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cult characteristics
- Thread starter exit_and_how
- Start date
jacquie4000
Well-Known Member
katzpur,
I guess I am in trouble then I never got the whole trinity thing. This is why I did not graduate from confirmation....which of course my family was more than angry. But I could not get confirmed without an answer I believed and I did not. I have went to so many churches and sat down with pasters numerious times and no one could really answer that question good enough.
I guess I am in trouble then I never got the whole trinity thing. This is why I did not graduate from confirmation....which of course my family was more than angry. But I could not get confirmed without an answer I believed and I did not. I have went to so many churches and sat down with pasters numerious times and no one could really answer that question good enough.
Booko
Deviled Hen
Katzpur said:Oh, boy... Here we go again. Hey, at least the Mormons are in the good company of the Baha'is.
Yeah, and where's Zephyr when ya need him?
Too bad there are no Amish online, eh?
My working definition of a real cult is an organization that tries to separate any individual from family and friends and controls access to information from outside the group.
jacquie4000
Well-Known Member
We have alot not to far down the street I could get them....lol
But I do not think the women would go to Sunstones to stay warm.....lol
Mike182
Flaming Queer
actually, let's examine the Cult Characteristic list and how it applies to NeoPaganism... i'm going to use information from my own experience here.
cults may pressure a person to do things that the person didnt really want to do.
in all of the Pagan groups i have worked with, who ever is leading said worship has stated exactly what they will be doing, and asked fi everyone is comfortable with it - in the cases where someone has said they are not, arrangements have been made freely.
cults may sexually harrass individuals within the group - for example, saying that a person has to sleep with the leader or trying to get him/her to do some practice that they do not feel comfortable with. in exreme cases, cults use rape. some cults do things outside of a countrys borders where laws about these practices are nonexistent or not enforced.
i have never been raped by my fellow Pagans! the vast majority of Pagans have quite a developed sense of morality, are are totally against rape and involuntary actions.
cults prey on vulnerable people - people who lack social networks, friends - people who desperately need a group for support. in fact, the cult group may provide some love, but it does more harm than good, i.e. has costs - monetary, social, physical, spiritual, mental that all end up hurting.
the only times i have been charged form working with a group is when the group needed to buy/rent something for that work - never have i been charged for the time of the other people in the group.
cults may brainwash a person by surrounding the person with a limited ideology (and prohibiting access to other points of view or requiring that those be put into the context of the cults doctrine). this cult ideology might contain some truth but would contain half-truths, half-baked ideas, weird notions, superstitions, falicies, etc. it some cases, limited ideas about race are included.
you've never been to a Pagan gathering then.... we can't agree on the majority of things we have that many different points of view - and our literature is incredibly varied!
cults often require absolute devotion to one leader (who cannot really be questioned and is never wrong).
again, we have so many different points of views, anything a leader of a group says they have to justify and defend from criticism!
cults may be charging a person for services. this may end up devastating a person financially where these services are exorbitantly priced. the effects of those services may be enticing but end up being temporary.
again, no charge!
cults may use threatening measures to ensure compliance, such as whispering campaigns, slandering ones reputation, blacklisting, etc... often cults masquerading as a religion use information gained in confession as a manipulation technique (blackmail).
again, the vast majority of Pagans see this as wrong.
cults may monitor members (even after escaping). this would obviously be physically following a person around. it is usually not very hard to find out where a person lives, where they work, who they talk to, and who are their enemies and friends. but monitoring also includes mental/spiritual monitoring. in these ways, privacy is compromised (for possibly years). in extreme cases, the cults may attack the friends and/or relationships of the victim and help the enemies of the victim (even if they have no association with the cult).
as above.
cults may separate a person from their family and friends. this may be physical or mental/spiritual. it may be forced upon a member or it may be a requirement to remain a member, be in good standing within the group, etc... sometimes whole families get trapped in a cult - and the relationships in a family are often used as leverage, e.g. something bad will happen to so-and-so if the person does not do as commanded; or if the person leaves, something bad will happen to the other family members; or if the person does not do as told, he/she will be outcast from the family.
