[Vision2020] Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups

[Rosemary Huskey]

Greetings Visionaries and the elevated acolytes aka Christ Church Elders
Csaba Leidenfrost, Gordon Wilson, Matt Gray, John Carnahan, Jeremy Bunch,
Bill Church, Ed Iverson, John Grauke, Wes Struble, John Sawyer, Dale
Courtney, Ben Merkle, Douglas Wilson, Mike Lawyer, Francis Foucachon,
Jonathan McIntosh, Matt Meyer, and Dan Vis,

I found this article drop dead accurate in listing the characteristics of
Christ Church leadership and, not incidentally, spot on in describing
internal operations of the "church" that aspires according to Daddy Jim
Wilson and the life's work of son Doug Wilson to rule over Moscow in a
Christian kind of way
<http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/ngier/WilsonEmpire.htm> .

Please remember the names and if you are fortunate to run into (not
literally of course) any of these fellows you'll know who you are talking to
and what they represent.

Rose Huskey

	
Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups - Revised
<http://www.icsahome.com/articles/characteristics>  

Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. 

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. 

Compare these patterns to the situation you were in (or in which you, a
family member, or friend is currently involved). This list may help you
determine if there is cause for concern. Bear in mind that this list is not
meant to be a "cult scale" or a definitive checklist to determine if a
specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it
is an analytical tool. 

The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its
leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system,
ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

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).

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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