Cults... those groups of seemingly nutty people that have been around with us since forever.
Most cults tend to die off, but some do stick around and in some cases evolve into religions.
Now many cults do have a lot of things in common but I've noticed five certain things about them.
So here are five things I've noticed about cults:
5. They're self destructive.
With a few notable exceptions most cults will eventually die off and cease to exist.
Most of the time a cult will cease to exist due to it's leadership's abusive and controlling behavior, which sometimes results in either a member getting kicked out for some minor infringement, or a member getting fed up with the behavior of the leadership and leaving. These combined with the public's finding out about a cult's abusive behavior, plus what ever strange beliefs they may have, might keep some people from wanting to join, and thus the the cult eventually dies out due to it being unable to gain new members.
Ofcourse sometimes a cult dies off not slowly and gradually, but very quickly due to it's members committing criminal acts that forces law enforcement to imprison most of it's members (those that come peacefully that is) or they get killed by law enforcement because they refuse to be arrested, or the members commit mass suicide or murder/suicide.
4. They isolate people.
Almost every cult there is encourages (or forces) it's members to engage in some form of isolation. For some this may be as minor as encouraging it's members to have as little contact as possible with people that are considered to be possibly "harmful", to having no contact with people who left the cult, to outright isolating themselves from society in general.
Sometimes this isolation isn't the result of a cult encouraging it's members to stop having contact with other people, but instead encourages them to engage in behavior with non-members that is usually considered to be bizarre, imposing, or abusive. Such behavior often times causes non-members to not want to be around any of these members, regardless of whatever relationship they may have with these people.
Regardless of however a cult does it, ultimately a cult will usually end up causing a member to be isolated from those that were closest to them (i.e. friends and family).
3. They're financially ruinous.
Many cults encourages it's members to do things that can cause them to go broke, or at least set them back financially.
One of the ways that cults ruin people financially is that they encourage their member to give large sums of money to the cult. This can be done either through encouraging it's members to give large donations to the cult directly or any "charities" it runs, or encouraging buying overpriced products from the cult, or requiring it's members to pay large sums of money inorder to advance through the cult.
Other ways that cults ruin people financially is by encouraging their members to make bad financial decisions. This could be done either through encouraging their members to make bad investments into things that the cult likes, or to quit a job because the cult doesn't approve of the job, to quiting a job and leaving to go work for the cult.
Regardless of how a cult does it, with the exception of maybe it's leadership, a cult will often times leave a person worse off financially then they were when they joined.
2. They engage in dangerous pseudoscience and alternative medicine.
Almost every cult there is promote some kinds of pseudoscience, which for the most of them isn't actually dangerous, but then there are some types of pseudoscience that cults promote that really are dangerous, particularly concerning medical issues.
One example of this would be the Jehovah's Witnesses who strongly "discourages" (i.e. threatens to excommunicate) it's members from receiving blood transfusions, which has lead to needless deaths.
Another example of this would be Scientology and their "stance" on psychology, in that they believe that psychology is evil. This type of belief can cause people to not seek out or engage in any type psychiatric help when they really need it, which could cause a person to commit suicide or even an act of violence.
Some cults even go so far as to use no modern medicine what so ever. Christian Science is probably one of the best examples of this as they believe that praying will heal a person, and that they do not use any type of medicine at all, instead relying entirely on God's will and prayer.
1. They don't actually have to be religious or organized.
While many cults are generally organized and have religious aspects to them, there are some groups out there that are neither religious or organized, but because of it's own actions and the actions of it's members, many people would argue that they are cults
The 9/11 Truth movement and the Anti-vaccination movement are just two examples of groups that while neither are religious or organized into one single group (although there are several separate groups for both movements) both movements have been accused of being cults due to the movements' continuous promotion of the same stuff that has been debunked for years, and the behavior of both movements' adherents.
Then there are groups that are organized into one single group that are not religious, but because of it's promotion of pseudoscience and other things that are just not possible, as well as how it treats critics, they are considered to be a cult by many people who have examined the group. The Zeitgeist Movement is a prime example of this.