Pagans rejoice in family and friends, i have never met a Pagan who encourages people to break bonds with families and friends.
cults use PSYOPS techniques. PSYOPS is a term used in the military that means psychological operations. this includes methods of mind control - hypnotic suggestions, putting ideas into a persons mind, preventing a person from thinking for him/herself, etc... it may include weakening a person so that their psych is more pliable, such as depriving the person of sleep, food, etc... PSYOPS also include sending nightmares to deviant members or people perceived to be a threat to the organization.
Pagan groups encourage people to enjoy fitness - a healthy body means one can freely interact with nature!
cults may drug individuals - this could be used in combination wth PSYOPS techniques.
it is true that a fair amount of the Pagan population use drugs, but again, Pagans see taking drugs as a choice for the individual person, don't pressure the decision either way, and if someone does want to take drugs, they often guide them in taking said substance in a safe environment etc.
cults generally do not let members leave - going to extremes to prevent that person from doing so... this includes detaining a person physically but also includes using any PSYOPS or manipulative techniques (threatening someone or convincing them that something bad will happen if they leave).
Pagans have no problems with people leaving. in fact, most would say that if someone isn't comfortable in their group, it is disrupting the group, and would support their leaving!
cults may use destructive measures against members who manage to escape (as another form of control over people still inside) - such as blacklisting, purposeful damage to family members of the escapee, etc. - and then suggesting something like this would happen if a person even thinks of leaving.
what would be the point in doing that? as i've already said, their presense is disruptive to the group, why pressure them to return?
cults may pressure a person to do things that the person didnt really want to do.
in all of the Pagan groups i have worked with, who ever is leading said worship has stated exactly what they will be doing, and asked fi everyone is comfortable with it - in the cases where someone has said they are not, arrangements have been made freely.
cults may sexually harrass individuals within the group - for example, saying that a person has to sleep with the leader or trying to get him/her to do some practice that they do not feel comfortable with. in exreme cases, cults use rape. some cults do things outside of a countrys borders where laws about these practices are nonexistent or not enforced.
i have never been raped by my fellow Pagans! the vast majority of Pagans have quite a developed sense of morality, are are totally against rape and involuntary actions.
cults prey on vulnerable people - people who lack social networks, friends - people who desperately need a group for support. in fact, the cult group may provide some love, but it does more harm than good, i.e. has costs - monetary, social, physical, spiritual, mental that all end up hurting.
the only times i have been charged form working with a group is when the group needed to buy/rent something for that work - never have i been charged for the time of the other people in the group.
cults may brainwash a person by surrounding the person with a limited ideology (and prohibiting access to other points of view or requiring that those be put into the context of the cults doctrine). this cult ideology might contain some truth but would contain half-truths, half-baked ideas, weird notions, superstitions, falicies, etc. it some cases, limited ideas about race are included.
you've never been to a Pagan gathering then.... we can't agree on the majority of things we have that many different points of view - and our literature is incredibly varied!
cults often require absolute devotion to one leader (who cannot really be questioned and is never wrong).
again, we have so many different points of views, anything a leader of a group says they have to justify and defend from criticism!
cults may be charging a person for services. this may end up devastating a person financially where these services are exorbitantly priced. the effects of those services may be enticing but end up being temporary.
again, no charge!
cults may use threatening measures to ensure compliance, such as whispering campaigns, slandering ones reputation, blacklisting, etc... often cults masquerading as a religion use information gained in confession as a manipulation technique (blackmail).
again, the vast majority of Pagans see this as wrong.
cults may monitor members (even after escaping). this would obviously be physically following a person around. it is usually not very hard to find out where a person lives, where they work, who they talk to, and who are their enemies and friends. but monitoring also includes mental/spiritual monitoring. in these ways, privacy is compromised (for possibly years). in extreme cases, the cults may attack the friends and/or relationships of the victim and help the enemies of the victim (even if they have no association with the cult).
as above.
cults may separate a person from their family and friends. this may be physical or mental/spiritual. it may be forced upon a member or it may be a requirement to remain a member, be in good standing within the group, etc... sometimes whole families get trapped in a cult - and the relationships in a family are often used as leverage, e.g. something bad will happen to so-and-so if the person does not do as commanded; or if the person leaves, something bad will happen to the other family members; or if the person does not do as told, he/she will be outcast from the family.
