This book my wife and I are reading is entitled " Take Back Your Life - Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships " by Janja Lalich & Madeleine Tobias . Both were former cult members and are Ph.D's teaching as Associate Professors of Sociology at a University and the other is a Clinical Coordinator and psychotherapist for a medical Veterans clinic. Also she is a M.S., R.N. , C.S. In the appendix A section of the book on pg. 337 it describes in detail " Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups " . I felt it would be good to present this , especially for many of the newer members of the board perhaps newly exiting Jehovah's Witnesses and that it might help them confirm some of their doubts and sucspisions about the WT society. So here is what's written in this appendix section :
" 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 be manipulated , exploited, or even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may help you assess 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. "
1. The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to it's leader, and ( whether he is alive or dead ) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
2. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
3. Mind-altering practices ( such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, or debilitating work routines ) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and it's leaders.
4. The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel ( e.g., members must get permission to date, change jobs, or marry - or leaders prescribe what to wear, where to live, whether to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth ).
5. The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself , its leaders, and it's members ( e.g., 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 ) .
6. The group has a polarized, us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
7. The leader is not accountable to any authorities ( unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders, or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations ) .
8. 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 ( e.g., lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities ) .
9. The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and control members. Often this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
10. 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.
11. The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
12. The group is preoccupied with making money.
13. Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
14. Members are encouraged or required to live and / or socialize only with other members.
15. 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 - group.
So, this is the criteria these authors feel that can be identifying factors of a high control group or cult. As Steve Hassan has written in his books " there is no acceptable way to leave a cult " without being dissapproved by cult leaders. So- I'd like to hear your thoughts, comments, or even your personal experiences which may assist some of the newer board members to see what you may have experienced in any of these situations or in other ways when you were a Jehovah's Witness. I know for sure, I personally experienced many of these points myself when I was a Jehovah's Witness. So, I hope you all are doing well. Look forward to all of your responses ! Take care, Peace out, Mr. Flipper
