A Checklist on Cults

In recent years, there has been marked increase in the number of new religious movements, self-help/human potential groups/courses, alternative lifestyle and neo-political groups. Many of these organizations have been beneficial to their members and/or clients. Others, however, have raised certain questions concerning their recruitment and fundraising practices, treatment of their members, etc.

If you are approached by someone who invites you to participate in a meeting, program, event, etc., the following questions may help prevent you from being recruited by a cult.

These questions work best when asked in a very direct and friendly manner. Be alert to vague responses or a response that ``all your questions will be answered at a later time.''

• How long have you been involved? Are you trying to recruit me into any type of organization?
• What is the official name or your organization and does it go under any other names? If so, what are they?
• What are your group's beliefs?
• Are members allowed to lie in certain situations?
• What are members expected to do once they join?
• Do I have to quit school or work, donate money and property and/or cut myself off from family and friends who are not in agreement with my being a member?
• Is your group considered to be controversial by anyone? If so, what are the main criticisms?
• How do you feel about former members of your group? Does your group allow communication with them and if not, why?
• Do you know any people who have left your organization? If so, have you ever spoken to them and found out why they left?
• What are the things you like least about the group?

If the person is a member of a cult you may ask yourself, ``have they replied to my questions honestly?''

If you discover at a later date that they have deceived you, then you should have very serious questions about getting further involved.

[Info-Cult has a file on Sahaja Yoga.]

See how Dr Heimo Lassnig, an Austrian computer engineer and Sahaja Yogi, answers these questions.

An AFF (American Family Foundation) checklist on cults and how ex-members judge Sahaja Yoga can be found here.

Cults: Selected Bibliography

• Galanter, Marc, editor. 1989. Cults and New Religious Movements: a report of the American Psychiatric Association. Washington, American Psychiatric Association.
• Galanter, Marc, 1989. Cults, faith, healing, and coercion. New York Oxford University Press.
• Hassan, Steve. 1988. Combating cult mind control. Rochester Vermont, Park Street Press.
• Langone, Michael D., editor. 1993. Recovery from cults: help for victims of psychological and spiritual abuse. New York, W.W. Norton & Company.
• Martin, Dr. Paul R., 1993. Cult proofing your kids. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House.
• Cialdini, Robert B., 1984. Influence: How and Why People Agree to Things 1st ed. New York: Morrow.*

• Pullar, Philippa, 1984. The Shortest Journey. Boston: Unwin Paperbacks. ISBN 0-04-291018-8.*
• Kakar, Sudhir M.D. 1982. Shamans, Mystics and Doctors: A Psychological Inquiry.*

Marks of a Destructive Cult

Note: this checklist was sent to me filled out by someone who prefers to remain anonymous. Whether you agree with this person's evaluation of SY or not, please feel free to post your comments on the mailing list.

If there is enough interest, I can make an interactive questionnary, so that everyone can answer this checklist, and the answers will be collated. Please write me directly if you yould like to see that. --Vladimir

Mind Control (undue influence)

Manipulation by use of coercive persuasion or behavior modification techniques without informed consent
[SY: yes]

Charismatic Leadership

Claiming divinity or special knowledge and demanding unquestioning obedience with power and privilege. Leadership may consist of one individual or a small core of leaders
[SY: "one individual", very strongly yes]

Deception

Recruiting and fundraising with hidden objectives and without full disclosure of the use of mind controlling techniques; use of ``front groups''
[SY: Yes. Front groups/organizations: Vishwa Nirmala Dharma Education Society (a non profit organization), Satya Marg (a political party). Lead-along and withholding information is standard with this group. Trying to hide from mainland Chinese officials and the medical establishment that the group is a religion]

Exclusivity

Secretiveness or vagueness by followers regarding activities and beliefs
[SY: many embarrassed to discuss ideas like possession because makes them look foolish]

Alienation

Separation from family, friends and society, a change in values and substitution of the cult as the new ``family;'' evidence of subtle or abrupt personality changes
[SY: change your friends, they are SYs now, change your friends]

Exploitation

Can be financial, physical, or psychological; pressure to give money, to spend a great deal on courses or give excessively to special projects and to engage in inappropriate sexual activities, even child abuse
[SY: psychological pressure to conform. No excessive spending and absolutely no inappropriate sexual activities or child abuse]

Totalitarian Worldview (we/they syndrome)

Effecting dependence, promoting goals of the group over the individual and approving unethical behavior while claiming goodness
[SY: extreme we/they. It is common to justify lead-along and withholding of information as a necessity for a higher cause. Individuals become dependent and group goals are paramount.]