Pagans rejoice in family and friends, i have never met a Pagan who encourages people to break bonds with families and friends.
cults use PSYOPS techniques. PSYOPS is a term used in the military that means psychological operations. this includes methods of mind control - hypnotic suggestions, putting ideas into a persons mind, preventing a person from thinking for him/herself, etc... it may include weakening a person so that their psych is more pliable, such as depriving the person of sleep, food, etc... PSYOPS also include sending nightmares to deviant members or people perceived to be a threat to the organization.
Pagan groups encourage people to enjoy fitness - a healthy body means one can freely interact with nature!
cults may drug individuals - this could be used in combination wth PSYOPS techniques.
it is true that a fair amount of the Pagan population use drugs, but again, Pagans see taking drugs as a choice for the individual person, don't pressure the decision either way, and if someone does want to take drugs, they often guide them in taking said substance in a safe environment etc.
cults generally do not let members leave - going to extremes to prevent that person from doing so... this includes detaining a person physically but also includes using any PSYOPS or manipulative techniques (threatening someone or convincing them that something bad will happen if they leave).
Pagans have no problems with people leaving. in fact, most would say that if someone isn't comfortable in their group, it is disrupting the group, and would support their leaving!
cults may use destructive measures against members who manage to escape (as another form of control over people still inside) - such as blacklisting, purposeful damage to family members of the escapee, etc. - and then suggesting something like this would happen if a person even thinks of leaving.
what would be the point in doing that? as i've already said, their presense is disruptive to the group, why pressure them to return?
Popeyesays
Well-Known Member
I guess, Mike. that paranoia rules some people's lives. If some people wish to use the PSYOPS techniqaue of accusing other groups of being "cults" to influence their own members away from investigating the truth, they can do that. Neither Pagans nor Baha`i's tolerate thought control. After all, if you can't reason your way into belief, then the belief is unreasonable.
Regards,
Scott
Regards,
Scott
exit_and_how
Member
Another resource - Wikipedia. I cut and pasted the "Contents" here from their pages on "Cult". (Note: it's very easy to do search in Wikipedia - just type the topic into the search box and hit GO.) Another model i encountered was the BITE model - standing for Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotion control) by cult expert Steve Hassan.
* 1 Definitions
o 1.1 Dictionary definitions of "cult"
o 1.2 Theological definition
o 1.3 Definition of 'Cult' by Christian 'countercult' groups
o 1.4 Sociological definitions of religion
o 1.5 Definition of 'Cult' according to secular opposition
o 1.6 Definition of 'cult' in popular culture
* 2 Differing Opinions of the various defintions
* 3 The cult debate
o 3.1 History of debate
o 3.2 Connotative change
o 3.3 Post-debate change
* 4 Non-Religious Cults
* 5 Societal and Governmental Pressures
* 6 Study of cults
o 6.1 Cult, NRM, and the sociology and psychology of religion
o 6.2 Related Research
o 6.3 Reactions to Social Out-Groups
o 6.4 Political Partisans and Closed-Mindedness
o 6.5 Christianity and Cults
o 6.6 Theoretical Reasons for Joining a Cult
o 6.7 Cult leadership
o 6.8 Development of cults
o 6.9 Relationships with the outside world
o 6.10 Cults: genuine concerns and exaggerations
+ 6.10.1 Documented crimes
+ 6.10.2 Other controversial groups
+ 6.10.3 Doomsday cults
+ 6.10.4 Harm to members
* 7 Stigmatization and discrimination
o 7.1 Leaving a cult
* 8 Criticism by former members of purported cults
o 8.1 Allegations made by scholars and skeptics
o 8.2 Other allegations
* 9 Prevalence of purported cults
* 10 Cults and governments
* 11 The BITE model
* 12 Cults and NRMs in literature
* 13 See also
* 14 External links
* 15 Bibliography
o 15.1 Books
o 15.2 Articles
* 16 References
i think a person could just type the name of the group into Wikipedia - whether it be a group they are in or a group they are considering. A person can get up to date on any controversies, cult information about the group (if any), media coverage, etc.
