Does Anyone Else Smell A "Cult" After Reading the Sept. KM??

Lady Liberty

Hello Everyone,

In light of the recent "spiritual food", I find myself thinking "CULT"!!! Anyone else?? Here is a interesting list regarding cults..I posted it on another thread, but thought it was such good information I would start its own thread.

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

Sincerely,

Lady Liberty

Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups - Revised

Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & 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.

This checklist will be published in the new book, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (Berkeley: Bay Tree Publishing, 2006). It was adapted from a checklist originally developed by Michael Langone.

Lady Liberty

Heres another very interesting article on cults, and at the bottom it addresses JWs.

http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10&Itemid=5

Google translate:

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Latest + Greatest

You can be the first to know of updates and developments on the Cult Awareness and Information Centre web site. Sign up today! Home General Information The Armageddon Syndrome

The Armageddon Syndrome

The Armageddon Syndrome by David L. Harvey

Since our common era began, every turn of the century has seen its share of apocalyptic prophets announcing the end of the world or "Armageddon." They claim to have special knowledge revealed to them alone. The term apocalypse is from the Greek and means "revealed" or "unveiled."

"Armageddon" is mentioned only once in the Bible- at Rev. 16:16. This Greek word translates "mountain of Megiddo." The ruins of Megiddo (Tel el-Mutsellim), an ancient Canaanite city, occupy about twelve acres of a small plateau overlooking the Plain of Jezreel (Esdraelon). This plain was the scene of many decisive military victories throughout history. As there is no literal "mountain of Megiddo," the term "Armageddon" is most likely symbolic of God's great and final battle at the End Time. Entire theologies have been built around this single verse.

A number of abusive churches create a fear of Armageddon, reinforced with guilt in order to dominate and maintain membership. Cults use this as a tool of emotional control. By implanting fear and creating guilt, abusive groups manipulate their members into performing free service.

Fear is the major motivator. It binds in two ways: (1) It creates an outside enemy who threatens or persecutes the member. This results in the "us versus them" world view, and (2) fear of failing the organization or fear of discovery and punishment by the leaders if you are lax in doing your job. What job? Why, serving the organization, of course! "Are you REALLY doing all you can to serve God?" (A typical introduction to guilt.)

Guilt is a good enforcer, but it won't work unless you can make people feel guilty about something. Note this subtle example: "Now that you have an understanding of God's purpose wouldn't you like to share it with others? We know God will destroy all wicked people shortly. Since we have knowledge of this we have a responsibility to warn others. If we don't do this God will find us bloodguilty at Armageddon. You wouldn't want to be held bloodguilty, would you?"

Cults need a bogeyman. The Watchtower's bogeyman is Armageddon. Fear of eternal annihilation and fear of being found bloodguilty by God at Armageddon assures the continued service of the "faithful." Such fear adversely influences plans for marriage, college, careers, and the pursuit of happiness. It robs one's peace of mind and destroys one's quality of life.

Fear is effectively used to attract new members as well. A little Bible prophecy, some statistics and current events, a few dates and the trap is set. Once the new convert buys into it, out jumps the bogeyman to motivate and manipulate.

Cults don't offer a choice. The only choice is theirs. (Is sink or swim really a choice?) Groups using the Armageddon Syndrome sometimes even get physically dangerous. They may not wait for the apocalypse, but attempt to accelerate it, creating their own.

Jim Jones' "People's Temple" began as a normal Christian church, yet it later degenerated into an abusive cult that ended in 1978 with over 900 murder/suicides deep in the South American jungles.

David Koresh's "Branch Davidians" met a fiery apocalypse on April 20, 1993 with 79 murder/suicides at Waco, Texas.

Luc Jouret's "Order Of The Solar Temple" experienced 53 murder/ suicides in Switzerland and Canada in October 1994.

Shoko Asahara's "Aum Shinri Kyo" is under investigation in Japan for the recent nerve gas attack in Tokyo's subway station that left 11 dead and 5,500 sickened.

Of all groups, however, the Watchtower Society is perhaps best known for its Armageddon Syndrome.

Charles Taze Russell, first president of the WT Society, predicted Armageddon for 1914: "...the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty', which will end in AD 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced." The Time Is At Hand, 1911 ed., p. 101.

Russell thereafter altered his viewpoint and said the end might not come until 1916- surely no later than 1918: "Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, ..." The Finished Mystery, 1917 ed., p. 485.

The end came, but only for Pastor Russell-he died in 1916.

Joseph "Judge" Rutherford succeeded Russell as president and predicted the end as well. He said post-Armageddon reconstruction would begin in 1925 marked by the resurrection of the patriarchs: "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old...." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 89, 90.

Did Rutherford give up when the prophecies failed? No, in the true style of false prophets he forged ahead with new light. In 1931 he wrote: "His day of vengeance is here, and Armageddon is at hand and certain to fall upon Christendom, and that within an early date." Vindication I, p. 146, 147.

Nine years later he felt impelled to write: "The Kingdom is here, the King is enthroned. Armageddon is just ahead." The Messenger, 9/1/40, p. 6.

I attended my first Assembly at St. Louis, MO in 1941. On "Children's Day" we each received a copy of Rutherford's new release, Children. It was written up in The Watchtower of Sept. 15, 1941: "Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon." (p. 288)

For the next twenty five years the WT Society continued to warn of the nearness of the end. In 1966 they published the book Life Everlasting In Freedom Of The Sons Of God, where the year 1975 was pegged to mark the beginning of the Millennium. Watchtower publications continued to hype 1975 right up to the final hour: "...God's heavenly kingdom will rule over the earth for one thousand years after the end of this system of things." Awake!, 10/8/68, p.14.

also,

"...there are only about ninety months left before 6000 years of man's existence on earth is completed.... The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those who are destroyed then." Kingdom Ministry, 3/68, p. 4.
"In view of the short time left, a decision to pursue a career in this system of things is not only unwise but extremely dangerous." Kingdom Ministry, 6/69, p. 3.

"Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end." Kingdom Ministry, 5/74, p. 3.

The Watchtower Society has always attached great significance to their "anchor date" 1914, promising that the generation of 1914 would still be alive at Armageddon. That generation has passed. Now they must re-define the significance of 1914. Which ever way they go, you can be sure that the threat of Armageddon will continue to be in the forefront of their theology.

On the other hand, the Bible says:

"Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night." (1 Th. 5:1,2)

Any person or organization claiming to have special or exclusive knowledge is a charlatan--a false prophet. The Armageddon Syndrome is an identifying feature of many cult groups. The grief, misery and death they mete out to their member/ victims is immeasurable. Flee from them! We have God's living Word.

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Does Anyone Else Smell A "Cult" After Reading the Sept. KM??

Lady Liberty

Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups - Revised

Lady Liberty

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The Armageddon Syndrome

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Lady Liberty

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