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Learn everything you wanted to know about destructive cults.
What are the Destructive Cults ? A destructive cult is an organization or a group the members of which have been recruited with immoral and misleading means. The followers of such a group gradually remove the free operation of their personal thinking and judgement, through brain-washing procedures, ending up to an absolute dependence on the man who is on the top of the group hierarchy, the guru or the master. Various other groups interlace with the destructive cults which are simply characterized as "cults" and are distinguished by how much dangerous they may become for the human personality. Some of these organizations are characterized as soul-worships. Some others are mentioned as para-christian groups, new sects, total religions. As a whole they are almost placed to the New Age syndrome as it is called and they have a common origin, that is occultism. Their purpose Their purpose is the absolute control over human beings. They use their members as unpaid workers, propagandists, money collectors, lifelong slaves. Their desire is to kill the free will. Their vicims will stop at nothing. They can make the biggest crimes, terroristic actions, as soon as the commmand is given by the group, with the conviction that they serve a higher goal: the salvation of the humankind, the entry into a "New Age", the "Golden Age" or "Aquarius Age", which is realized already from now by any of these groups. For this reason, the requirement of every such organization is absolute, within the religious, ideological, social, even the political sector. Methods of proselytism As a rule, cults hide their true targets. They talk with inaccuracy and deceptively about themselves. They hide their true centre, which may be that of a guru or some centre of a self-styled "messiah" or "avatar". They present themselves with a christian, philosophical, psychological or other mask, through many ways (war arts, athletic festivals, dance, music, peace movements, ecological ones, hygenic and health-food centers, alternate medicine, therapy centers for drug-addicts etc.). They usually use a christian terminology or a cosmic one with a reverse meaning. Approaching new victims can be made through an invitation for a free personality test, for a vegetarian meal, through lectures with subjects of general interest, through self-knowledge and mind control seminars etc. Some groups use the so called "love bombing", until someone is driven to psychological addiction. This method is particularly dangerous when someone is in the necessity to make decisions and make essential changes to his life. Then one may feel that the joining to such a group could help. Then the "attachment" created cannot be broken easily. After the first contact with the cult, there are other procedures followed for incorporating the new victim to the organization. These are: a) Sex b)The complete control over the imformation that is received by the victim, with the purpose to reduce the possible alternative solutions which could become the final free choice of the victim c) Misleading by hiding their true purpose, their true identity, their real connections worlwide d)some kind of brain-wash which prepares the victim to accept a whole dogmatic system, according to which, the whole world outside the organization is devilish. e)Causation of phobia, guiltiness, and agony, that lead to the complete crushing of the victim and suggest the "feeling" that only into the group one can be relieved from all these. f)Insufficient diet and fatigue, so that the individual is led to depression and psychological disintegration, bringing as a result, lack of attention and the weakening of independent critical spirit. Results in psychosomatic health By the engagement to such a group, the organization's way of thinking and living becomes a second nature for the follower. Thoughts and positions that he used to have, disappear. Observations show that the victim makes limited use of the language and gives stereotyped answers, has a strange behaviour, his personal thought and judgement are weakened, and also any memories from his previous life outside the cult tend to fade. Many ex-members, after their disengagement from the group, need 1 to 2 years in order to return to the regular everyday life, while others may suffer of psychιc disorders and remain in a situation of psychological phobia for many years. Except the psychic they may suffer of other body detriment such as herpes of every kind, up to permanent injuries caused by harmful yoga "exercises". Finally we should underline a)the suicides individual and massive ones: Jim Jones's about 1000 followers in Guiana in 1979, David Corres in 1993, Leauc Jurret in 1994 b) The individual or massive murders by Soko Asahara in the Tokyo's subway in 1995 c) Various other ritual human sacrifices. Results in the family-social enviroment Participation in some organization having these characteristics has negative repercussion to the enviroment of the follower. Many times the victim's family is driven to an economic overwhelming, paying his involvement quite much . In some other times families are led to break, if the rest of the family does not want to follow the "existential" choice of its member. Family tensions happen quite often and they may reach up to the murder of the father, husband, or wife if he does not give in to the desires of the victim-follower, who is found in absolute dependence from the cult's leader, guru, or master. On the social level, these groups characterized as "destructive cults" have been involved in specific illegal and immoral practices, such us: a) The ill-treatmnet, neglect and death of children, b) The