* 1 Definitions
o 1.1 Dictionary definitions of "cult"
o 1.2 Theological definition
o 1.3 Definition of 'Cult' by Christian 'countercult' groups
o 1.4 Sociological definitions of religion
o 1.5 Definition of 'Cult' according to secular opposition
o 1.6 Definition of 'cult' in popular culture
* 2 Differing Opinions of the various defintions
* 3 The cult debate
o 3.1 History of debate
o 3.2 Connotative change
o 3.3 Post-debate change
* 4 Non-Religious Cults
* 5 Societal and Governmental Pressures
* 6 Study of cults
o 6.1 Cult, NRM, and the sociology and psychology of religion
o 6.2 Related Research
o 6.3 Reactions to Social Out-Groups
o 6.4 Political Partisans and Closed-Mindedness
o 6.5 Christianity and Cults
o 6.6 Theoretical Reasons for Joining a Cult
o 6.7 Cult leadership
o 6.8 Development of cults
o 6.9 Relationships with the outside world
o 6.10 Cults: genuine concerns and exaggerations
+ 6.10.1 Documented crimes
+ 6.10.2 Other controversial groups
+ 6.10.3 Doomsday cults
+ 6.10.4 Harm to members
* 7 Stigmatization and discrimination
o 7.1 Leaving a cult
* 8 Criticism by former members of purported cults
o 8.1 Allegations made by scholars and skeptics
o 8.2 Other allegations
* 9 Prevalence of purported cults
* 10 Cults and governments
* 11 The BITE model
* 12 Cults and NRMs in literature
* 13 See also
* 14 External links
* 15 Bibliography
o 15.1 Books
o 15.2 Articles
* 16 References
i think a person could just type the name of the group into Wikipedia - whether it be a group they are in or a group they are considering. A person can get up to date on any controversies, cult information about the group (if any), media coverage, etc.
Ãanisty
Well-Known Member
Not surprisingly I see Satanism on this list of cults as well even though Booko didn't post it here. What's up with this definition?
Most will agree that Satanists can be broken down into two types...atheistic and theistic. Some atheistic Satanists will argue the non-existence of theistic Satanism, but that's just absurd since there are people out their who identify as theistic Satanists. You can't claim something doesn't exist just because you don't like it.
LaVeyan Satanists are atheistic. They do not believe in Satan or God as entities, but merely archetypes and to some extent, forces of nature. These Satanists do account for the majority. I would certainly never say that their rituals are just for fun. For one they serve the extremely important purpose of releasing the practitioner from preoccupations. If one is bent on revenge, a ritual allows for releasing that energy and letting the practitioner move on with more productive things.
I'm not sure what to think of their definition of Mystical Satanists. From my experience, both atheistic and theistic Satanists may believe in such forces of nature. I don't know any Satanist though who seek out negative power. The idea is kind of strange. A Satanist would seek out whichever power is beneficial to them for the task at hand. I would argue that most Satanists do not see any difference whatsoever in positive and negative power. Satanists really do not see things in terms of black and white.
The definition of Mad Satanist really serves no purpose. There are nutjobs of every type and it doesn't justify creating a special defined group for them. We don't take Catholic, Baptist, Muslim, etc. loonies and give them a special title. They're just crazy people who happen to believe they follow a particular religion (these are obviously just examples. There are crazy followers of every religion). I think what Robert Bowman may have intended to do here is define theistic Satanism, but with extreme prejudice. Theistic Satanists are not insane. Why would they be...just because they believe in Satan and God as real entities? If that's the case, all theists are insane. Theistic Satanists also do not believe in these "eternal consequences" or when they do, they are simply fighting the greater evil...that being God in their perspective. Theistic Satanists see their deity as the benevolent one...they don't run around doing "evil."