Regardless of whether or not it's religious or organized or neither, a cult is a cult, and it could potentially damage and even destroy your life, so it's best to avoid them.
Showing posts with label Scientology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scientology. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Friday, August 16, 2013
5 Things I've noticed about... Cult Leaders
Cult leaders.
I'm sure everyone has heard about them and the groups that they form around them and their "teachings". I'm also sure you're aware of how they act...
Well anyways, I've been examining cult leaders for a long time, and people who act like cult leaders as well. During my observations I've notice certain traits that most of them have, and from that I've come up with five things they all tend to share.
So here are five things I've noticed about cult leaders:
5. They're narcissistic.
If you were to ever meet the leader of a cult they will tell you that all of their teaching are for you to help better your life, and on the surface that sounds great... except this is a lie.
In reality it is all about the leader of the cult, and the power that leader has over you and the members of that cult.
The leader doesn't actually care about you, they only care bout what you can do for them, and how much you respect (or fear) them.
And as for their teachings? Well, just remember this is something that THEY created, and therefore can change at any time they want to (which most do) to suit whatever needs that they have, and they do this while telling you it's for your own good.
4. They like to surround themselves with important people.
Because of a cult leader's narcissism and their need to feel important, and also feel the need to gain influence (as well as new members), they tend to try also try to surround themselves with people who are either important, or they feel are important. This of course could be politicians, community leaders, celebrities, Playboy models (which I can't really blame them for), and especially people who are rich.
They do this because not only does it help them get new members (via influence of the important person), they also do this because they feel it gives them a kind of bubble of protection (which does work sometimes).
Now, if they can't actually get important people into their cult, then they'll do the next best thing: make members of their cult important and rich (as this helps get them more money).
3. They try to destroy their critics.
Probably one of the most well known and enduring practices that L. Ron Hubbard created for his Church of Scientology was the Fair Game policy, which is basically guidelines on how to destroy a critic of Scientology using whatever means necessary to silence that critic. This policy is still used today (although some in the cult claim it isn't), but it is far less effective than it was years ago as most people are no longer afraid of the Church of Scientology.
L. Ron Hubbard isn't the only cult leader whom did this, or something similar to this. In fact many, if not all cult leaders do this, mostly because they see their critics as their enemies (although this might not be to far off in some cases, it's usually for good reason).
While most have a direct hand in their handling of critics, most of the time they aren't the one whom actually handle their critics. In fact the actual handling of their critics is done by other followers, they just give out the orders on whom they feel should be targeted, and how, and this is because...
2. They prefer have others do their dirty work.
While a cult leader is usually responsible for the unethical (or illegal) stuff that their cults do, they're usually not the ones who actually do it. More often times they have other people within the cult actually do it for them, usually so they can do what ever they want (and to whomever they want) and not face the consequences via denial of knowledge that their members were doing what they were doing (which doesn't always work).
Of course they could also be having others do their dirty work so that they can fight their enemies, while at the same time not look bad to the public at large (which again, doesn't always work). Or they could be doing that so that they don't look bad infront of their members as well, or so that they don't look weak.
1. They're paranoid.
Besides being narcissistic, cult leaders tend to be paranoid as well.
While their paranoia could be the result of their narcissism (you think that you're important, so you start to believe everyone is out to get you) it could be that they are already paranoid, and because they think that someone or some group is out to get them, they start to believe that they must be important, which can result in them developing narcissism.
Regardless of the reason why they are paranoid, because of their paranoia, it can cause them to do things that are not only morally and ethically wrong (and possibility illegal) it can cause them to attack anyone whom they feel is threatening them, and it can also cause them to lash out at their followers as well (including their most loyal ones). The results of this is that they could either kick out any members without any reason, or force them to do acts to prove their loyalty, sometimes with extremely tragic consequences.
I'm sure everyone has heard about them and the groups that they form around them and their "teachings". I'm also sure you're aware of how they act...
