Mind Control Is the Foundation of Cults

Mind Control is the Foundation of Cults

What are cults and what are the issues society argues about them? Many people argue over all different central issues of cults. One issue people argue is that cults cause social and personal disruption. Another issue would be that people in society dismiss the whole notion of cults completely saying that every religion can be viewed as a cult. However, when it comes down to it a cult is simply nothing other than a person using mind control over the people that are part of it.

The definition of a cult sometimes seems to vary but for the most part has a central theme. A cult is essentially a form of a religious group that follows an individual. It can be easily identified because the group’s lifestyle usually clearly separates them from the rest of society. “The leader teaches or promotes new practices to the group, which are usually unethical forms that are used to manipulate the followers (Singer 23).” Their leadership rules with unquestioned authority by using deception and also fear tactics. The leader also uses manipulative sessions that instill dependence of the group in people. Cults use these techniques to deprive the people of their free choice. The group or organization has a practice of worship that involves sacrifices, prayers, etc. “These practices are beliefs are set forth as supposedly “the truth” as told by their leaders and are conducted in secrecy ( Howard 12).” Their loyalty is to a supreme being, animal, or person.

Mind control is now an important issue that is being recognized more and more in today’s society. There are many views on mind control and how it comes about taking over a person. Mind control is ultimately intentional or unknowing changes in an individuals personality, beliefs, and physical or emotions states that is through a leader or authority figure. It is powerful and is used by destructive groups to control or dominate others that are around them. Mind control encourages dependency on a group or person. It discourages individuality of people. This enables a person or group to control individuals on their basis of thought. Mind control does not imply that the group or individual has no ability to think for themselves. They still have their own free choice. “The choice the people make to let a person or leader control them is because of their own impaired judgment or ability to see this happening (Paul 31).” It works by the gradual increasing of control over the group or individual through techniques. Some of the techniques include repetition of activities or food and sleep deprivation. “Since this is gradual the people do not see that it is mind control until they are in too deep (Martin 21).”

The central issue or theme of cults today is that it uses mind control over the group or individual. By using mind control as its central theme, the leader uses certain methods to go by. There is first something called milieu control, which means environment or surroundings. They are able to control this with the members in many ways. The most used form is isolation. Members of a cult separates themselves from society, family, and media such as television or books in fear that this might cause the members to start “thinking for themselves.” “The cult keeps information on each one of

its members watching to see who falls behind or gets too far ahead of thinking for the group (Ragas 8).” They also use mystical manipulation. In the cults, their supreme being is present in the group. Therefore, if an individual leaves for any reason it is because that is their punishment from the supreme being. This gives a certain mystique that is appealing to a member. There is also a demand for purity in a cult. A member’s behavior is modeled after the leader of the cult. Different organizations or people are depicted as bad or good just depending on what kind of relationship it has toward the cult. Another method in mind controlling is confessions of a cult. “When members commit serious sins, they are to be confessed immediately (Singer 41).” They all have to confess their sins in front of each other that are done on a regular basis. This creates a sense of the group somewhat becoming one with each other. It also permits the leaders of the cults to show their authority over the weaker members by using their sins as a form of black mail. The method called the sacred science of a cult is the vision that there should be an order for human existence. This means there should be leadership in a cult and that a member should not question it because it is too sacred. Its teachings are supposed to be the “absolute truth” meaning that there are