Regardless, Robert Bowman's own definitions disqualify Satanism as a cult. He admits that the majority of Satanists are not harmful and points out that the possibly harmful Satanists don't work in groups. So....why exactly is Satanism on their list of cults? They can't even back it up with their own ridiculous definitions!
Luciferianism (my own path) does not make it on the list...I'm assuming simply because it isn't as widespread as Satanism or because the people who created this list don't acknowledge a difference between Satanism and Luciferianism and simply lump them all together.
Who is Robert Bowman and what authority does he have to define Satanism? Let's see:
It looks like he doesn't have any authority at all! What we have here folks is a personal opinion on Satanism. I have not once in my 12+ years as a LHP practitioner met one single Satanist who uses these definitions.
Most will agree that Satanists can be broken down into two types...atheistic and theistic. Some atheistic Satanists will argue the non-existence of theistic Satanism, but that's just absurd since there are people out their who identify as theistic Satanists. You can't claim something doesn't exist just because you don't like it.
LaVeyan Satanists are atheistic. They do not believe in Satan or God as entities, but merely archetypes and to some extent, forces of nature. These Satanists do account for the majority. I would certainly never say that their rituals are just for fun. For one they serve the extremely important purpose of releasing the practitioner from preoccupations. If one is bent on revenge, a ritual allows for releasing that energy and letting the practitioner move on with more productive things.
I'm not sure what to think of their definition of Mystical Satanists. From my experience, both atheistic and theistic Satanists may believe in such forces of nature. I don't know any Satanist though who seek out negative power. The idea is kind of strange. A Satanist would seek out whichever power is beneficial to them for the task at hand. I would argue that most Satanists do not see any difference whatsoever in positive and negative power. Satanists really do not see things in terms of black and white.
The definition of Mad Satanist really serves no purpose. There are nutjobs of every type and it doesn't justify creating a special defined group for them. We don't take Catholic, Baptist, Muslim, etc. loonies and give them a special title. They're just crazy people who happen to believe they follow a particular religion (these are obviously just examples. There are crazy followers of every religion). I think what Robert Bowman may have intended to do here is define theistic Satanism, but with extreme prejudice. Theistic Satanists are not insane. Why would they be...just because they believe in Satan and God as real entities? If that's the case, all theists are insane. Theistic Satanists also do not believe in these "eternal consequences" or when they do, they are simply fighting the greater evil...that being God in their perspective. Theistic Satanists see their deity as the benevolent one...they don't run around doing "evil."
Regardless, Robert Bowman's own definitions disqualify Satanism as a cult. He admits that the majority of Satanists are not harmful and points out that the possibly harmful Satanists don't work in groups. So....why exactly is Satanism on their list of cults? They can't even back it up with their own ridiculous definitions!
Luciferianism (my own path) does not make it on the list...I'm assuming simply because it isn't as widespread as Satanism or because the people who created this list don't acknowledge a difference between Satanism and Luciferianism and simply lump them all together.
J
jkdenm
Guest
However, the thing about Wikis is that you can have edit wars. Those who have something against the organization may be trying to inform people who are naive, uninformed, eager, etc. Those who are in the still in the organization may be desperately trying to cover up incidents which makes it look bad - essentially on a PR campaign - regardless of certain inconvenient truths.
In fact, it goes beyond just Wikis, i understand. This spans across the entire internet with some groups - one side devoting websites for the purposes of giving people the real issues, events, stories, controversies, and facts that the organization doesnt particularly want you to find out about; and the other side is the organization trying to shut these sites down. These guys seem to go further (because websites are hard to shut down) - they seem to purposely, deliberately, with as much $ as it takes - flood the internet with many variations of their own innocent looking websites in an attempt to dissolve/obfuscate/squash the other side. These can be considered website/internet-search wars - all part of a greater PR war.
