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MOTH
Wild Woman


Registered: 06/06/03
Posts: 23,431
Loc: In the jungle
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Knowing whether or not something is a cult
#5677134 - 05/26/06 01:29 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I have a question. How do you know if an organization is a "cult" or not?
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: MOTH]
#5677138 - 05/26/06 01:32 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
EllemyshShade said: I have a question. How do you know if an organization is a "cult" or not?
Thinking of joining up?
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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BloodNOil
Captain Zeep

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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: MOTH]
#5677169 - 05/26/06 01:39 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Watch for people trying to control what you think, proclaiming certain thoughts as 'bad,' using extraordinary methods (from peer pressure, up through death threats) to discourage people from leaving, trying to alienate you from other people not in the organization, controlling what you eat and how much you sleep, etc. The connotation of the word "cult" refers in a large part to how much control an organization or individual has over the people under them.
Another method of manipulation is ericksonian hypnosis, which I recommend that you research well. The basic idea is to induce an altered state (trance, confusion, sleep deprivation, "deep" thinking) in which a person is extremely suggestible, and then suggest things which aren't in that person's best interest.
I've encountered a couple of similar things myself. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk.
-------------------- It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: BloodNOil]
#5677212 - 05/26/06 01:50 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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The connotation of the word "cult" refers in a large part to how much control an organization or individual has over the people under them.
The whole society sounds like a cult to some degree. 
Good post by the way.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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BloodNOil
Captain Zeep

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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: Icelander]
#5677216 - 05/26/06 01:52 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said: The whole society sounds like a cult to some degree. 
Haha, yeah it's a matter of degree I'll admit.
-------------------- It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,534
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: BloodNOil]
#5677252 - 05/26/06 02:02 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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there are lots of cults that seem to be normal branches of some recognized religion. often a charismatic leader with an impenetrable social powerstructure will be set up so that inless you are in-doctrinated sufficiently you are not capable of accessing the inner circle except to see and maybe give money to the charismatic leader.
If you can have private interviews with the leader, it still may be a cult if it attempts to cut you off from your life.
renunciation is a common theme. dropping the baggage is a real issue this provides the profit engine in many cults. the baggage you are supposed to learn how to drop, is the ego stuff, sticky bits of mind activity, that have become impediments which you may seek to transcend.
but eventually hopefully a seeker finds what they seek.
you may have to visit a few cults to find the knowledge already inside of you
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BloodNOil
Captain Zeep

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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: redgreenvines]
#5677286 - 05/26/06 02:12 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
redgreenvines said:
charismatic leader with an impenetrable social powerstructure [. . .] attempts to cut you off from your life.
This is pretty much what you have to look out for. Either part is grounds for suspicion, though.
-------------------- It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!
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DoctorJ


Registered: 06/30/03
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: MOTH]
#5677292 - 05/26/06 02:12 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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do they ask you for money?
do they ask you to swear alligience?
do they ask you to do things that are uncomfortable to you?
fuck cults, religions, organizations. Be yourself, and pay your own way.
You get so much more out of life as an individual than as a cog in the machine.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: DoctorJ]
#5677378 - 05/26/06 02:44 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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It's always a nice surprise to find myself in agreement with you.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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SneezingPenis
ACHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!111!

Registered: 01/15/05
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: DoctorJ]
#5677500 - 05/26/06 03:37 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
DoctorJ said: do they ask you for money?
do they ask you to swear alligience?
do they ask you to do things that are uncomfortable to you?
so the army, christianity, and the United States of America are cults?
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: SneezingPenis]
#5677509 - 05/26/06 03:41 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I think so. It's just not a common definition of them. I looked up cult in the dictionary and it fits to a large degree IMO.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,534
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: SneezingPenis]
#5677515 - 05/26/06 03:45 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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drJ might be a one man cult and so might I be but neither of us have followers or ask for money Swami on the other hand is always reaady to take a bet (read sure thing) which could be seen as a powerstructure with an impenetrable inner circle.
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kotik
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: redgreenvines]
#5677528 - 05/26/06 03:50 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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typically when a group asks you to renounce your possessions, relationships and your ego over to them as part of the community, its a cult.
-------------------- No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. All posts are works of fiction.
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DoctorJ


Registered: 06/30/03
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: SneezingPenis]
#5677538 - 05/26/06 03:53 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
psilocyberin said:
Quote:
DoctorJ said: do they ask you for money?
do they ask you to swear alligience?
do they ask you to do things that are uncomfortable to you?
so the army, christianity, and the United States of America are cults?
uhhhh... yeah. I thought everyone knew that.
the army? Dude, they totally brainwash you with social psychology. Ask any psychologist, they will tell you the military is a kind of cult.
Orthodox Christianity? Total cult! they use fear and guilt to control their paritioners, they try to influence politics, they demand money and devotion. Yeah, they're a cult.
America? Cult of nationalism. thats all I gotta say about that.
everyone should be their own cult. Like I said before, leaders are surrounded by schmucks and followers ARE schmucks. So niether a leader or a follwer be. thats my advice
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,534
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: DoctorJ]
#5678161 - 05/26/06 07:45 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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your cult uses such offensive language, dr.j, are there some issues?
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DoctorJ


Registered: 06/30/03
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: redgreenvines]
#5678221 - 05/26/06 08:01 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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offensive to you perhaps
maybe you have the issues
not much offends me these days
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Huehuecoyotl
Fading Slowly


Registered: 06/13/04
Posts: 10,685
Loc: On the Border
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: redgreenvines]
#5678226 - 05/26/06 08:02 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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We could start our own cult. I am up for being a Messiah. Any followers interested?
-------------------- "A warrior is a hunter. He calculates everything. That's control. Once his calculations are over, he acts. He lets go. That's abandon. A warrior is not a leaf at the mercy of the wind. No one can push him; no one can make him do things against himself or against his better judgment. A warrior is tuned to survive, and he survives in the best of all possible fashions." ― Carlos Castaneda
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: Huehuecoyotl]
#5678261 - 05/26/06 08:19 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I would follow you anywhere Old Old Coyote. 
Can I be one of the generals? I did join first.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Huehuecoyotl
Fading Slowly


Registered: 06/13/04
Posts: 10,685
Loc: On the Border
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: Icelander]
#5678275 - 05/26/06 08:24 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Yes, your experience as a minister should help.
-------------------- "A warrior is a hunter. He calculates everything. That's control. Once his calculations are over, he acts. He lets go. That's abandon. A warrior is not a leaf at the mercy of the wind. No one can push him; no one can make him do things against himself or against his better judgment. A warrior is tuned to survive, and he survives in the best of all possible fashions." ― Carlos Castaneda
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Knowing whether or not something is a cult [Re: Huehuecoyotl]
#5678376 - 05/26/06 08:49 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I hope we sign up lots of pretty girls. I can minister to them.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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