Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Kompas today reported about the detention of 12 doomsday sect leaders in Bandung. The writer mentioned a book titled ‘How to Identify a Dangerous Religious Group’ by Ron Enroth. Below is what I have found on the net:
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/ds/q1101/page5.html
Indoctrination. An additional mark of many dangerous religious groups is their use of sophisticated methods of recruitment and coercive persuasion. Rather than allowing converts to make decisions of faith based on their own sense of good judgment, some groups break down individual thinking by one or more of the following techniques:
Isolation. Recruits are isolated from family, friends, and news media in order to screen out opposing points of view.
Peer-group Pressure. Potential converts are subjected to intense persuasion by group members.
Love Bombing. Group members give prospects an overwhelming sense of acceptance, belonging, and significance by "bombing" them with flattery, touching, and hugging.
Removal of Privacy. Recruits are never left alone to collect and discover their own thoughts.
Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue. A person's resistance is broken down by long meetings and extended work hours.
Games. Complex games are played for the purpose of creating a sense of dependence on the rule-giving leader.
Mind Control. Members are conditioned to stop thinking and to accept without question the revelations and doctrines of their leader.
Confession. The self-respect of the members is broken down through persuading them to share their innermost secrets with the group.
Change of Diet. Members are provided inadequate nutrition, which breaks down their resistance and makes them vulnerable to suggestion.
Fear. Negative thoughts or doubts about the group or its leader are said to be soul-threatening. Anyone leaving the group is warned about harsh consequences.
Chanting and Singing. Members are subjected to constant repetition, which blocks their rational thought processes.
Childlike Dependence. The leader demands absolute submission to his control.
No Questions. Followers are taught to accept without question the revelations and interpretations of their leaders.
Dress. Conformity of dress is encouraged to suppress individuality.
Elitism. Every religious leader outside the group is said to be satanic or, at best, deceived by an evil conspiracy.
(Adapted from: The Cult Crisis, Citizens Freedom Foundation.)
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http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/ds/q1101/page5.html
Indoctrination. An additional mark of many dangerous religious groups is their use of sophisticated methods of recruitment and coercive persuasion. Rather than allowing converts to make decisions of faith based on their own sense of good judgment, some groups break down individual thinking by one or more of the following techniques:
Isolation. Recruits are isolated from family, friends, and news media in order to screen out opposing points of view.
Peer-group Pressure. Potential converts are subjected to intense persuasion by group members.
Love Bombing. Group members give prospects an overwhelming sense of acceptance, belonging, and significance by "bombing" them with flattery, touching, and hugging.
Removal of Privacy. Recruits are never left alone to collect and discover their own thoughts.
Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue. A person's resistance is broken down by long meetings and extended work hours.
Games. Complex games are played for the purpose of creating a sense of dependence on the rule-giving leader.
Mind Control. Members are conditioned to stop thinking and to accept without question the revelations and doctrines of their leader.
Confession. The self-respect of the members is broken down through persuading them to share their innermost secrets with the group.
Change of Diet. Members are provided inadequate nutrition, which breaks down their resistance and makes them vulnerable to suggestion.
Fear. Negative thoughts or doubts about the group or its leader are said to be soul-threatening. Anyone leaving the group is warned about harsh consequences.
Chanting and Singing. Members are subjected to constant repetition, which blocks their rational thought processes.
Childlike Dependence. The leader demands absolute submission to his control.
No Questions. Followers are taught to accept without question the revelations and interpretations of their leaders.
Dress. Conformity of dress is encouraged to suppress individuality.
Elitism. Every religious leader outside the group is said to be satanic or, at best, deceived by an evil conspiracy.
(Adapted from: The Cult Crisis, Citizens Freedom Foundation.)
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