In fact, it goes beyond just Wikis, i understand. This spans across the entire internet with some groups - one side devoting websites for the purposes of giving people the real issues, events, stories, controversies, and facts that the organization doesnt particularly want you to find out about; and the other side is the organization trying to shut these sites down. These guys seem to go further (because websites are hard to shut down) - they seem to purposely, deliberately, with as much $ as it takes - flood the internet with many variations of their own innocent looking websites in an attempt to dissolve/obfuscate/squash the other side. These can be considered website/internet-search wars - all part of a greater PR war.
exit_and_how
Member
Booko said:
A couple of things - Bookos list came from about of the blue apparently. Religions are on there that I would never consider to be a cult, for example Mormon, and by the looks of it - Bahai is not cultish either. HOWEVER, obviously other groups SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST.
The point was to create a cult checklist - and consider it for onself - instead of having to defend against diatribes (like why didn't mine make the list? or are you implying mine is a cult?).
As for edit wars, my understanding is that it is rare for this to occur on Wikis and that the community converges to relatively neutral, agreed-upon ground. Editors and administrators also play a good role to ensure accurate and fair information. Personally, i think Wikipedia is a great resource.
J
jkdenm
Guest
looking more into Wikipedia, i noticed that you can have an official dispute over content - this does help ensure facts over opinion.
as to the subject, i went to a link called cult checklist and a quite relevant page exists that shows eight (8) checklists from different experts:
Eileen Barker, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Shirley Harrison, Steve Eichel, James R. Lewis, Isaac Bonewits, Anthony Storr, Robert J. Lifton, and Steven Hassan.
please see those as well.
as to the subject, i went to a link called cult checklist and a quite relevant page exists that shows eight (8) checklists from different experts:
Eileen Barker, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Shirley Harrison, Steve Eichel, James R. Lewis, Isaac Bonewits, Anthony Storr, Robert J. Lifton, and Steven Hassan.
please see those as well.
exit_and_how
Member
thanks to jkdenm for finding more cult checklists...
i only wish people would actually check these lists out and confirm
their suspicions about one of these groups...
i only wish people would actually check these lists out and confirm
their suspicions about one of these groups...
Ãanisty
Well-Known Member
Mike182 posted about Paganism. Here's how Satanism would break down:
cults may pressure a person to do things that the person didnt really want to do.
Doing something you don't want to do may be the most un-Satanic thing possible.
cults may sexually harrass individuals within the group - for example, saying that a person has to sleep with the leader or trying to get him/her to do some practice that they do not feel comfortable with. in exreme cases, cults use rape. some cults do things outside of a countrys borders where laws about these practices are nonexistent or not enforced.
LaVey stresses in the Satanic bible that rape is not acceptable.
cults prey on vulnerable people - people who lack social networks, friends - people who desperately need a group for support. in fact, the cult group may provide some love, but it does more harm than good, i.e. has costs - monetary, social, physical, spiritual, mental that all end up hurting.
For many (perhaps even most) Satanism is a solitary practice. So much emphasis is put on the individual in Satanism, that I don't believe any Satanic group would get away with manipulating it's members. Additionally, Satanism is thoroughly uninterested in vulnerable people.
cults may brainwash a person by surrounding the person with a limited ideology (and prohibiting access to other points of view or requiring that those be put into the context of the cults doctrine). this cult ideology might contain some truth but would contain half-truths, half-baked ideas, weird notions, superstitions, falicies, etc. it some cases, limited ideas about race are included.
Satanism draws from many different ideologies. Most Satanists study different cultures, practices, etc. in addition to Satanism.
cults often require absolute devotion to one leader (who cannot really be questioned and is never wrong).
There is no such thing as a Satanist that doesn't question. Any one person who claims to be the ultimate authority on Satanism would likely be metaphorically torn apart by the group. Satanist don't really care for authority and any Satanist that would put another's opinions or ideas above their own is not really practicing Satanism.
cults may be charging a person for services. this may end up devastating a person financially where these services are exorbitantly priced. the effects of those services may be enticing but end up being temporary.
