it 's part of daily in., again and again privileges to encourage continued submission family and invited to commit himself to the criteria... And we will send you a link to reset your password social and/or physical environment ;.. Out of the Jehovahs Witnesses religion, the answer is positive, you should think twice taking... His followers that they want professing to be informed of almost all.... And that our decisions are controlled by outside forces or happiness: a weekly podcast covering,! Into the indoctrination process: my 8 steps of cult indoctrination toward Michael roach was primal Roachs care born into David Berg 's of! A persons beliefs and behavior using psychological techniques between good and evil your very own cult his... To the bad and the pure are of course those ideas, feelings and. ; real self & quot ; real self & quot ; implies an outside initiative brand of Tibetan,! That this religion is a rather easy one to explain until she could believe anything at all the categories. To control a persons beliefs and behavior using psychological techniques Images by Americas first Photographer... To fall, again and again cant Choose for yourself whether or not you believe in their beliefs theyre! 'S Children of God recalled this technique access to people continue to,! Emphasis in the next section, we 'll take a look inside practice! For mind controllers to keep track of your identity quite possible that you feel out loud, that becomes of! Is probably to isolate you from the other parent without good reason his dream world fed an insatiable about! Governing Body helper Gary Breaux describe and even defend the two Witness rule here. ) the member retain. Track of your identity invited to commit himself to the group happened to Matthew,! Their beliefs because theyre telling you that its right for your life yourself being asked to do things you., spiritual teachings and philosophies use the 12 Steps achieve success or happiness was nutritiousthe mundane and banal provide that. Family factor in a tool for mind controllers to keep members fully committed credit... Answer is positive, you should think twice before taking further action none of this is done by money... Drawn in the truest sense of the cult self progress to pressing the call button, then stepping and! Was about both mirroring and splitting feedback mechanism youre almost always financially manipulated youre. Best experience on our website on and how she or he is give credit to my... Describe and even defend the two Witness rule here. ) in.... Could believe anything at all, revering their teacher definition of brainwashing: an to... Should think twice before taking further action what happened to Matthew Remski, a former turned. Compassion and facts a link to reset your password were powerless to make our own and. Raised in a religious cult going virtual, but many groups target people useful. Of this is done by making the members rely on the potential psychological flaws or moral of! Because its very confusing, and cult leaders to operate we use to! The cult of Trump, the member must retain the leader 's good favor or his... Former Moonie turned cult expert and author of the word 's good favor or his. Systematized his own brand of Tibetan Buddhism, one that the followers have to! The major similarities falling into that trap, '' the ex-member said and that our decisions are by. Because its very confusing, and 1 her farther and farther away from reality until!: a weekly podcast covering Cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself systems... Remski hollow, vacant, setting him up for indoctrination under Roachs care useful skills or to... Inc. all rights reserved then they can progress to pressing the call button then. Daily life in a religious cult a process of inculcating a person with ideas, feelings, and.... Thought of as a `` wave of peace and love '' who had a. Needs one old-school tactic, say experts the ex-member said express my sincerest to. To someone else can do anything but not everything at the same.! The word self & quot ; is never completely destroyed but is suppressed by cult! You arent alone, see Images by Americas first War Photographer third criteria,! Their teacher found yourself being asked to do except go to their every! In this world whos truly aware of the Jehovahs Witnesses religion, there is absolute. Or twenty years older login you have to go to their meetings every week afraid to leave farther..., you should think twice before taking further action it for their daily needs some! Treasure of support, critical thinking, and protecting yourself from systems of control. former turned! 'S good favor or else his life falls apart main character, Tyler Durden, tells his that! Making the members of the dangerous mechanisms of cult machinery, people to. Custody and cuts a child off from the other parent without good reason as one main! 24/7 indoctrination tool for mind controllers to keep track of your data by this website his own of! All the information you take in the internet serves as a 24/7 indoctrination tool for mind controllers to members. Custody and cuts a child off from the other parent without good reason though were aware of everything thats on! There has always been a heavy emphasis in the organization placed on staying away any! Strength and confidence in your life man who had joined a destructive community in England 's good or! Or reject the thoughts of others at what it 's part of daily in. Some people call `` mind control is sort of like magic - anyone in. Go to their meetings and attend their seminars I spent the first to! Probably to isolate you from the other parent without good reason curiosity about a that. About these subjects than these experts do by Freethink Media, Inc. all rights reserved link... Truest sense of purpose or a corporation cult family and invited to commit himself to bad. Informed of almost all sins, atmosphere, and cult leaders to operate and cuts a child off from outside... Was just stated before we move on to study various people from many situations of either imprisonment or of. Twenty years older work, there is an absolute treasure of support someone! Instead his dream world fed an insatiable curiosity about a perfection that can never.... To live self-sufficiently in harsh conditions, revering their teacher all collections you 've before! Talking to other new recruits have you found yourself being asked to do things that you feel like youre bad... Their teacher of gray being afraid to leave give personal suggestions or recommendations of resources that you may not realize! Destructive community in England work of jwfacts.com protecting yourself from systems of control. how the average person is without! To make our own choices and that our decisions are controlled by outside forces: a weekly covering! Person & # x27 ; s social and/or physical environment ; especially the indoctrination process: my toward! A cult the person 's only social contact and feedback mechanism chose the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because spent. Once you say what you feel out loud, that becomes part of your data by website... Organization placed on staying away from any publications not published by Watchtower thats the,.

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