by Outaservice 19 Replies latest jw friends
There have been individuals who hire so called 'Cult Deprogramers' to get a loved one out of a cult. They sometimes kidnap them and try to get them out of whatever cult they might be in. Does this ever work, and would it have worked on you as a JW?
Or does each one have to see it in his own time, heart and mind before he/she begins to think?
Outaservice (wondering how much they charge.)
would it have worked on you as a JW?
I'm sure it would've driven me deeper into the organization!
I agree completely with the replies - this kind of thing is in my opinion a "reality TV opportunity" rather than anything of real value. There was a flare-up of this kind of stuff right after Jonestown (some claiming to have saved Peoples Temple lives).
One thing I always think about is how cruel the reported methods are...as bad or worse than the psycho-babble and guilt you get from the elders.
Sort of like taking your infant's hand and sticking it into the fire indiscriminately to "teach them that it is hot". Even if it works, this will get child protective services onto you in a heartbeat. And, rightly so, IMHO.
Of course, I also think that Dog the Bounty Hunter cops a pretty high (narcisistic?) profile for somebody who is "working undercover against crime".
Adults can make their own decisions even if those are stupid. Where does it start and where does it end? You cannot get people out of cults. You can only give a hand to those who want to leave.
Cult Deprogramming is illegal. Deprogramming can often leave the person with significant emotional damage due to the trauma.
In the 1990's this was replaced by Exit Counselling, discussed by Steve Hassan in Combatting Cult Mind Control. This is similar to deprogramming, but done with the cult members consent, and usually takes 3 days. Exit Counselling also is traumatic and does not involve enough follow up. Another problem is that if it doesnt work the member can go back to the cult even more determined.
In Hassans latest book, Releasing the Bonds he discusses a better methodology referred to as Strategic Interaction Approach. With this method many subtle approaches are made to the cult victim. The assumption is made that the cult member will eventually come out, it is just a matter of time. It involves a more long term and loving approach. The cult member gets to see that the family member is there for them and has happily moved on with their life. The Cult expert also helps the family members improve their quality of life and address their own issues. Various people, former members etc are organized to meet with the cult victim over time. This way information slowly builds inside the members mind and at some point they will be ready to move on.
Adults have the right to make their own decisions, even if we disagree with those decisions.
When I first joined the cult my dad enlisted the aid of 2 of my old friends to "deprogram" me. The discussion lasted roughly 15 minutes before I threw them out of the house. I then rejoiced at "having been counted worthy of being persecuted for His name!!!" I boasted about my experience to other JWs for the next month.
I don't think a professional deprogrammer would have done much better, as I would have been far more distrustful of a stranger, and probably would not have consented to speak to him. A forced interview would almost certainly have ended violently.
W
It varies with individual circumtances. In 1993, after losing my daughter for 10 years to this cult. I decided to rejoin, actually going undercover. It took two 2 years to rescue her, One of the first things I had to overcome, was to prove her elder husband molested his daughter, and my other daughter.
It took two 2 years to accomplish this, because I used the (planting seeds, & watering them) method.
I wrote a book about my 2 year rescue story. The title is "Going Undercover To Rescue My Daughter, From The Cult Of Jehovah's Witnesses" By Nancy J. Sage
Now, our whole family lives a happy and normal life. Yes, we were all once Jehovah's Witnesses, all five of us.
Hopie
Kidnapping is illegal in the United States. I was raised as a Witness by two believing parents. Witnessism was my core belief. There'da been no shocking me out of being a Witness. I didn't have any rational base belief.
I worked with Steve Hassan on a number of cases years back. Never kidnapped anyone or did anything illegal. All of you who think you are so strong in it, don't be so sure. I could have gotten just about anyone out of any cult with 3-5 days if they will listen. It's if they bolt that you fail. Those were the only ones I lost back to the cult. Works just like an intervention in Alcoholics Anonymous, only more prep work with the family. As strong as I was in it, Bethel elder and all, if Steve had done an intervention I would definitely have gotten out, but I would never have believed it beforehand.
Randy
Net Soup!
I am reading Steve Hassen's Combating cult mind Control at present. I skipped to the chapter that discussed thought control. The organization doesn't use all of the things mentioned, but it uses way too many to send shivers down my spine. I am going back now to read from the beginning.
I think it depends how far into a cult a person is whether they can be deprogrammed. Even he says that if he didn't catch one man before he went to a particular programing workshop by the Moonies, that it might have been too late to reach him.
It all depends how much one has invested in the cult and whether they are anywhere close to being ready to question their "one true way to salvation". And people need to be there for the person for a long time after such an intervention, as we all know their world is going to be shattered. They need help to put together the pieces again and start life over, without their security blanket.