Coercive Cult Techniques

Loneliness, indecision, despair, and disappointment are the emotional characteristics cult recruiters notice. They approach the unwary with an excessively friendly invitation to a lecture, free meal, weekend workshop, or other activity offering instant solutions to overwhelming problems. Surprisingly enough, few potential cultists bother to inquire about who is extending the offer, what is behind it, and what functions will take place. Vague answers are seldom challenged, leaving the recruiter an unassailable opportunity to obscure his intentions.

Even given the current anticult climate, few targets of the cults see their future as one of involuntary slavery and physical domination. Before joining any exotic sect, one should be aware of what could result: neurosis, psychosis, suicidal tendencies, guilt, identity confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, loss of free will, intellectual sterility, and diminished capacity of judgment. It will be much easier to avoid such consequences by identifying and recognizing the following psychological forms of "cult-coercion."

Absolute Loyalty

Allegiance to the sect is demanded and enforced by actual or veiled threats to one's body or eternal spiritual condition.
[SY: definitely]

Altered Diet

Depriving one of essential nutrients and enforcing a low-protein diet can lead to disorientation and emotional susceptibility.
[SY: no]

Chanting and Meditation

Objective intellectual input is avoided by countering anticult questions with repetitious songs and chants.
[SY: arguable]

Conformity

Dress, language, names, and interests take on a sameness which erodes individuality.
[SY: you are no more an individual -- `we this, we that; it this, it that' -- literally a Borg mindset! A type of conformity but not in dress, language, names, interests.]

Doctrinal Confusion

Incomprehensible "truths" are more readily accepted when presented in a complex fashion which encourages rejection of logical thought.
[SY: the mind is the worst enemy]

Exclusivity

Those outside the cult are viewed as spiritually inferior, creating an exclusive attitude of the self-righteous "we" versus "they" mentality.
[SY: very strong we/they]

Financial Involvement

All or part of one's personal assets may be donated to the cult, increasing a vested interest in sticking-with-it and lessening the chance of returning to a former vocation.
[SY: social pressure to donate, although it is not mandatory; those who have spent to go on India tour are expecially vulnerable to peer pressure.]

Hypnotic States

Inducing a highly susceptible state of mind may be accomplished by chanting, repetitious singing, or meditation.
[SY: during prolonged lectures -- possibly]

Isolation from the Outside

Diminished perception of reality results when one is physically separated from friends, society, and the rational frame of reference in which one has previously functioned.
[SY: change your friends]

Lack of Privacy

Reflective, critical thinking is impossible in a setting where cult members are seldom left unattended.
[SY: ashramites vulnerable to some of this, though it is not a strong point in SY]

Love Bombing

Physical affection given to new people. Physical affection and constant contrived attention can give a false sense of camaraderie.
[SY: this not a strong point but it is conditional on the belief that the recruit will end up believing and thinking like the rest of the group. Differences of opinion are tolerated at first but in the end not welcome]

Mega-communication

Long, confusing lectures can be an effective tool if the inductee is bombarded with glib rhetoric and catch phrases.
[SY: this is arguable]

New Relationships

Marriage to another cult member and the destruction of past family relationships integrates one fully into the cult "family."
[SY: definitely another interpretation for ``arranged marriages'' in SY -- everyone is either an uncle or an aunt, and addressed as such]

Nonsensical Activities

Games and other activities with no apparent purpose leave one dependent upon a group or leader to give direction and order.
[SY: no]

Pavlovian Control

Behavior modification by alternating reward and punishment leads to confusion and dependency.
[SY: hoped for boons while being overseen by omnipresent deities with an arsenal of lethal weaponry ready to strike those whose action, inaction or reaction spoils the leader's timetable]

Peer Pressure

By exploiting one's desire for acceptance, doubts about cult practices can be overcome by offering a sense of belonging to an affirming community.
[SY: yes]

Sensory Deprivation

Fatigue coupled with prolonged activity can make one vulnerable to otherwise offensive beliefs and suggestions.
[SY: another explanation of the grueling India tour]

Surrendered Privacy

The ego's normal emotional defensive mechanisms can easily be stripped away by having the new member share personal secrets which can later be used for intimidation.
[SY: no]

Unquestioning Submission

Acceptance of cult practices/s achieved by discouraging any questions or natural curiosity which may challenge what the leaders propagate.
[SY: to an extreme degree]

Value Rejection

As the recruit becomes more integrated into the cult, he is encouraged to denounce the values and beliefs of his former life.
[SY: yes, but depending on how dysfunctional that previous life was, the replacement might be an improvement]

``When you meet the friendliest people you have ever known, who introduce you to the most loving group of people you've ever encountered, and you find the leader to be the most inspired, caring, compassionate and understanding person you've ever met, and then you learn that the cause of the group is something you never dared hope could be accomplished, and all of this sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true! Don't give up your education, your hopes and ambitions, to follow a rainbow.''

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