Eight Marks of a Mind Control Cult

[Norquist Nemesis]

...from a 1990 reprint of the Bethel Ministries Newsletter and is written in reference to religion, but an interesting read nonetheless. There's certainly some similarities with the marks if one can view the Republican/Neo-conservative like a religion.

http://www.freeminds.org/psych/lifton.htm

Here's a sample:
<snip>

Doctrine Over Person
Human experience is subordinated to doctrine, no matter how profound or contradictory such experiences seem. The history of the cult is altered to fit their doctrinal logic. The person is only valuable insomuch as they conform to the role models of the cult. Commonsense perceptions are disregarded if they are hostile to the cult's ideology.
<snip>

(now to check out deprogramming instructions. :evilgrin: )

[On the Road]

1. I Have Known All of These

not in a recognized cult, but in a small group within mainstream Christian churches. It's really scary, and I was lucky to escape:

---

Dispensing of Existence
"The cult decides who has the "right" to exist and who does not... The leaders decide which history books are accurate and which are biased. Families can be cut off and outsiders can be deceived, for they are not fit to exist."

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. I escaped too...

years ago when Kip McKean was starting out in my little church in a little college town in central Illinois. Parents were having fits about their children being involved in the church and wanted the college to do something. It was big stuff...He then moved on to Florida. It was the first time in my life that I "felt" evil and danger from a person. I learned the lesson to go with that feeling and it's served me well since with a handful of people.

[seemslikeadream]

6. A very good friend of mine left central Illinois

in 1970 for Boston. It was a nightmare, his poor mother. He refused to talk with her but I would call him as oftem as I could just to keep communication open. He got out too but it was pretty scary.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. It was between '74-'76

that I was attending the church McKean was at (I think). I graduated from HS in '77 but had stopped going to the church by then. I was working at the college starting in 1980 and McKean was still there.

Yes, it is utterly terrifying. I'm not one to allow others telling what to do or how to think. It frightening and unbelievable to me when people I know allow others to do it to them. :(

I hope everything turned out ok for your friend. :)

[Cleita]

2. So where are the deprogramming instructions and

when do we start deprogramming the freepers? We need to do this soon!

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. Hmmm...

It's a slow process, but we're working on it now! :)

[DenverDem]

3. Great web site!

Should be required reading for all Americans.

<http://www.freeminds.org>

[sybylla]

4. All I need is one - Amen

n/t

[frylock]

7. anyone have any experience with the landmark forum?

my roomate got involved with these folks, and the transformation was frightening. He used to asked me to attend, but I did some research, and decided no freakin way. I did what I could to discourage his enthusiasm, and he eventually broke free of their hold.

http://skepdic.com/landmark.html

[jokerman93]

10. This kind of cult mentality

This kind of cult mentality is prevalent all over in America these days. Don't think the Christian Right is the only bastion of authoritarian ideology.

The New Age crowd has its own debilitating undertow with organizations like the Landmark Forum, Eckankar, Scientology and all their offshoots, to name only a few. The pagan movement itself is now populated with archaic cult revivals sponsored by academics and self-styled religionists who tend toward authoritarianism as well.

I was stuck in the Eckankar mire for a number of years, and spent several years disentangling myself from the group as it kept tabs and spread slander effecting my family relationships and employment for some time. The negative effects of that group in my life may never be entirely eliminated.

It's the cult thinking that is the danger here, not necessarily the form or beliefs the cult takes on. seems like Americans are psychologically almost predisposed to cults these days.

I urge anyone with family members involved in such groups to reach out to them with intentional love and support, and keep reaching out.

Real family values...you know?