I've never met a Satanist dumb enough to fall for a con. In fact, there is a good bit in the Satanic bible about avoiding such people.
cults may use threatening measures to ensure compliance, such as whispering campaigns, slandering ones reputation, blacklisting, etc... often cults masquerading as a religion use information gained in confession as a manipulation technique (blackmail).
Satanists are not likely to give sensitive information to anyone. A Satanist is already prepared for things like this.
cults may monitor members (even after escaping). this would obviously be physically following a person around. it is usually not very hard to find out where a person lives, where they work, who they talk to, and who are their enemies and friends. but monitoring also includes mental/spiritual monitoring. in these ways, privacy is compromised (for possibly years). in extreme cases, the cults may attack the friends and/or relationships of the victim and help the enemies of the victim (even if they have no association with the cult).
No Satanist would waste their time with something like this. There are always more important things to do in your own life than to worry about others.
cults may separate a person from their family and friends. this may be physical or mental/spiritual. it may be forced upon a member or it may be a requirement to remain a member, be in good standing within the group, etc... sometimes whole families get trapped in a cult - and the relationships in a family are often used as leverage, e.g. something bad will happen to so-and-so if the person does not do as commanded; or if the person leaves, something bad will happen to the other family members; or if the person does not do as told, he/she will be outcast from the family.
Frankly, the chances of an entire family being Satanic are pretty slim. Many Satanists are outcast from their families to some degree before even becoming Satanists. Again, Satanists are eccentric and fairly solitary. Satanists have already learned to think for themselves without relying on family. They're not going to start relying on any other authority.
cults use PSYOPS techniques. PSYOPS is a term used in the military that means psychological operations. this includes methods of mind control - hypnotic suggestions, putting ideas into a persons mind, preventing a person from thinking for him/herself, etc... it may include weakening a person so that their psych is more pliable, such as depriving the person of sleep, food, etc... PSYOPS also include sending nightmares to deviant members or people perceived to be a threat to the organization.
No Satanic group would prevent members from thinking for themselves. Thinking for yourself, being accountable and responsible for yourself...these things are pretty much integral to the belief. As I said earlier, Satanism isn't interested in vulnerable or weak people.
cults may drug individuals - this could be used in combination wth PSYOPS techniques.
Some Satanists use drugs, some don't. It's pretty much up to the individual. Drugs aren't administered or anything.
cults generally do not let members leave - going to extremes to prevent that person from doing so... this includes detaining a person physically but also includes using any PSYOPS or manipulative techniques (threatening someone or convincing them that something bad will happen if they leave).
Satanists frankly do not care if other people are Satanists or not. It's not like Satanists have anything to prove.
cults may use destructive measures against members who manage to escape (as another form of control over people still inside) - such as blacklisting, purposeful damage to family members of the escapee, etc. - and then suggesting something like this would happen if a person even thinks of leaving.
Again, Satanists really don't care.
cults may pressure a person to do things that the person didnt really want to do.
Doing something you don't want to do may be the most un-Satanic thing possible.
cults may sexually harrass individuals within the group - for example, saying that a person has to sleep with the leader or trying to get him/her to do some practice that they do not feel comfortable with. in exreme cases, cults use rape. some cults do things outside of a countrys borders where laws about these practices are nonexistent or not enforced.
LaVey stresses in the Satanic bible that rape is not acceptable.
cults prey on vulnerable people - people who lack social networks, friends - people who desperately need a group for support. in fact, the cult group may provide some love, but it does more harm than good, i.e. has costs - monetary, social, physical, spiritual, mental that all end up hurting.