illegal emigration c) The use and drugs trafficking, d) The fraud and deceit in the recruiment of members, e) The illegal financial activities and the businesses with enormous profits, f) The stealing, g) The threats, harassment and blackmails of the families of the victims - and of all those who do unfavourable criticism to the cult - by pressing charges and by doing miserable and filthy acts, h) The storage and trade of arms and ammunition, i) The sexual assault and prostitution, j)The kidnappings, murders done or attempted, k) The psychological and emotional damage. Many ex-members who managed to escape, brought these charges against these practices.. Anyone can be easily trapped. It's of no consequence whatever the education, intelligence, or will of someone might be or even his possibly superficial, dogmatic position in front of the danger of his entanglement. The danger is greater for people suffering of psychological problems, or for those having inspired plans for the future, with weak will. Or for those who feel lonely and uncertain. Also are in danger, those who are credulous and can be easily persuaded that the organization can offer them the secret of happiness, the success, the psychosomatic health. Also may become victims those who are romantic, idealists and friends of utopia.. Where does proselytism take place? Proselytism can take place anywhere. In the streets, in the library, at the post-office. In the military camp, in your office, your home. In high schools. In demonstrations for the homeless, for the poor, the suffering people, in protests against narcotics, or against the enviromental pollution. In peace festivals. In clinics and hospitals, In gymnasiums and beauty salons. In schools and student unions, outside classrooms, wherever there are young people. In congresses, self -improvement seminars, educational meetings. Through posters on the road but also in shop-windows of serious shops. In parties, restaurants, recreational centres, stadiums, concerts, discos. In your work. In public services (ministries, other organizations), where commited members work systematically. In cultural vehicles. Inside schools. Cults have invaded in the sector of education. They have founded kindergartens and day nurseries. In public schools there are educators who are members of "cults". When and by whom there is danger? Basically the entrapping can be done at any time but mainly can happen under the following circumstances: a) during the first time of being far from home and family (students, soldiers, working people), b)when someone changes job or is fired c) during graduation from school or when one quits his studies d) Sudden illness, the death of a beloved person, unexpected accident, e)periods of changes in our lives (periods of loneliness, travels-vacation, becoming older, periodic depression and disappointment). The danger may come from anyone but especially from people who are too friendly or show interest for our preferences and our problems. From people who have simple solutions in worldwide problems. From someone who finds you "very interesting" and is aware that you have contacts, influence or even financial resources and means . From people who are offered to discuss with you "existential" problems and promote occult beliefs (reincarnation, karma, tarot, astrology, hypnotism, sorcery, spiritism, divination, religious syncretism) From some people who invite you to free vegetarian meals, free personality tests, self-knowledge courses, personality expansion, lives retrospections etc. These sects have taken care of everything, under the frames of the New Age syndrome, in order to prepare people properly worldwide - working on it for the last 100 years and intesively for the last 15 years - so that these New Age beliefs, doctrines, symbols and practices become accepted from great parts of the Western world. A great responsibility for this preparation belongs to the Theosophical company of Helen Blavatsky and the thousands branches of Theosophy, from its foundation until today. Theosophy, a mixture of eastern religious teachings and occultism, had always the vision to subordinate the humanity into its own order, making Christianity disappear, its only serious obstacle. Using this scenery, some international decision-making centers made sure to announce the New Age and develop and promote its beliefs. The only presupposition was the publication and circulation of a bibliography of thousands titles in all the languages and also the use of the massive media (newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cinema etc). The beginning was made with discretion and went on with ufology (U.F.O.), the "science fiction", the war arts, the rock music, and it is gradually completed with the introduction of occultism as a basic part in our lives. Nowadays, few people have not read Lomsang Rampa, Castaneda, or Erich Von Deniken, those writers who introduced us into the doctrines of the New Age. Yet, the frequent and repeated newspaper articles, the advertisement of such groups, and the relative astrology horoscopes complete the whole scenery together with some terror films shown in TV after midnight. Comics or comic strips in newspapers-magazines, "role games" in computers, and monster-toys for our children. Worldwide, parents and families-victims, have become organized into groups of help and selfprotection having a remarkable activity. In Greece, our organization ( the Panhellenic Parents Union) cooperates with the Chistian Orthodox Church of Greece in order to support families and individuals with such kind of problems. Finally, we believe that the best method in order to help people having this kind of problems is found in our own Christian faith and in our own tradition. |