Well anyways, I've been examining cult leaders for a long time, and people who act like cult leaders as well. During my observations I've notice certain traits that most of them have, and from that I've come up with five things they all tend to share.
So here are five things I've noticed about cult leaders:
5. They're narcissistic.
If you were to ever meet the leader of a cult they will tell you that all of their teaching are for you to help better your life, and on the surface that sounds great... except this is a lie.
In reality it is all about the leader of the cult, and the power that leader has over you and the members of that cult.
The leader doesn't actually care about you, they only care bout what you can do for them, and how much you respect (or fear) them.
And as for their teachings? Well, just remember this is something that THEY created, and therefore can change at any time they want to (which most do) to suit whatever needs that they have, and they do this while telling you it's for your own good.
4. They like to surround themselves with important people.
Because of a cult leader's narcissism and their need to feel important, and also feel the need to gain influence (as well as new members), they tend to try also try to surround themselves with people who are either important, or they feel are important. This of course could be politicians, community leaders, celebrities, Playboy models (which I can't really blame them for), and especially people who are rich.
They do this because not only does it help them get new members (via influence of the important person), they also do this because they feel it gives them a kind of bubble of protection (which does work sometimes).
Now, if they can't actually get important people into their cult, then they'll do the next best thing: make members of their cult important and rich (as this helps get them more money).
3. They try to destroy their critics.
Probably one of the most well known and enduring practices that L. Ron Hubbard created for his Church of Scientology was the Fair Game policy, which is basically guidelines on how to destroy a critic of Scientology using whatever means necessary to silence that critic. This policy is still used today (although some in the cult claim it isn't), but it is far less effective than it was years ago as most people are no longer afraid of the Church of Scientology.
L. Ron Hubbard isn't the only cult leader whom did this, or something similar to this. In fact many, if not all cult leaders do this, mostly because they see their critics as their enemies (although this might not be to far off in some cases, it's usually for good reason).
While most have a direct hand in their handling of critics, most of the time they aren't the one whom actually handle their critics. In fact the actual handling of their critics is done by other followers, they just give out the orders on whom they feel should be targeted, and how, and this is because...
2. They prefer have others do their dirty work.
While a cult leader is usually responsible for the unethical (or illegal) stuff that their cults do, they're usually not the ones who actually do it. More often times they have other people within the cult actually do it for them, usually so they can do what ever they want (and to whomever they want) and not face the consequences via denial of knowledge that their members were doing what they were doing (which doesn't always work).
Of course they could also be having others do their dirty work so that they can fight their enemies, while at the same time not look bad to the public at large (which again, doesn't always work). Or they could be doing that so that they don't look bad infront of their members as well, or so that they don't look weak.
1. They're paranoid.
Besides being narcissistic, cult leaders tend to be paranoid as well.
While their paranoia could be the result of their narcissism (you think that you're important, so you start to believe everyone is out to get you) it could be that they are already paranoid, and because they think that someone or some group is out to get them, they start to believe that they must be important, which can result in them developing narcissism.
Regardless of the reason why they are paranoid, because of their paranoia, it can cause them to do things that are not only morally and ethically wrong (and possibility illegal) it can cause them to attack anyone whom they feel is threatening them, and it can also cause them to lash out at their followers as well (including their most loyal ones). The results of this is that they could either kick out any members without any reason, or force them to do acts to prove their loyalty, sometimes with extremely tragic consequences.
Friday, March 8, 2013
5 Things I've noticed about... The Westboro Baptist Church
A lot of things are said about the Westboro Baptist Church (mainly negative) and through all that is said, there a certain things that church tends to do.
So here are five things I've noticed about the Westboro Baptist Church:
5. They believe God hates everyone... but them.
According to the Westboro Baptist Church, God hates everyone (or at least anyone who offends Fred Phelps in even the littlest of ways), and according them everyone (but them) is going to Hell. This even includes people who might share a similar ideology to the church's ideology, but that the church's leadership believes that those people are still going to Hell simply because their hate towards a certain group isn't up to the church's standards, or that they don't hate all the groups that the church hates.