For many (perhaps even most) Satanism is a solitary practice. So much emphasis is put on the individual in Satanism, that I don't believe any Satanic group would get away with manipulating it's members. Additionally, Satanism is thoroughly uninterested in vulnerable people.
cults may brainwash a person by surrounding the person with a limited ideology (and prohibiting access to other points of view or requiring that those be put into the context of the cults doctrine). this cult ideology might contain some truth but would contain half-truths, half-baked ideas, weird notions, superstitions, falicies, etc. it some cases, limited ideas about race are included.
Satanism draws from many different ideologies. Most Satanists study different cultures, practices, etc. in addition to Satanism.
cults often require absolute devotion to one leader (who cannot really be questioned and is never wrong).
There is no such thing as a Satanist that doesn't question. Any one person who claims to be the ultimate authority on Satanism would likely be metaphorically torn apart by the group. Satanist don't really care for authority and any Satanist that would put another's opinions or ideas above their own is not really practicing Satanism.
cults may be charging a person for services. this may end up devastating a person financially where these services are exorbitantly priced. the effects of those services may be enticing but end up being temporary.
I've never met a Satanist dumb enough to fall for a con. In fact, there is a good bit in the Satanic bible about avoiding such people.
cults may use threatening measures to ensure compliance, such as whispering campaigns, slandering ones reputation, blacklisting, etc... often cults masquerading as a religion use information gained in confession as a manipulation technique (blackmail).
Satanists are not likely to give sensitive information to anyone. A Satanist is already prepared for things like this.
cults may monitor members (even after escaping). this would obviously be physically following a person around. it is usually not very hard to find out where a person lives, where they work, who they talk to, and who are their enemies and friends. but monitoring also includes mental/spiritual monitoring. in these ways, privacy is compromised (for possibly years). in extreme cases, the cults may attack the friends and/or relationships of the victim and help the enemies of the victim (even if they have no association with the cult).
No Satanist would waste their time with something like this. There are always more important things to do in your own life than to worry about others.
cults may separate a person from their family and friends. this may be physical or mental/spiritual. it may be forced upon a member or it may be a requirement to remain a member, be in good standing within the group, etc... sometimes whole families get trapped in a cult - and the relationships in a family are often used as leverage, e.g. something bad will happen to so-and-so if the person does not do as commanded; or if the person leaves, something bad will happen to the other family members; or if the person does not do as told, he/she will be outcast from the family.
Frankly, the chances of an entire family being Satanic are pretty slim. Many Satanists are outcast from their families to some degree before even becoming Satanists. Again, Satanists are eccentric and fairly solitary. Satanists have already learned to think for themselves without relying on family. They're not going to start relying on any other authority.
cults use PSYOPS techniques. PSYOPS is a term used in the military that means psychological operations. this includes methods of mind control - hypnotic suggestions, putting ideas into a persons mind, preventing a person from thinking for him/herself, etc... it may include weakening a person so that their psych is more pliable, such as depriving the person of sleep, food, etc... PSYOPS also include sending nightmares to deviant members or people perceived to be a threat to the organization.
No Satanic group would prevent members from thinking for themselves. Thinking for yourself, being accountable and responsible for yourself...these things are pretty much integral to the belief. As I said earlier, Satanism isn't interested in vulnerable or weak people.
cults may drug individuals - this could be used in combination wth PSYOPS techniques.
Some Satanists use drugs, some don't. It's pretty much up to the individual. Drugs aren't administered or anything.
cults generally do not let members leave - going to extremes to prevent that person from doing so... this includes detaining a person physically but also includes using any PSYOPS or manipulative techniques (threatening someone or convincing them that something bad will happen if they leave).
Satanists frankly do not care if other people are Satanists or not. It's not like Satanists have anything to prove.
cults may use destructive measures against members who manage to escape (as another form of control over people still inside) - such as blacklisting, purposeful damage to family members of the escapee, etc. - and then suggesting something like this would happen if a person even thinks of leaving.
Again, Satanists really don't care.
IanAlmighty
Lurking Existentialist
Aw, Danisty you got to it first.
Of course I probably would have added a great deal of tongue-in-cheek sarcasm.
Of course I probably would have added a great deal of tongue-in-cheek sarcasm.