4. They don't mind lying.
Despite being a sin (and according to the Bible a very big one), they have no problems lying, whether it be announcing that they a going to protest somewhere and then not showing up, announcing that they a going to protest somewhere, not showing up, and then photoshopping a picture of them protesting at said place, or just saying things about people that are simply not true.
3. They alienate everyone.
Literally no one can stand them, either because of their blatant bigotry, homophobia, antisemitism, anti-Americanism, or just plain psychopathic behavior. Even the Klu Klux Klan can not stand them, even though they have a similar ideology with the Westboro Baptist Church.
Their actions have made so many people angry that there are now laws to try to curtail their protests, and that the public at large wants their IRS tax exemption to be revoked, and for the government to officially declare them a hate group.
Also, no one cares if someone attacks them. In some cases people believe that it's a good thing to attack them.
2. They encourage their members to be psychopaths.
The leadership of the Westboro Baptist Church encourages it's members to show no empathy for anyone, to have no remorse what so ever for causing anyone pain through their actions, to be happy that they are causing people pain, to be happy when someone dies, to pray that certain people die, and to be happy with the thought thought that someone might be in Hell. In fact they tell they're members that not doing this stuff will get them sent to Hell.
If that is not psychopathic behavior, I don't know what is.
1. They're cowards.
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church will protest just about anything, just as long as there are enough police officers around to protect them from the public who might use force to get rid of them.
They're not going to show up anywhere where they don't think they're not going to get enough security to protect them, or where they may be harmed no matter how much security they have. In fact it's even been suggested that communities stop giving them police protection during their protests just to keep them away.
They also haven't taken on Scientology either. Maybe they're afraid of getting harassed and sued by them.
So here are five things I've noticed about the Westboro Baptist Church:
5. They believe God hates everyone... but them.
According to the Westboro Baptist Church, God hates everyone (or at least anyone who offends Fred Phelps in even the littlest of ways), and according them everyone (but them) is going to Hell. This even includes people who might share a similar ideology to the church's ideology, but that the church's leadership believes that those people are still going to Hell simply because their hate towards a certain group isn't up to the church's standards, or that they don't hate all the groups that the church hates.
4. They don't mind lying.
Despite being a sin (and according to the Bible a very big one), they have no problems lying, whether it be announcing that they a going to protest somewhere and then not showing up, announcing that they a going to protest somewhere, not showing up, and then photoshopping a picture of them protesting at said place, or just saying things about people that are simply not true.
3. They alienate everyone.
Literally no one can stand them, either because of their blatant bigotry, homophobia, antisemitism, anti-Americanism, or just plain psychopathic behavior. Even the Klu Klux Klan can not stand them, even though they have a similar ideology with the Westboro Baptist Church.
Their actions have made so many people angry that there are now laws to try to curtail their protests, and that the public at large wants their IRS tax exemption to be revoked, and for the government to officially declare them a hate group.
Also, no one cares if someone attacks them. In some cases people believe that it's a good thing to attack them.
2. They encourage their members to be psychopaths.
The leadership of the Westboro Baptist Church encourages it's members to show no empathy for anyone, to have no remorse what so ever for causing anyone pain through their actions, to be happy that they are causing people pain, to be happy when someone dies, to pray that certain people die, and to be happy with the thought thought that someone might be in Hell. In fact they tell they're members that not doing this stuff will get them sent to Hell.
If that is not psychopathic behavior, I don't know what is.
1. They're cowards.
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church will protest just about anything, just as long as there are enough police officers around to protect them from the public who might use force to get rid of them.
They're not going to show up anywhere where they don't think they're not going to get enough security to protect them, or where they may be harmed no matter how much security they have. In fact it's even been suggested that communities stop giving them police protection during their protests just to keep them away.
They also haven't taken on Scientology either. Maybe they're afraid of getting harassed and sued by them.
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